21 Facts About Schlitzie

Schlitzie, possibly born Simon Metz and legally Schlitze Surtees, was an American sideshow performer.

Schlitzie appeared in a few films, and is best known for his role in the 1932 movie Freaks.

Schlitzie's true birth date, name, location and parents are unknown; the information on his death certificate and gravesite indicate that he was born on September 10,1901, in The Bronx, New York, though some sources have claimed that he was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Schlitzie was born with microcephaly, a neurodevelopmental disorder that left him with an unusually small brain and skull, a small stature, myopia, and severe intellectual disability.

Those who knew Schlitzie described him as an affectionate, exuberant, sociable person who loved dancing, singing, and being the center of attention, performing for anyone he could stop and talk with.

Schlitzie was often dressed in a muumuu and presented as either female or androgynous to add to the mystique of his unusual appearance.

In 1928, Schlitzie made his film debut in The Sideshow, a drama set in a circus, which featured a variety of actual sideshow performers.

Schlitzie landed his best-known role as an actor in Tod Browning's 1932 horror film Freaks.

Schlitzie has a scene of dialogue with actor Wallace Ford.

Schlitzie appeared in bit roles in various movies and is credited with a role in the 1934 exploitation film Tomorrow's Children as a mentally defective criminal who undergoes forced sterilization.

In 1941, Schlitzie appeared in his final film role as "Princess Bibi", a sideshow attraction, in Meet Boston Blackie.

Under George Surtees' care, Schlitzie continued performing in the sideshow circuit; after Surtees' death in 1965, his daughter, who was not in show business, committed Schlitzie to a Los Angeles county hospital.

Schlitzie remained hospitalized for some time until he was recognized by sword swallower Bill "Frenchy" Unks, who happened to be working at the hospital during the off-season.

Hospital authorities determined that the best care for Schlitzie would be to make him a ward of Unks' employer, showman Sam Alexander, and return him to the sideshow, where he remained until 1968.

Schlitzie became a notable attraction performing on the streets of Hollywood, with his caretakers selling his stock carnival souvenir pictures.

Schlitzie spent time in his final days on Santa Monica Boulevard.

Schlitzie liked going to MacArthur Park at Alvarado Street and Wilshire Boulevard, where he would visit the lake with his guardian, feeding the pigeons and ducks and performing for passersby.

On September 24,1971, at seventy years old, Schlitzie died at Fountain View Convalescent Home.

Schlitzie was interred at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Rowland Heights.

The film became the public's major exposure to Schlitzie, who remains one of the more memorable characters in the film.

Additionally, Schlitzie has been cited as an inspiration for Bill Griffith's comic strip Zippy the Pinhead.