Cast & creator
Michael J. Anderson
Best known for Saturday Night Live, Saturday Night Live, The X-Files
Michael John Anderson was born in Denver, Colorado, at 10:30 P.M., on Halloween night. Subject to a genetic anomaly known as Osteogenesis Imperfecta, he grew up in a wheelchair. After graduating high school, he traveled America, singing for tips and living in his car. For six years, he attended the University of Colorado where he majored in numerous subjects ranging from philosophy to microbiology. After college, he began working for Martin Marietta, trouble-shooting the N.A.S.A. computers in the ground-support system of the space shuttle. During this time, he made the documentary "Little Mike," which won a silver medal in the International Film and Television Awards. Soon thereafter, he moved to New York City, where his film and television career began. For many years, Anderson was most well-known among fans of director David Lynch for his work as a backwards-talking dream figure on the cult favorite T.V. series Twin Peaks (1990). Anderson also worked with Lynch for the experimental performance piece Industrial Symphony No. 1: The Dream of the Brokenhearted (1990) and the T.V.-pilot-turned-feature film Mulholland Drive (2001). Anderson gained further recognition and success in recent years for his work on the H.B.O. series Carnivàle (2003). He retired from acting in 2014. His last role was in Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (2010–13).
Also known as: Little Mike Anderson, Michael John Anderson, Michael Anderson, Mike Anderson
32
film credits
15
television credits
46
1975–2025 · acting roles
6.4
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (47)
Showing 47 of 47 credits
Saturday Night Live
New Years Baby 1953 (uncredited)
1975Saturday Night Live
Ed McMahon's little helper (uncredited)
1975
The X-Files
Mr. Nutt
1993
Charmed
Leprechaun
1998Charmed
O'Brien
1998
Twin Peaks
The Arm
1990Twin Peaks
Man From Another Place
1990
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Rumpelstiltskin
1993
American Playhouse
Hopfrog
1982
Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated
Professor Horatio Kharon (voice)
2010
Monsters
Holly
1988Monsters
Household God
1988
Carnivàle
Samson
2003
Mulholland Drive
Mr. Roque
2001
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
Man From Another Place
1992
Port Charles
1997
Twin Peaks
The Man From Another Place
1989
Tiptoes
Bruno
2002
Snow White
Sunday
2001
Mannequin Two: On the Move
Jewel Box Bearer
1991
Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces
Man From Another Place
2014
Warriors of Virtue
Mudlap
1997
This Is How the World Ends
Noise Robber
2000An Introduction to David Lynch
Self
2001
Salvation!
The Devil
1987
In the Soup
Little Man
1992Making 'Carnivàle': The Show Behind the Show
Self
2003
The Great Land of Small
Fritz / The King
1987
Screwed
himself
1997
Industrial Symphony No. 1: The Dream of the Brokenhearted
Woodsman (Twin A)
1990
Ava's Magical Adventure
Stretch
1998Postcards From The Cast
Self
2001
Reflections on the Phenomenon of Twin Peaks
Self
2001
Suffering Bastards
Little Elvis
1989
Clutch
Co-Executive Producer
2025
Fool's Fire
Hopfrog
1992
Whatever Happened to Mason Reese
Sushi Chef
1990
Caged Hearts
John
1995
The Phantom Eye
Carl
1999
No Such Thing as Gravity
The Botanist
1989
First You Live Then You Die
1994Learning to Speak in the Red Room
Self
2001
Little Mike: A Videoportrait of Michael Anderson
Himself
1987
Club Vampire
Kiddo
1998
Specter's Rock
The Interrogator
2003
Minimum Wage
Zeke Bleak
1999
Silent But Deadly
Dr. Bunson
1988