Martin Klebba (born June 23, 1969) is an American actor and stunt performer. He has a form of dwarfism called acromicric dysplasia; he is 4 feet 1 inch (1.24 m). Klebba is best known for his role as Marty in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. He made his first role in a cameo in Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes (2001).

Martin Klebba
Klebba in 2007
Born (1969-06-23) June 23, 1969 (age 55)
EducationAthens High School
Occupations
Years active1983–present
Height4 ft 1 in (124 cm)
SpouseMichelle Dilgard
Children2

Early life

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Klebba was born and grew up in Troy, Michigan, graduating from Athens High School.[1]

Klebba runs a nonprofit foundation called Coalition for Dwarf Advocacy, which gives 100% of its donations to the cause of helping people with dwarfism.[2]

Career

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Early career

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Klebba was an occasional guest on The Howard Stern Show in the 1990s and early 2000s, and was given the nickname "Marty the Midget".[3]

Film

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Klebba has acted in various productions, most notably the Pirates of the Caribbean series as Marty, a dwarf pirate member of Jack Sparrow's crew. The character was originally named "Dirk", but someone, possibly director Gore Verbinski, named the character after Klebba.[4] First appearing in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Klebba reprised the role in the sequels Dead Man's Chest, At World's End, and Dead Men Tell No Tales. On the role, Klebba was quoted in saying he is a normal man who fell into the franchise, one stunt turned into four out of five films.[5]

In 2003, Klebba played the ring announcer in Cradle 2 the Grave. In 2009, Klebba played the role of "Count Le Petite" in All's Faire in Love, a romantic comedy set at a Renaissance fair. He has also been in low budget horror/comedy films Feast II: Sloppy Seconds and Feast III: The Happy Finish as Thunder.

He has numerous stunt credits as well including Hancock, Zombieland, Bedtime Stories, Evan Almighty, Meet the Spartans, Epic Movie, and Van Helsing. Wearing motion capture pajamas, Klebba stood in for the Dimorphodon who grapples with Owen Grady in Jurassic World.

Television

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Klebba starred as Friday, one of the seven dwarfs, in the 2001 television film Snow White: The Fairest of Them All. In 2003, Klebba starred as Hank Dingo in the Comedy Central television film Knee High P.I.. He also made an appearance as a demon in the Charmed episode "Witch Wars" (2004). He has also appeared in iCarly and Drake & Josh as Nug Nug.

Klebba made many appearances as Randall Winston in the television series Scrubs. He starred in the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode "The Chick Chop Flick Shop" (2007) as Dickie Jones and in the CSI: NY episode "Uncertainty Rules" (2010) as Calvin Moore. Also in 2010, Klebba guest starred as Hibachi in Pair of Kings, a Disney TV series. He played Todd Moore in the Bones episode "Dwarf in the Dirt" (2010).

Klebba has also been featured on the TLC reality show, Little People, Big World, with his friend Amy Roloff. He and his wife are featured in one episode of VH-1's I'm Married to a....

In 2011, Klebba appeared on The Cape as a series regular named "Rollo". He also appeared once again as one of the Seven Dwarfs in Mirror Mirror (2012).

In 2025, Klebba provided the voice and facial capture for Grumpy, one of the seven dwarfs, in Snow White.[6]

Music videos

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Klebba appears as the "New Year Baby" in the music video for "Truth" by the South African rock band, Seether.

Filmography

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Key
Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2001 Planet of the Apes Monkey Grinder's Pet Uncredited role
Corky Romano Mini Bouncer
How High Party Guest
2002 Run Ronnie Run Music Video Doorman
Big Fat Liar Kissing Bandit Uncredited role
Death to Smoochy Rhinette / Krinkle Kid #3
Men in Black II Family Child Alien
Austin Powers in Goldmember Dancer Uncredited role
Blood Shot Secret Weapon Short film
2003 National Security Security Guard Uncredited role
Cradle 2 the Grave Fight Announcer
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Marty
El Matador Me Too
A Light in the Forest Boar
Looney Tunes: Back in Action Dancing Yosemite Sam
The Haunted Mansion Pickwick Uncredited role
2004 Van Helsing Dwerger
2005 Americano Matador
2006 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Marty
2007 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End Marty
Cougar Club Short Boss Man Uncredited role
The Santa Trap Special Ops Elf
2008 Hancock Prisoner Uncredited role
Feast II: Sloppy Seconds Thunder Direct-to-video
2009 Feast III: The Happy Finish Thunder
American High School Principal Mann
All's Faire in Love Count Le Petit
2010 A Short Film Cowboy Short film
2011 Night of the Little Dead Little Dead
In the Gray Producer only
2012 Project X Dwarf Partygoer Credited as Angry Little Person
Mirror Mirror Butcher
2013 Movie 43 Killer Chaun
Oz the Great and Powerful Nikko
Blood Shot Marud
2014 The Hungover Games Fruito
The Bag Man Guano
Left Behind Melvin Weir
2015 Jurassic World Dimorphodon
Ted 2 Chucky Cosplayer
2016 Range 15 Zombie Klebba
All Hallows' Eve Barnaby
2017 Eloise Mental Patient
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Marty
2019 Viy 2: Journey to China Captain
2025 The Electric State Herman, Milkman Bot Motion capture
Snow White Grumpy Voice and facial motion capture

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1998 Charmed Bar Guest Episode: "Witch Wars"
2001 Snow White: The Fairest of Them All Friday Television film
2009 Bones Todd Moore Episode: "The Dwarf in The Dirt"
2011 Pair of Kings Hibachi 3 episodes
2016 The Thundermans Troll Episode: "Happy Heroween"
2021 Pacific Rim: The Black Spyder (voice) Recurring role (season 1)

References

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  1. ^ "Martin Klebba has fun with his slightly shady character on 'The Cape'". Boulder Weekly. January 5, 2011. Archived from the original on October 5, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
  2. ^ Cooper, Chet. "Martin Klebba Interview". Ability. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  3. ^ "MarksFriggin.com - Stern Show Archive (For The Week Of 9/9/2002 to 9/13/2002)". September 10, 2002.
  4. ^ Bring Me That Horizon: The Making of Pirates of the Caribbean, pg.83
  5. ^ Parker, Suzi (July 24, 2022). "'Marty' meets pirate film fans". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
  6. ^ Amidon, Aurora (July 5, 2022). "Disney's Snow White Remake Casts Pirates of the Caribbean Alum as Grumpy". CBR. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
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