Did you know that the average American man stands at a height of 5 feet 9 inches? However, you might be surprised to hear that many leading men are not even that tall. This is proof that you do not need to be tall if you want to make it big in Hollywood. Even though they have a huge on-screen presence, let us just say that these stars are pretty vertically-challenged. In the end, however, it does not matter how short or tall they are. After all, their height did not get in the way of their success in a challenging industry!
These Short Male Celebrities Show Us That Height Is Not Everything In Hollywood
Humphrey Bogart – 5 feet 8 inches
Starting with one of the tallest men on this list, Humphrey Bogart stands at around 5 feet 8 inches. The actor felt worried that the viewers of Casablanca would realize that he was shorter than Ingrid Bergman! It was said that the stars had to make a few adjustments so that they would more level. Ingrid was told to slouch down on the sofa in certain scenes, while Humphrey had to sit on top of some cushions.
Humphrey Bogart – 5 Feet 8 Inches
Jonathan Lipnicki – 5 feet 8 inches
Jonathan Lipnicki brought Ray to life in Jerry Maguire at the age of 5. Aside from this movie, Jonathan could also be seen in other movies such as Like Mike as well as Stuart Little. According to him, he plans to keep taking more theater classes as he doesn’t want to ride on the coattails of his early success. According to him, “I think the problem with a lot of child stars and why they don’t make the transition, they think, ‘Well, the world owes me something.’ But the world doesn’t, the world doesn’t owe you anything. You need to continue to improve your skills as you grow up.”
Jonathan Lipnicki – 5 Feet 8 Inches
Jack Black – 5 feet 7 inches
Despite playing a giant in Gulliver’s Travel, Jack Black stands at 5 feet and 7 inches in real life. With his larger than life personality, knowing his actual height is quite shocking. Regardless, his acting chops are one of the best up there. He could be seen in films such as Kung Fu Panda, Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle.
Jack Black – 5 Feet 7 Inches
Dave Franco – 5 feet 7 inches
The actor who starred in Now You See Me named Dave Franco, stands at around 5 feet and 7 inches, making him a bit shorter than James Franco, as his older brother is 4 inches taller than him. Dave could be seen in a zombie film in 2013 called Warm Bodies. When asked about what he thinks would happen to him in a zombie apocalypse, the actor said, “I’m a small shifty kind of guy, I think I would be up in the hills … shooting from above, while the big guys are going at it from below.”
Dave Franco – 5 Feet 7 Inches
Jonah Hill – 5 feet 7 inches
When people talk about this actor, they’d usually comment more on his weight rather than his height. However, the 5 feet 7 inches actor was able to lose weight thanks to the help of a nutritionist and a clean diet. Aside from that, He mentioned to Jimmy Fallon that his fellow 21 Jump Street star, Channing Tatum, helped him out with his weight loss. Although he is known as Jonah Hill, his real name is actually Jonah Feldstein.
Jonah Hill – 5 Feet 7 Inches
Al Pacino – 5 feet 7 inches
Known for his gangster roles and his amazing acting skills, Al Pacino’s great career over the years has been celebrated by a lot of people. Did you know that his heigh almost lost him his iconic role in The Godfather? The film’s cast reunited in 2017 during a Tribeca film fest discussion, which is also when Paramount producers revealed that they thought of Pacino as “too short” to play Vito Corleone.
Al Pacino – 5 Feet 7 Inches
James McAvoy – 5 feet 7 inches
During his interview with the Los Angeles Times James McAvoy was humble about his status as a leading man. He stated, “I’m 5-foot-7, and I’ve got pasty white skin, I don’t think I’m ugly, don’t get me wrong, but I’m not your classic lead man, Brad Pitt guy.” This interview was done in 2007 when he worked on a romantic war drama called Atonement. He also showcased his acting skills in the movie called Split.
James McAvoy – 5 Feet 7 Inches
Martin Freeman – 5 feet 6.5 inches
Whenever this British actor is interviewed, his height isn’t usually a topic of choice, but the Daily Mail revealed that Martin Freeman’s height is around 5 feet and 6 ½ inches. Freeman was known to have said phrases stating that he is fine with the way he is, and that bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better. The quote has been turned into a meme, but the actor says that he did not land the lead role in The Hobbit for no reason.
Martin Freeman – 5 Feet 6.5 Inches
Dustin Hoffman – 5 feet 6 inches
Dustin Hoffman has won an Academy Award and could be seen in various classic films such as Hook, Rain Man, The Graduate, and Midnight Cowboy. Standing at 5 feet 6 inches, he told the Guardian that he was surprised when director Mike Nicholas chose him to star in The Graduate. He stated, “Nichols chose to give this short, funny-looking Jewish guy the role usually reserved for a tall, handsome protestant.”
