LOS ANGELES — Mihaly "Michu" Meszaros, the longtime circus performer and actor who occasionally played the diminutive alien title character on the NBC sitcom Alf, has died. He was 76.

Standing at 2 feet, 9 inches, the Hungarian-born actor was unofficially known as the "Smallest Man on Earth." Though the character of Alf was predominantly animated via puppeteer, from time to time he was portrayed walking around — and that's where Meszaros stepped in.

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Meszaros also appeared in a handful of films including Big Top Pee-wee and Look Who's Talking, as well as several other TV shows and music videos.

TMZ first reported Monday that Meszaros had died, citing his longtime manager Dennis Varga. The site said he was hospitalized in a coma more than a week ago after being found unresponsive at his home.

Michael Jackson and Mihaly 'Michu' Meszaros (3rd right) the shortest man in the world at Hungarian Parliament Michael Jackson in Budapest, Hungary, July 22, 1996. Image: AP

When he was a teenager, Michu joined up with the Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus, where Michael Jackson first saw him. The two became fast and longtime friends, and Michu was a regular at Neverland Ranch.





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