Warwick Davis Bio
Warwick Ashley Davis is an English actor and television presenter whose career spans four decades across film, television and stage. Born 3 February 1970 in Epsom, Surrey, England, Davis became widely known for his performances in Star Wars, Willow and the Harry Potter series and has been honored with a BAFTA Fellowship and appointment as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to drama and charity.
Early Life and Background
Warwick Ashley Davis was born to Susan J. Pain and Ashley Davis in Epsom, Surrey, and was raised with a younger sister. He was born with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, a rare bone growth disorder that resulted in dwarfism. He attended Chinthurst School in Tadworth and the City of London Freemen’s School during his childhood.
Davis developed an interest in performance at an early age and responded to a casting notice for Return of the Jedi when he was a child. That early opportunity led to work on a major studio production and set the stage for a lifelong career in acting and presenting.
Path to Celebrity
Davis began his screen career as a child performer on a high-profile feature, then moved between film, television and stage roles as he matured. He combined genre film work with theatre and television appearances, building a reputation as a versatile character actor who could perform both in costume roles and as a visible lead.
Alongside acting, Davis developed business and charitable projects that supported actors with short stature and broadened opportunities, founding agencies and theatre companies that created professional pathways for reduced-height performers.
Warwick Davis Career
Early Career (1982–1987)
Davis’s credited screen career began in the early 1980s when he joined the cast of Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi as the Ewok Wicket after being cast initially as an extra. That role brought immediate recognition and led to additional appearances connected to the Star Wars franchise. During this period he also appeared in television productions and developed experience performing in costume and creature roles.
These early years established Davis as a reliable performer in genre productions and led to collaborations with established filmmakers, giving him visibility that opened doors to larger, face-visible roles in subsequent projects.
Breakthrough (1988–1999)
Davis’s first major visible lead came in 1988 when he starred as the title character in Willow, a fantasy film written with him in mind and directed by Ron Howard. Willow was a career-defining moment: it showcased his ability to lead a mainstream studio picture with a central, fully visible performance and earned him broader industry recognition.
In the 1990s Davis further expanded his range with roles including the antagonist in the 1993 horror film Leprechaun, a role he reprised across subsequent sequels, and multiple parts in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999). These projects reinforced his profile in both family and genre cinema and established him as a recognizable supporting and character actor.
Ongoing Career and Franchise Work (2000s–2020s)
Across the 2000s and 2010s Davis became closely associated with two major franchises. He portrayed Professor Filius Flitwick and the goblin Griphook in the Harry Potter film series and returned often to the Star Wars universe in a variety of roles across multiple productions, including Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Solo: A Star Wars Story and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. His Star Wars appearances span decades and include both costumed and credited character work.
Parallel to his film work, Davis established a steady television presence as a presenter and performer. He starred as a fictionalized version of himself in the sitcom Life’s Too Short and later hosted ITV game shows including Celebrity Squares and Tenable. He also presented factual and documentary projects and appeared on stage in pantomime and musical theatre productions.
Notable Works and Milestones
Davis’s signature works include Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Willow and his recurring appearances in the Harry Potter films. He co-founded the talent agency Willow Management to represent actors under five feet tall, helped create the Reduced Height Theatre Company to stage productions with reduced-height sets and co-founded the charity Little People UK to support people with dwarfism and their families. He published an autobiography and produced stage work, maintaining a wide-ranging career that spans acting, producing and advocacy.
Warwick Davis Award Nominations
Over his career Davis has received multiple industry recognitions and public honors. His long-standing contributions to film, television and charitable work have been recognized by film and civic institutions, and he has been cited repeatedly in national honours and award announcements in the United Kingdom.
Warwick Davis Awards Won
Among Davis’s verified honors are the BAFTA Fellowship awarded in 2025 in recognition of lifetime achievement in film and television, and his appointment as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2026 New Year Honours for services to drama and charity. These honors reflect his impact on British screen performance and his advocacy on behalf of people with dwarfism.
Warwick Davis Family
Davis was the son of Susan J. Pain and Ashley Davis. He married Samantha Burroughs in 1991; she was a partner in his personal and professional life until her death in 2024. The couple had children, and their daughter Annabelle Davis is a known performer. Public records and interviews also note a son, Harrison, who has appeared in a cameo role alongside his father in franchise work.
Personal Life
Davis has been open about health challenges associated with his rare genetic condition and has used his platform to found and support organizations that assist people with dwarfism. He co-founded Willow Management to represent short-stature actors, co-founded the Reduced Height Theatre Company to create stage work for short actors, and is a founder of Little People UK, a charity providing support and advocacy.
He has published an autobiography and engaged in producing and presenting projects beyond acting, including hosting documentary programmes and daytime game shows. Davis continues to act, present and advocate, maintaining a public career that combines creative work with outreach and industry initiatives.