Dustin Hoffman – 5 Feet 6 Inches
Jonathan Taylor Thomas – 5 feet 6 inches
Jonathan Taylor Thomas was a heartthrob when he played the character of Randy on Home Improvement during the 90s. After the show ended, he could also be seen in Last Man Standing, as well as Veronica Mars. Did you know that he is only 5 feet and 6 inches tall? Not only that, but he also worked as the voice actor for the character of Simba in The Lion King.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas – 5 Feet 6 Inches
Alan Ladd – 5 feet 6 inches
Alan Ladd was a film noir star during the ‘40s. He occasionally stood on boxes so that he and his female costars would be level. After all, he was no more than 5 feet and 6 inches tall! Aside from that, the Telegraph also said that the ladies were also made to wear ballet flats or stood in trenches.
Alan Ladd – 5 Feet 6 Inches
Elijah Wood – 5 feet 6 inches
During his interview with Conan O’ Brien, the Lord of the Rings actor, Elijah Wood, said that there have been a lot of people who have confused him to be the Harry Potter star named Daniel Radcliffe. It is probably because of their blue eyes and height, despite the fact that Wood is an inch taller than Radcliffe.
Elijah Wood – 5 Feet 6 Inches
Aziz Ansari – 5 feet 6 inches
Famous for his role in Parks and Recreation, Aziz Ansari is over 5 feet and 6 inches tall. A few years ago, GQ applauded him for outdressing Jon Hamm by saying that Ansari’s outfit was a “win for short men worldwide”. They both wore dark blue suits, but Ansari wore the better one. GQ also added, “a great example of how sometimes the clothes you’re wearing can kick the (expletive) of a man almost a foot taller than you.
Aziz Ansari – 5 Feet 6 Inches
Bruno Mars – 5 feet 5 inches
We are all aware of how talented Bruno Mars is. Known for his songs such as “The Lazy Song”, “Versace On The Floor” and many more, the “24 Magic” artist could also be seen in movies like Friends with Benefits, Pitch Perfect, and Rio 2. He may be only 5 feet and 5 inches tall, but just like his song, we want to tell him “You’re amazing just the way you are”.
Bruno Mars – 5 Feet 5 Inches
Richard Dreyfuss – 5 feet 5 inches
It was difficult to find a bigger actor than Richard Dreyfuss during the ‘70s until the ‘90s. He is famous for his roles in films like Mr. Holland’s Opus, Stand by Me, and Jaws. Despite being 5 feet and 5 inches, he certainly has proven himself as he had won a Golden Globe Award. The actor used his height as a metaphor for not being ashamed of his bipolar disorder. According to him, “It’s like being ashamed that you’re 5-foot-6 or something.”
Richard Dreyfuss – 5 Feet 5 Inches
Daniel Radcliffe – 5 feet 5 inches
Daniel Radcliffe will certainly tell you that his height did not hinder him in any way when it came to his career. During his interview with Playboy, he was asked if his height limited the roles that he could play, in which he responded, “I don’t think so. Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise have very different careers, and they’re both about the same height as I am. I could play a soldier. The minimum height for a marine is five feet, and I’m well above that.”
Daniel Radcliffe – 5 Feet 5 Inches
Ken Jeong – 5 feet 5 inches
There is no doubt that Ken Jeong is one multi-talented fascinating guy! He is famous for his roles in The Hangover as well as Community. He may be 5 feet and 5 inches tall, but he also holds a medical degree! Before working as an actor in Knocked Up, he used to be a general practitioner. He even took a week off from the medical field to play a doctor!
Ken Jeong – 5 Feet 5 Inches
Johnny Galecki – 5 feet 5 inches
The man who played Leonard in The Big Bang Theory is only 5 inches and 5 inches tall. Although he hasn’t talked about his height that much, he believes that people are starting to see geeks differently now. According to him, “We have Nobel Prize winners asking if they can guest-star on the show – The image of a scientist in the last 10 to 15 years has changed drastically. It used to be pasty guys in a basement with beakers and now it’s Steve Jobs — they’re almost the rock stars of our age.”
Johnny Galecki – 5 Feet 5 Inches
Kevin Hart – 5 feet 4.5 inches
It isn’t surprising to hear Kevin Hart joke a lot about his height. During his appearance in a Variety video, the Night School star said, “Hey, what’s going on, I’m Kevin Hart, and one thing you may not know about me is … I’m 5 foot 4-1/2. A lot of people think it’s just 5-4. It’s not. Five-foot-four-and-a-half.” Which is probably a response to Vulture’s infographic stating that he was only 5 feet and 2 inches tall.
