It’s hard to mention the ‘80s Sitcom Webster’ without recalling the role played by Emmanuel Lewis. At 3’6”, it was hard not to notice the popular actor and comedian.
Lewis began his career as a child actor guest starring in numerous shows.
At some point, he even did commercials that centered on his height. His role on Webster is by far his most memorable, lasting until 1989, when the show ended.
Lewis was also featured in The Jeffersons and Love Island.
Why Is Emmanuel Lewis So Short?
In the 1980s, Emmanuel Lewis stood out as a child actor since he was only 3’6”. To put this into perspective, the average male has a height of 5’9” in the US. That makes Emmanuel Lewis one of the shortest actors in Hollywood’s history. His unique stature was particularly noticeable when he appeared on ‘Webster,’ as he was always dwarfed by his co-stars.
Perhaps one explanation for his short stature is a condition called dwarfism. Basically, dwarfism is a condition characterized by being unusually short. Some causes of dwarfism include problems in fetal development and genetics.
If his family genes were involved, it could explain his height. But did Lewis’ family’s genetic makeup result in his dwarfism? Not at all! We can rule out genetics since Lewis has 4 siblings who have normal height. Only Lewis was short in his household.
Some claim that Lewis may also have had a hormonal imbalance causing his short stature. Hormones are instrumental in the growth and development of growing kids. An imbalance could explain why the actor was so short.
Another theory explaining why Lewis is short is perhaps he suffers from Achondroplasia. It’s a common form of dwarfism resulting in short limbs, distorted skull growth, and spinal curvature. Achondroplasia causes the limbs to be shorter than the torso.
There have also been cases where dwarfism resulted from harsh environmental conditions. However, we doubt Lewis experienced malnutrition as a child.
In summary, Emmanuel Lewis’s height doesn’t seem to be caused by any health conditions or family genetics. He is healthy, and there’s no clear explanation for why he is shorter than average.
While shorter than the average male, height never seemed to hold Lewis back from advancing as an actor. He started acting as a child and has continued to grace screens in movies, series, and commercials since the 80s.
Did He Have a Catchphrase on Webster?
Lewis is remembered for his role on Webster as Webster Long. He lost his parents and was adopted by George Papadopolous (Alex Karras) and Katherine Calder-Young Papadopolous (Susan Clark).
He didn’t have a catchphrase when playing the role. However, Lewis had a ‘chipmunk’ laugh that was quite noticeable. Lewis, who was 12 when the show began, would laugh out loud when something funny happened.
Where is Emmanuel Lewis Today?
Webster was the longest show where Lewis featured as a child actor. The show lasted four seasons, and he went on to play many roles in his acting career. He even featured on his show ‘Emmanuel Lewis: My Very Own Show’ in 1987.
Besides acting in TV series and movies, Lewis did voice work for animated films and TV shows. In recent years, Lewis has been featured on Tyler Perry’s House of Payne. Some claim the actor is retired, but now and then, he does make appearances.
Find out more here: What is Emmanuel Lewis Doing Now?
How Loved was Emmanuel Lewis in Japan?
Emmanuel Lewis did have a good acting career in the US. But, in Japan, he was one of the most famous actors and musicians. In fact, the people of Japan loved Lewis so much that he did 3 tours of the country.
Lewis made a commercial in Japan in 1981, a common theme with actors in the 1980s. Apart from featuring in the commercial, Lewis sang the song, “City Connection” which many found so cool.
The song was a hit and featured at #2 on the Japanese Orikon music charts. Many claimed it was catchy and got stuck in their heads for a long time!
Does Emmanuel Lewis Practice Taekwondo?
Lewis may be short, but that has never stopped him from doing what he wants. Did you know that he practices taekwondo?
He claims taekwondo gives him ‘all-around exercise benefits’ since he stretches and proceeds to other exercise levels.
