Warwick Davis
An English actor whose commanding presence in fantasy roles, despite his stature, made him a beloved fixture in the world's biggest film franchises.
Born 1970 (age 56)·English actor·Birthday: February 3·Generation X
Biography
Warwick Davis didn't just find a niche in Hollywood; he built an empire within it. Discovered at age eleven to play an Ewok in 'Return of the Jedi,' he turned a single opportunity into a decades-long career defined by imagination and professionalism. He became the physical heart of fantastical worlds, bringing to life characters that required immense technical skill beneath layers of prosthetics or CGI. As the heroic Willow Ufgood, the mischievous Leprechaun, the wise Professor Flitwick, and the cunning Griphook, Davis never let the makeup obscure the character's soul. His career is a masterclass in versatility, moving seamlessly between villainy and warmth, comedy and drama. With appearances in 'Star Wars,' 'Harry Potter,' and 'Willow,' he holds a unique distinction: his films have collectively earned billions, making him one of cinema's most commercially successful and instantly recognizable character actors.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Warwick was born in 1970, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Warwick Was Born
The biggest hits of 1970
#1 Movie
Love Story
Best Picture
Patton
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Warwick's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1970Born
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1975Started school
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1983Became a teenager
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Could drive
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1988Could vote
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1991Turned 21
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2000Turned 30
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 40
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 50
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 56 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played Wicket the Ewok in 'Star Wars: Return of the Jedi,' launching a lifelong association with the franchise across multiple films and series.
- Starred as the titular hero in the fantasy film 'Willow,' a landmark leading role for an actor with dwarfism.
- Portrayed both Professor Filius Flitwick and the goblin Griphook in the blockbuster Harry Potter film series.
Did You Know?
He and his wife, Samantha, run a talent agency that represents actors under five feet tall.
He presented the UK series 'Weekend Escapes with Warwick Davis' and 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Behind the Scenes.'
He is a passionate advocate for people with dwarfism and has spoken out against the use of 'midget' as a derogatory term.
“Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something. If you have a dream, go for it.”