Kevin Hart – 5 Feet 4.5 Inches
Seth Green – 5 feet 4 inches
The actor is married to actress-model Clare Grant. People said that the two of them first bonded over their love of fast food and comics. Even though they have a discrepancy in height, it is not a problem. Green is best known for working on Family Guy and Robot Chicken. He stands at 5 feet and 4 inches, which means that his wife has a couple of inches over him.
Seth Green – 5 Feet 4 Inches
Joe Pesci – 5 feet 4 inches
Known for playing characters that could be considered as a “tough guy”, Joe Pesci is living proof that you don’t need height to be intimidating as he is only 5 feet and 4 inches tall. He is famous for his roles in Home Alone, Casino, and My Cousin Vinnie. He has also won an Oscar thanks to his work in Goodfellas.
Joe Pesci – 5 Feet 4 Inches
Michael J. Fox – 5 feet 4 inches
Michael J. Fox is known to be one of the shortest people in Hollywood because of his 5 feet 4 inches height. However, this actor who is famous for starring in Family Ties and Back to the Future should be more known for his work on Parkinson’s Disease, which is a neurological disorder that causes balance issues, trembles, and stiffness. He was around 29 years old when he was diagnosed with it. He started a foundation in 2000 that spreads awareness and raised almost a billion dollars for research.
Michael J. Fox – 5 Feet 4 Inches
Charlie Chaplin – 5 feet 4 inches
Charlie Chaplin was only 5 feet and 4 inches, which is an advantage during the silent film period! He is famous for playing a character with a cane, a black mustache, and a bowler hat in The Tramp. It was reported in the newspaper that Chaplin stated, “If I am being treated harshly, it is always a big man who is doing it; so that, by the contrast between the big and the little, I get the sympathy of the audience.”
Charlie Chaplin – 5 Feet 4 Inches
David Faustino – 5 feet 3 inches
David Faustino is probably best known for his work as Bud Buddy in Married Children. He once tried to make it into the world of rap by using the name “Lil’ Gweed”. Because of how common “Lil” is for rappers, we aren’t too sure if he used it as a reference to his height of 5 feet and 3 inches.
David Faustino – 5 Feet 3 Inches
Nathan McMullen – 5 feet 3 inches
Nathan McMullen is an actor, known for television roles such as Finn in Misfits and barman in Kelly + Victor. In 2012, McMullen appeared in the fourth season of Misfits in the regular role of Finn. McMullen plays the part of Wolf the elf in an episode of Doctor Who. The actor also called his character Finn as a “man child”.
Nathan McMullen – 5 Feet 3 Inches
Martin Scorsese – 5 feet 3 inches
The award-winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese was once asked about how he felt about sports, in which he said: “Sports?” Anything with a ball, no good!” With only 5 feet and 3 inches of height to his name, there is no doubt that the director of Goodfellas could be a starting forward. He has tried acting in the past before by starring in 30 Rock and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Martin Scorsese – 5 Feet 3 Inches
Prince – 5 feet 2 inches
The fact that the renowned musician tried his hands on acting as well isn’t a secret! A few years before he passed away, Prince showed up on New Girl. It made perfect sense for him to wear heels as he is only 5 feet and 2 inches tall. According to the Purple Rain star, “People say I’m wearing heels because I’m short. I wear heels because the women like ’em.”
Prince – 5 Feet 2 Inches
Danny DeVito – 4 feet 10 inches
During his interview with CBS Sunday Morning, he shared what it was like to be short. He mentioned that he wanted to have friends and be comfortable in his skin during his time in school, which is why he compensated his physique with his personality! He also mentioned that school dances were usually awkward. He is best known for his roles in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Taxi and is 5 feet tall because of Fairbank’s disease.
Danny DeVito – 4 Feet 10 Inches
Scott Caan — 5 feet 5 inches
Famous for his role in Hawaii 5-0 as Danny “Danno” Williams, Scott Caan has five inches on the title of the show! The 5 feet, 5 inches actor is probably most recognized for his slicked-back hair. During an interview with Esquire, Scott mentioned that the greasers in the movie called The Outsiders from 1983 were a big influence in his decision to opt for a slicked-back hairstyle. The actor said, “The only other things I’ve ever done are shave my head bald and wear a Mohawk. [My hair] just wants to go back.”
Scott Caan — 5 Feet 5 Inches
Tom Hollander — 5 feet 4 inches
Despite not being that tall, Tom Hollander doesn’t like fixating on his height. Holland once mentioned, “Being an actor has made me much more conscious of it than I would have been otherwise.” The British actor could be seen in various movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Pride and Prejudice, Gosford Park, and Rev (which he co-wrote as well). The Hollywood Reported revealed that Holland would be starring in The Prince, an animated satire about the royal family.
