Mihaly “Michu” Meszaros, the actor who portrayed the lovable, wisecracking extra-terrestrial ALF in the popular ’80s sitcom, has died at the age of 76.
According to a report from celebrity website TMZ, Meszaros was taken to a Los Angeles hospital last week after being found unresponsive in his bathroom by his manager Dennis Varga.
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He then spent the past week in a coma before dying on Monday.
Meszaros was a Hungarian-born performer who worked with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus before transitioning to TV on ALF.
ALF was a sitcom that lasted for four seasons from 1986 to 1990, and followed the story of Gordon “ALF” Shumway, a furry alien who lived with a family after crashing into their garage. (ALF stands for “alien life form.”)
Although the alien was also a puppet, created and voiced by puppeteer Paul Fusco, Meszaros wore the costume every time full-body shots were needed. On the show, he was credited as an “ALF assistant.”
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The self-proclaimed “world’s shortest man” (Meszaros stood at 2’9”), he had been battling health problems since he suffered a stroke eight years ago.
He appeared in the movie Big Top Pee-Wee, and starred in two commercials with late singer Michael Jackson, who was also a good friend of his.