Iconic TV role: Herve Villechaize

The late Herve Villechaize, who was born with a rare form of dwarfism, owes his clebrity mainly to his role as Tattoo in the series "Fantasy Island."

Viewers who were around to watch this program have ingrained in their memories Tattoo, perched in a watchtower, shouting in his squeaky voice, "De plane, boss, de plane" as another airplane full of fantasy-seeking individuals arrived on Fantasy Island.

"De boss" was the show's star, dapper, worldly Ricardo Montalban, in the role of Mr. Rourke. It was Villechaize's insistence that he be paid as much as Montalban that resulted in his being fired from the role he had played from 1978 to 1983.

Villechaize was born in Paris to an English mother. He never knew who his biological father was, but he was adopted by his mother's second husband, a French surgeon. It is thought that his real father was Filipino.

When he was roughly 20, the tiny, less than 4-foot tall Villechaize moved to New York to seek his fortune. He taught himself English, supporting himself as an artist/photographer. He also did a little acting, and was cast in a 007 movie, "The Man with the Golden Gun," as assistant bad guy Nick Nack.

After his firing, he descended into depression and heavy drinking. After several suicide attempts, he succeeded in taking his own life with a pistol in 1993 at age 50.