Angelo Muscat

Maltese actor (1930–1977)

Angelo Muscat

Muscat in The Prisoner, 1967

Born|

Angelo Muscat

(1930-09-24)24 September 1930

Malta

Died| 10 October 1977(1977-10-10) (aged 47)

London, England

Occupation| Actor
Years active| 1965–1971
Height| 130 cm (4 ft 3 in)

Angelo Muscat (24 September 1930 – 10 October 1977) was a Maltese-born British character actor.[1] He is primarily remembered for his role as the silent butler in the 1967 television series The Prisoner.

## Life and career

[edit]

Muscat was born on 24 September 1930 in Malta to a policeman father. He was distinctly diminutive at only 4 ft 3 in (1.30 m), although both his parents and his three brothers were over 6 ft (1.8 m) in height. Muscat initially found work as a kitchen porter and then as a stoker at an RAF base in Malta. After the death of his parents and finding himself largely alone, he moved to England where he worked in a zip-fastener factory.

In 1961 Muscat joined a production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs that was to tour the United Kingdom. Moving into television, he played a Chumbley robot in the Doctor Who serial Galaxy 4 (1965), played the part of a clown in the ITV series Emergency – Ward 10 and appeared as the Queen's Servant in the BBC television adaptation of Alice in Wonderland (1966).[2]

Muscat appeared in the television series The Prisoner (1967–1968) with Patrick McGoohan, appearing in 14 of the 17 episodes as a silent butler. He played an Oompa-Loompa in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (uncredited, 1971). He also appeared in the Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour (uncredited, 1967).

During his later years, Muscat lived alone and virtually penniless in a basement flat in North London. He found it difficult to find acting work, and to supplement his income he made ornate birdcages by hand.[2]

## Death

[edit]

Muscat died of pneumonia on 10 October 1977, aged 47 at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London.[citation needed]

## Legacy

[edit]

Each year, on 10 October a small group of enthusiasts dubbed the "Friends of Angelo Muscat" (FOAM) celebrate his life.[1]

## TV and filmography

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1965 | Doctor Who | Chumbley Operator / Chumblie | Episode: "Galaxy 4"
1966 | Alice in Wonderland | Queen's Servant | uncredited
1966  | G.G. Passion |  | uncredited
1967 | The Prisoner | The Butler |
Magical Mystery Tour | Catching Dwarf | uncredited
1971 | Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory | Oompa Loompa | uncredited, final film role

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Angelo Muscat". Doctor Who News.
2. ^ a b The Unmutual Website - Village People: Cast & Crew Profiles

## External links

[edit]

* Angelo Muscat at IMDb
* Angelo Muscat on the 'Who's Who of Short People' website

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* BnF data

Other|

* IdRef