Warwick Davis

Warwick Davis Bio

Warwick Ashley Davis is an English actor and television presenter whose career spans four decades and encompasses film, television, and stage. Born on 3 February 1970 in Epsom, Surrey, England, he has become one of the most recognizable performers in British cinema, particularly known for his roles as a dwarf actor and character player. Davis rose to fame playing Wicket the Ewok in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983) and the title character in Willow (1988). He later portrayed Professor Filius Flitwick and Griphook in the Harry Potter film series and has played various characters across multiple Star Wars films and spin-offs. On television, he has hosted Life’s Too Short, Celebrity Squares, and Tenable. His contributions to drama and charity have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the BAFTA Fellowship and an OBE.

Early Life and Background

Davis was born on 3 February 1970 in Epsom, Surrey, England, to parents Ashley Davis and Susan J. Pain. He attended Chinthurst School in Tadworth, Surrey, and later the City of London Freemen’s School. Davis was born with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, a rare bone growth disorder that results in dwarfism. His condition has presented various health challenges throughout his life, including dislocated hips, painful joints, and foot problems requiring surgery.

When Davis was 11 years old, his grandmother heard a radio advertisement about a casting call at Borehamwood Job Centre for people under 4 feet tall to appear in Return of the Jedi. As an enthusiastic Star Wars fan, this opportunity was a dream come true for the young actor. During the filming of Return of the Jedi, co-star Mark Hamill bought Davis every Star Wars action figure that he did not already own, a gesture that left a lasting impression on the young performer.

Path to Acting

Davis was originally cast as an extra Ewok in Return of the Jedi, but his destiny changed when Kenny Baker, who was originally cast as Wicket, fell ill. Director George Lucas noticed Davis carrying himself well as an Ewok and selected him to play the iconic character of Wicket. Davis based Wicket’s distinctive head-tilting movements on his own dog, creating one of the most memorable Ewok characteristics in cinema history.

During the production of Return of the Jedi, Davis was the subject of a short mockumentary film titled Return of the Ewok, made by first assistant director David Tomblin. The fictional documentary chronicled Davis’s decision to become an actor and his transformation into Wicket. Davis reprised his role as Wicket in the ABC made-for-television films Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure and Ewoks: The Battle for Endor, further establishing his place in the Star Wars universe.

Warwick Davis Career

Early Career (1982–1990)

Following his work in the Star Wars universe, Davis was called to Elstree Studios in 1987 to meet with director Ron Howard and George Lucas about a new film project called Willow. The character of Willow Ufgood was written specifically with Davis in mind, and this role gave him his first opportunity to act with his face visible rather than hidden under elaborate makeup or costume. Co-starring alongside Val Kilmer, Willow received a Royal Premiere before Prince Charles and Princess Diana. This film marked Davis’s transition from character roles under heavy prosthetics to a leading man performance.

During this period, Davis also worked in television, appearing in BBC Television adaptations of The Chronicles of Narnia series. He portrayed Reepicheep in Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and Glimfeather in The Silver Chair. He also appeared in an episode of Zorro filmed in Madrid.

Breakthrough (1991–2010)

In 1993, Davis achieved another major milestone by playing the villainous Irish lead character in Leprechaun, opposite Jennifer Aniston. This role became one of his most iconic performances and led to five sequels from 1994 to 2003. Davis also played a leprechaun in the 1998 family film A Very Unlucky Leprechaun, cementing his association with the genre.

The year 1999 marked Davis’s return to the Star Wars universe in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. In this film, he played multiple roles including Weazel, a gambler sitting next to Watto at the Podrace; Wald, Anakin’s Rodian friend; Yoda in certain walking scenes; and a street trader in Mos Espa. This demonstrated his versatility within the franchise.

Davis played Professor Filius Flitwick in the Harry Potter film series beginning in 2001. Additionally, he portrayed the goblin Griphook in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Part 2, despite the role having been previously played by Verne Troyer. In 2004, Davis appeared in the independent film Skinned Deep as the character Plates, directed by special effects artist Gabriel Bartalos.

Notable Works and Milestones

Davis starred as a fictionalized version of himself in the sitcom Life’s Too Short, written by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, which aired from 2011 to 2013. The show provided a humorous look at the challenges and absurdities of life as a performer with dwarfism. Davis has also made numerous television appearances, including roles in Extras alongside Daniel Radcliffe, Doctor Who as Porridge in the episode Nightmare in Silver, and Merlin as Grettir the gatekeeper. He appeared in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian as Nikabrik the Dwarf and participated in various reality shows and documentaries, including presenting an ITV documentary about the Ovitz family who survived Auschwitz.

Warwick Davis Award Nominations

Throughout his career, Davis has been recognized with several prestigious nominations for his contributions to entertainment and his charitable work supporting people with dwarfism.

Warwick Davis Awards Won

Davis has received significant recognition for his lifetime achievements and contributions to drama. In February 2025, he was awarded the BAFTA Fellowship from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts for lifetime achievement. In the 2026 New Year Honours, Davis was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to drama and charity, an honour presented to him by William, Prince of Wales on 11 March 2026.

Warwick Davis Family

Davis was married to Samantha Burroughs, the daughter of his business partner Peter Burroughs, whom he met while filming Willow where both had minor roles as Nelwyn villagers. Samantha Burroughs appeared alongside her father in the film. The couple married in 1991 and had two surviving children together: daughter Annabelle Davis, who also became an actress, and son Harrison Davis, who is also an actor. Their son Harrison was named after Harrison Ford, whom Warwick met on the set of Return of the Jedi in 1981.

Personal Life

Samantha Davis, Davis’s wife, passed away on 24 March 2024. Both Davis and his late wife had dwarfism, though different types: Davis has spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, while Samantha had achondroplasia. Their children inherited Davis’s condition. The couple’s first son died nine days after birth, and they experienced another loss with a miscarriage at 19 weeks. Davis has spoken openly about the health challenges associated with his condition, including joint pain, dislocated hips, and risks of retinal detachment, while noting that the primary drawbacks relate to associated health problems rather than the dwarfism itself.

Davis is a co-founder of Little People UK, a charity that provides support to people with dwarfism and their families. In 1995, he co-founded Willow Management, a talent agency specializing in representing performers under five feet tall, with his father-in-law Peter Burroughs. Many actors with dwarfism from major film franchises are represented by the agency. Davis is also the founder of the Reduced Height Theatre Company, which stages theatrical productions cast exclusively with short actors using reduced-height sets, with their first production being See How They Run in 2014. He published his autobiography Size Matters Not in 2010, with a foreword by George Lucas.