(WCMH) — Michu Meszaros, a Hungarian circus performer who measured 33 inches in height and portrayed the wise-cracking title-character alien in about a dozen episodes of NBC’s comedy “ALF,” died Monday at age 76, NBC News reports.

Michu Meszaros suffered a stroke Thursday, his manager told CNN.

Meszaros didn’t voice Alf but wore a full body suit to play him.

Meszaros, who was dubbed the “smallest man on Earth” as he was only 33 inches tall, was a good friend of Michael Jackson. He began performing in the circus as a teenager and eventually joined Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus in 1973.

He portrayed a circus dwarf in the 1988 film “Big Top Pee-Wee'” and showed up in films including “Warlock: The Armageddon” and “Freaked.”

https://youtu.be/2H2P5oyplRAWhat others are clicking on: