Quick Answer: Warwick Davis is a British actor, writer, producer, and television presenter born on February 3, 1970, in Epsom, Surrey, England. Standing 3 feet 6 inches tall, Davis has built one of Hollywood’s most diverse careers — spanning five decades, multiple Star Wars and Harry Potter films, and beloved roles in Willow and the Leprechaun franchise.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Warwick Ashley Davis |
| Date of Birth | February 3, 1970 |
| Place of Birth | Epsom, Surrey, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Height | 3 ft 6 in (1.07 m) |
| Condition | Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SED) |
| Spouse | Samantha Davis (m. 1991) |
| Children | 4 (including Annabelle and Harrison Davis) |
| Estimated Net Worth | Approximately $5 million (unconfirmed) |
| Notable Roles | Wicket (Star Wars), Willow, Filius Flitwick & Griphook (Harry Potter), Leprechaun |
| Active Years | 1983–present |
Few actors can claim a career as genuinely unique as Warwick Davis. He’s been crushed by an AT-AT on Endor, wielded a wand at Hogwarts, and terrified horror fans with a green face and a rhyme about gold. Across more than 40 years in film and television, Davis has not simply carved out a niche — he has expanded what’s possible for actors with dwarfism, proving time and again that a compelling screen presence has nothing to do with height.
This biography covers the full story: his unexpected discovery as a teenager, the blockbuster roles that defined his early career, his prolific middle years, the personal losses he’s endured, and the legacy he continues to build.
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Early Life: From Epsom to Endor
Warwick Ashley Davis was born on February 3, 1970, in Epsom, Surrey, England. He was diagnosed with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SED), a rare genetic condition affecting bone growth that results in short stature.
Growing up, Davis attended Chinthurst School and later Fullbrook School in Surrey. By his own account, he was an imaginative, enthusiastic child with a deep love of performance. It was his grandmother who changed the course of his life.
In 1983, when Davis was just 11 years old, his grandmother heard a radio advertisement seeking people with dwarfism to appear in George Lucas’s upcoming Star Wars film. She encouraged him to audition. He got the part — not just as an extra, but as Wicket W. Warrick, the young Ewok who befriends Princess Leia in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983).
The original Ewok performer, Kenny Baker, fell ill during production. Davis stepped into a leading role at age 13 and delivered a performance so expressive — despite being encased in fur and a full mask — that audiences around the world fell in love with the character. It remains one of the most remarkable debut performances in Hollywood history.
Career Timeline
1983–1987: The Star Wars Years and a Franchise Launch
After Return of the Jedi, Davis reprised his role as Wicket in the TV movies Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure (1984) and Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985). These projects confirmed that Davis had genuine leading-man appeal with audiences of all ages.
His next major opportunity came from Ron Howard and George Lucas, who cast him in the fantasy epic Willow (1988). Davis played Willow Ufgood, a reluctant farmer and aspiring sorcerer tasked with protecting a special baby from a wicked queen. The film required him to carry virtually every scene — dramatic, comedic, and action-driven alike. His performance earned critical praise and cemented him as a bankable lead.
1988–1999: Genre Diversity and the Leprechaun Role
Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, Davis demonstrated remarkable range. He appeared in Labyrinth (1986) as one of the goblins, Willow (1988), and took on one of his most commercially enduring roles in Leprechaun (1993), a horror-comedy that launched a franchise spanning eight films.
The Leprechaun films are far from prestige cinema — and Davis has said as much in interviews — but they display a physicality and dark comedic timing that few performers could sustain across multiple entries. His willingness to commit fully to eccentric, genre-bending material became a hallmark of his career.
He also appeared in Ray Harryhausen’s production circle, voiced characters in animated features, and continued working in British television.
1999–2011: The Harry Potter Era
The launch of the Harry Potter film series brought Davis his most visible ensemble work. He was cast as Professor Filius Flitwick, the Charms teacher at Hogwarts, appearing across all eight films from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) through Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011).
