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Mark Povinelli | |
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Born | Elyria, Ohio, U.S. | August 9, 1971
Alma mater | Miami University |
Occupation(s) | Actor, social activist |
Years active | 1998 - present |
Height | 115 cm (3 ft 9 in) |
Spouse | Heather Davis (m. 2001) |
Children | 2 |
Mark Povinelli (born August 9, 1971) is an American stage, television and movie actor who also does occasional stunt work. Povinelli is also a noted social activist advocating for the rights of others with dwarfism. In June 2017, Povinelli was elected President of the Little People of America, an organization started in 1957 by Billy Barty, [1] which promotes awareness, advocacy and medical assistance for individuals with forms of dwarfism. Povinelli stands 3’ 9½" and weighs 75 pounds (115 cm, 34 kg) as a consequence of spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SEDc), a skeletal dysplasia caused by a mutation in the COL2A1 (type II collagen) gene. [2]
His repertory encompasses drama, comedy, and fantasy. He has appeared in a wide range of productions, from stage plays by William Shakespeare and Ben Jonson to roles in television series such as Modern Family [3] [ non-primary source needed ] and Boardwalk Empire , as well as in popular movies including The Polar Express . [4]
Povinelli was born in Elyria, Ohio, and is the youngest of four children. His parents and siblings are average-size. His older brother Brian Povinelli is a marketer who inspired Mark's acting career.[ citation needed ] He is of Italian descent. [5] Povinelli graduated from Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, Maryland in 1989, and then graduated in 1993 from Miami University with a degree in Mass Communications and a minor in Theater Acting. [6] Onstage in 2003 in Lee Breuer's production of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House , retitled Mabou Mines DollHouse, [7] Povinelli drew praise from The New York Times : "The men embody small-minded convention and stunted possibilities...Mr. Povinelli makes us feel Torvald's repressive sexual virility at every turn." [8] He has characterized his approach to acting for The Village Voice : "Being so tremendously different provides you with an analytical depth ... Like any actor, I try to bring as much of myself to the role I'm playing as possible. Every day I go out I'm made aware of my size. Why should I deny myself the richness of that experience when I go onstage?" [9]
Povinelli starred opposite Robert Pattinson and Oscar winners Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz in the 2011 film Water for Elephants , playing the role of Kinko. [10] [11] [12] [13]
In 2012, he appeared in Mirror Mirror , which starred Julia Roberts, Armie Hammer, and Lily Collins. [14] In the same year, Povinelli was cast as a series regular on the television series Are You There, Chelsea? , starring Laura Prepon. This made him the first little person ever to be cast as a series regular on a network studio sitcom. [15]
In 2015-2016 he had a recurring role as "The Cat" in the Amazon Studios original Mad Dogs , which also starred Steve Zahn and Michael Imperioli.
Since 2014, Mark has co-hosted LA Talk Radio's "Perfectly Imperfect Radio" program. [16]
This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources .(December 2023) |
Povinelli currently resides in Los Angeles, California with his wife, Heather Davis, and their two children. Mark's brother-in-law, Erik Davis, was the 2020 El Presidente of Old Spanish Days Fiesta and is a television executive.[ citation needed ]
This section needs expansionwith: Barely any information on his stage performances. You can help by adding to it. (December 2023) |
Films:
Television:
Stage:
A Doll's House is a three-act play written by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It premiered at the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 21 December 1879, having been published earlier that month. The play is set in a Norwegian town c. 1879.
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Kniest dysplasia is a rare form of dwarfism caused by a mutation in the COL2A1 gene on chromosome 12. The COL2A1 gene is responsible for producing type II collagen. The mutation of COL2A1 gene leads to abnormal skeletal growth and problems with hearing and vision. What characterizes Kniest dysplasia from other type II osteochondrodysplasia is the level of severity and the dumb-bell shape of shortened long tubular bones.
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An osteochondrodysplasia, or skeletal dysplasia, is a disorder of the development of bone and cartilage. Osteochondrodysplasias are rare diseases. About 1 in 5,000 babies are born with some type of skeletal dysplasia. Nonetheless, if taken collectively, genetic skeletal dysplasias or osteochondrodysplasias comprise a recognizable group of genetically determined disorders with generalized skeletal affection. These disorders lead to disproportionate short stature and bone abnormalities, particularly in the arms, legs, and spine. Skeletal dysplasia can result in marked functional limitation and even mortality.
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