I grew up in Centreville, Michigan, with an older brother, Davon, and younger sister, Deborah. My parents worked in a factory so there was never much money. We struggled financially but we always managed to get through the hard times.

We grew up Amish, but my parents left the religion when I was a child. The Amish have lots of rules and my dad thought many people in the faith were hypocritical because they’d tell others not to do something and then do it themselves.

I almost died as a baby. My parents found me unresponsive in my crib, after being laid low with an infection. As we were Amish, we only had a horse and buggy [carriage] to get to the hospital, but that wasn’t going to be quick enough so we borrowed my aunt’s car. My parents were told there was nothing that could be done and Dad whisked me away to another hospital, where I was put in an oxygen tent, and thankfully I recovered.

I was a typical boy growing up, even though I wasn’t particularly outgoing or chatty. I loved running around and playing football. My siblings and I are only a year apart in age so we played together. Sometimes it was good being so close, sometimes it wasn’t, like when they’d steal my candy and toys.

My parents taught me to be optimistic and independent. They made me feel that I could do anything I set my mind to, which has really helped me. They didn’t make allowances for me because of my height. I had to do everything my brother and sister had to do, including raising our animal menagerie that included cows and chickens.

All my family is average-sized, apart from me. I didn’t really think about my size until I got older, a few years before high school. It had never really fazed me that much. I never got much trouble off other kids either, although there was one incident in third grade where a kid who was much taller than me called me the M-word [midget], which is very offensive. So without even thinking, I just jumped in the air and punched him in the nose. He never bothered me again.

My parents were strict on discipline – if we did something wrong, we got the belt. I certainly learned right from wrong more quickly because of it. I get that it’s a controversial issue nowadays and I don’t necessarily agree with it – it’s just how it was back then.

The best part of growing up Amish is that it’s a very tight-knit community. If you fall on hard times or something bad happens, your neighbours pitch in to support you and get you back on your feet.

Looking back, I wonder how I survived in the Amish community. I can barely live without my phone and internet access now. But when I go back I still get into that culture. I can even drive a horse and buggy. Most of my mum’s side are still Amish. I respect them a lot. They like to live a plain lifestyle, the way they think God intended.

I get to be the fun, cool uncle and then hand the kids back – full of sugar and E-numbers of course [he giggles like Dr Evil]. My nephew came out to stay earlier this summer and I took him to E3, the big video-game conference. He was ecstatic.

I have a very close relationship with my parents. I see them regularly through the year and then they spend two months over the holidays at mine in California. Yes, that’s a long stretch – I can always retreat to my man cave if it gets too much. But I do love my parents to death really.

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