Michael Dunn was born Gary Neil Miller in Oklahoma to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Miller. In 1938, his family relocated to Detroit, Michigan, where he spent his formative years. By the age of 5, Dunn had already come to terms with his dwarfism, yet he was determined not to let it define him or hinder his potential.
Dunn's high school years were marked by his involvement in various extracurricular activities at Detroit's Redford High School, including the student council, cheerleading team, and numerous school plays. He graduated in 1951 and went on to enroll at the University of Michigan, where he was active in various campus organizations and even sang at local bars to support himself.
However, a leg injury sustained when he was accidentally knocked down a flight of stairs forced him to leave the University of Michigan. Dunn subsequently transferred to the University of Miami, where he excelled in acting, cheerleading, and journalism, ultimately graduating in 1956.
Throughout his college years, Dunn worked multiple jobs to make ends meet, including stints as a sports reporter, hotel detective, and missionary. Upon moving to New York, he finally began to land acting roles in off-Broadway productions, which ultimately led to his nomination for a Tony Award in 1963 for his performance in Edward Albee's "Ballad of A Sad Cafe".
Dunn's success continued to grow, and he even received an Academy Award nomination for his role as narrator in Ship of Fools (1965). Despite his achievements, he remained frustrated by the limited range of roles available to him as a dwarf actor.
Tragically, Dunn's life was cut short while filming The Abdication (1974) on location in England in 1973. He was just 38 years old at the time of his passing, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and entertain audiences to this day.