Tom Hollander — 5 Feet 4 Inches
Jet Li — 5 feet 6 inches
Jet Li first rose to prominence when he appeared in the Hollywood 1998 film called Lethal Weapon 4. The martial artist/actor had to split his time between Hollywood and China after that. Did you know that he stands at 5 feet and 6 inches tall? His real name is Li Lianjie, and he could be seen in the live-action remake of the Disney classic, Mulan.
Jet Li — 5 feet 6 inches
Simon Helberg — 5 feet 7 inches
Another actor from Big Bang Theory, Simon Helberg is best known for his portrayal of Howard Holowitz on the show. He stands at around 5 feet 7 inches tall and has made a transition from showing up on TV to film. He also starred in Florence Foster Jenkins as well as Annette later on.
Simon Helberg — 5 Feet 7 Inches
Toby Jones — 5 feet 5 inches
In the 2006 biopic called Infamous, Toby Jones brought the character named Truman Capote to life. He has been a bit busy after this. The 5 feet, 5 inches actor could also be seen in Dad’s Army, Christopher Robin, as well as Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and his voice could be heard in Harry Potter as well thanks to the character named Dobby. Although, it isn’t a good idea to ask him to speak as Dobby as he has retired it.
Toby Jones — 5 Feet 5 Inches
Giancarlo Esposito — 5 feet 8 inches
Giancarlo Esposito is best known for his portrayal of the character named Gustavo Fring from Vince Gilligan’s Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Unlike the character that he portrayed, he is actually very excitable and energetic in real life! According to him, meditation and yoga helped him portray a “cool as a cucumber” character for Gustavo Fring.
Giancarlo Esposito — 5 Feet 8 Inches
Emilio Estevez — 5 feet 7 inches
There is no doubt that Emilio Estevez is made to be an actor. Emilio has a height of 5 feet and 7 inches, and he could be seen in various movies such as The Breakfast Club, The Outsiders, and St. Elmo’s Fire. Nowadays, he has been working as an indie filmmaker, with his latest project being cold The Public. A story set in Cincinnati during a cold freeze.
Emilio Estevez — 5 Feet 7 Inches
BD Wong — 5 feet 5 inches
Aside from Jurassic World, BD Wong also appeared in projects such as Gotham, Law and Order: SVU, and Mr. Robot. When he talked to GQ, the actor has talked about how Asian-American actors are always cast to play supporting roles and rarely get the chance to play bigger parts. On top of that, he is aware that he often gets typecast as a health professional. The actor stands at 5 feet and 5 inches tall. In the past, he received a Tony Award for his work in M. Butterfly.
BD Wong — 5 Feet 5 Inches
Zach Galifianakis — 5 feet 7 inches
We all remember Zach Galifianakis for his incredible work in The Hangover. He could also be seen on a web series called Between Two Ferns, where he hosts and interviews important guests. The former POTUS Barack Obama even showed up in the show before! This is a little-known fact, but he could be seen in a music video for Kanye West.
Zach Galifianakis — 5 Feet 7 Inches
Billy Crystal — 5 feet 7 inches
The 5 feet 7 inches actor rose to prominence during the 70s to 80s thanks to his work in projects like The Princess Bride, Mr. Saturday Night, and When Harry Met Sally… He is also the voice for a character in Monsters, Inc. named Mike Wazowski. The actor has earned a lot of awards and even has his name printed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! Being tall certainly isn’t needed to be famous.
Billy Crystal — 5 Feet 7 Inches
Martin Lawrence – 5 feet 7 inches
It is hard to deny Martin Lawrence’s work as a comedy legend. In the 90s, he starred in Martin for five years and continued to do stand-up comedy. The actor was a boxer at some point in his life. According to him, “It just gets me loose and everything before I go out there”. With a height of 5 feet and 7 inches, he is certainly a tad bit shorter than Will Smith. They worked together on a cop film called Bad Boys.
Martin Lawrence – 5 Feet 7 Inches
Antonio Banderas – 5 feet 8.5 inches
Are you aware that Antonio Banderas was once a soccer protégé? The Spanish-born actor, however, suffered a foot injury at the age of 14 and had to change gears. After giving up on his football dreams, he started acting by starring in a production of Hair. He later entered Hollywood, studied English intensively, and landed a role in a 1993 movie called Philadelphia. Even though this was his breakout role, we are sure that you remember him for playing the titular character in the Zorro film series! The actor stands at right below 5 feet and 9 inches.
