Cousin Itt actor Felix Silla dead at 84

Felix Silla, who played Cousin Itt on “The Addams Family” and Twiki in”Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" has died of cancer. He was 84.

The Italian-born actor, stuntman and circus performer moved to the U.S. in 1955, even though he couldn’t speak a word of English. He joined Ringley Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus as a bareback horse rider and trapeze artist before landing his first break in 1964, where he appeared in 17 episodes of”The Addams Family.”

Other memorable roles include co-starring with Shirley Jones in”A Ticklish Affair,” a hang-gliding Ewok in”Return of the Jedi” and an uncredited appearance in the”Star Trek” pilot episode”The Cage.”

Standing three feet, 11 inches, he often doubled as a stuntman for children in such films as”The Towering Inferno” and “E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial.”