Antonio Banderas – 5 Feet 8.5 Inches
Mark Wahlberg – 5 feet 8 inches
Another actor who came from a big acting family, Mark Wahlberg could be seen in various projects such as Entourage, Boogie Nights, and the reality TV show called Wahlburgers. It’s a great watch if you want to know of the clan and their burger business. You may even remember him as Donny from New Kids on the Block if you grew up in the ‘80s! In the 90s. He once had a rap collective called Mary Mark and the Funky Bunch, which became a flop, leading him to give acting a shot and finally became successful.
Mark Wahlberg – 5 Feet 8 Inches
Joaquin Phoenix – 5 feet 8 inches
Thanks to his performance in Joker, Joaquin Phoenix proved once more that he is certainly talented as he earned the 2020 Golden Globe for Best Actor. Although a lot of people changed their names as they enter Hollywood, Phoenix’s story is an interesting one. At the age of four, he changed his name to “Leaf” and later returned to his birth name after twelve years. The actor is also vegetarian and was declared PETA’s “Person of the Year” in 2019.
Joaquin Phoenix – 5 Feet 8 Inches
Jerry Stiller – 5 feet 5 inches
Comedy definitely runs in the blood of the Stiller Family. Jerry Stiller is Ben Stiller’s father, and together, they starred in the film called Zoolander. Older people know him from Seinfeld as Frank Constanza or Arthur Spooner on The King of Queens. In the 60s, he worked in a comedy duo with Anne Meara called “Stiller and Meara”. The actor stands at around 5 feet and 5 inches tall.
Jerry Stiller – 5 Feet 5 Inches
Danny Trejo – 5 feet 6 inches
Danny Trejo not only has an amazing Hollywood career but is also a drug counselor for at-risk youth! The LA City Council even recognized him for his work in this field earlier this year. The actor is on this list because of his height of 5 feet and 6 inches. His first acting role was in the 1985 film called Runaway Train. He also played the leading role in the 2010 film called Machete.
Danny Trejo – 5 Feet 6 Inches
Marc Anthony – 5 feet 6.5 inches
The 5 feet 6 inches tall Grammy Award winner could be seen in The Substitute and Hackers during the ‘90s. He also played the role of a rich Mexican businessman who hires an ex-soldier to keep his daughter safe from kidnappers in the 2004 crime thriller film, Man on Fire. He and Jennifer Lopez had twins in the year 2011.
Marc Anthony – 5 Feet 6.5 Inches
Woody Allen – 5 feet 5 inches
Did you know that Woody Allen’s career has spanned for over six decades now? His most famous films are Manhattan and Annie Hall. He started doing comedy by writing for a newspaper when he was 15. However, his legacy has had its share of controversies as well. His adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, claimed that she was sexually assaulted by him when she was little. Allen has not been criminally charged as he had denied these allegations.
Woody Allen – 5 Feet 5 Inches
Tobey Maguire – 5 feet 8 inches
Tobey Maguire played small roles on TV shows like Blossom and Roseanne when he was young. But most of us know him as the first person to play the iconic role of Peter Parker in Spiderman. He also portrayed Nick Carraway in the 2013 film adaptation of The Great Gatsby. Aside from the mentioned movies, the 5 feet 8 inches actor also starred in Seabiscuit as well as Cider House Rules.
Tobey Maguire – 5 Feet 8 Inches
Jesse Eisenberg – 5 feet 7 inches
Jesse Eisenberg received a nomination for the Academy Award when he played Mark Zuckerberg in the 2010 film called The Social Network. However, it seems like people don’t know that he is a writer as well! He has written a lot of short stories, some of which have even been published by the New Yorker. The 5 feet and 7-inch actor also grew up in East Brunswick, New Jersey.
Jesse Eisenberg – 5 Feet 7 Inches
Ed Sheeran – 5 feet 8 inches
Ed Sheeran caught everyone by surprise in a short span of 5 years with his songs that captivated the hearts of many. The 29-year-old singer-songwriter is only 5 feet 8 inches, but his talent certainly makes up for that. He started his singing career in 2005, and after long years of hard work, he was able to build a fanbase of his own with the release of his song called “Thinking Out Loud” from the album “X”.
Ed Sheeran – 5 feet 8 inches
Lil Wayne – 5 feet 6 inches
Famously known by his stage name Lil Wayne, the American rapper named Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. has a successful rap career that sold over 120 million records all over the world. Did you know that he was only 11 years old when he released his very first record? It’s no wonder they say dynamite comes in small packages as the rapper stands at 5 feet and 6 inches.
Lil Wayne – 5 feet 6 inches