In a testament to his versatility, Davis also played Griphook, the Gringotts goblin, in the later films — two entirely distinct characters within the same franchise. His collaboration with director David Yates and the wider Potter cast deepened his profile in Britain considerably.
2012–Present: Star Wars Returns, Television, and Advocacy
Davis returned to the Star Wars universe in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019), appearing in multiple roles across each film. His relationship with Lucasfilm remained one of the most sustained actor-franchise partnerships in film history.
In 2022, Willow, a Disney+ television series serving as a sequel to the 1988 film, brought Davis back as the title character. The series reunited him with director Ron Howard (as executive producer) and introduced his story to a new generation.
Davis has also been a consistent television presence in the UK, hosting and appearing in programmes including Life’s Too Short (2011–2013), the Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant mockumentary in which he played a fictionalised version of himself, and various BBC productions.
Personal Life: Family, Loss, and Resilience
In 1991, Warwick Davis married Samantha Burroughs, who also has a form of dwarfism. The couple has four children together, though their family history is marked by profound loss.
Their first two children, a daughter named Lloyd and a son named George, were born prematurely and did not survive. Those losses were deeply personal, and Davis has spoken about them with characteristic openness in interviews over the years.
Their surviving children are Annabelle Davis (born 1997) and Harrison Davis (born 2001). Annabelle has followed her father into acting, appearing in Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies and other productions. Harrison has also worked in the entertainment industry.
Samantha Davis passed away in May 2023 following a short illness. Warwick Davis confirmed her death publicly, describing the loss as devastating. The couple had been married for 32 years. Davis’s disclosure of his grief was met with an outpouring of condolences from colleagues including the Harry Potter cast, the Star Wars creative community, and fans worldwide.
What Is Warwick Davis’s Net Worth?
Estimating celebrity net worth is imprecise, and figures circulated online vary considerably. Based on his decades of film and television work — including multiple major franchise appearances — industry observers have estimated Davis’s net worth at approximately $5 million, though this figure has not been confirmed by Davis or his representatives.
His income sources include acting fees, television presenting work, voice work, and his production company, Willow Management, which he co-founded with Samantha Davis to represent actors with dwarfism and other diverse physical profiles. The agency has been credited with meaningfully expanding representation for short-statured performers in the British entertainment industry.
Advocacy and Legacy
Beyond his filmography, Davis has been a consistent advocate for greater representation and opportunity for people with dwarfism in the entertainment industry. Willow Management, which he ran alongside Samantha, was a practical expression of that belief — not just a public statement, but an infrastructure for change.
He has spoken at industry events and in media interviews about the importance of authentic casting, the challenges faced by actors with physical differences, and the responsibility that comes with visibility. His public profile has been used, repeatedly and deliberately, to widen the conversation about inclusion in Hollywood and British film.
Warwick Davis’s Most Notable Films and TV Appearances
- Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) — Wicket W. Warrick
- Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure (1984)
- Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985)
- Labyrinth (1986) — Goblin / Hoggle
- Willow (1988) — Willow Ufgood
- Leprechaun (1993–2003) — The Leprechaun
- Harry Potter series (2001–2011) — Professor Flitwick / Griphook
- Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
- Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
- Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
- Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
- Willow (Disney+, 2022) — Willow Ufgood
A Career Built on More Than Circumstance
Warwick Davis did not become a Hollywood fixture because of novelty or because the industry had a narrow slot to fill. He became one because he is, by any objective measure, a skilled and dedicated actor who has consistently delivered across wildly different genres, budgets, and creative environments.
His story contains the full range of human experience — extraordinary professional achievement, deep personal love, terrible loss, and ongoing resilience. The fact that he built his career against a backdrop of limited representation makes it more remarkable, not less.
The next chapter is still being written. Davis remains active, and the legacy of Willow Management will likely outlast any individual performance. That, perhaps, is the work he is most proud of.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Warwick Davis?
Warwick Davis stands 3 feet 6 inches (1.07 meters) tall. His height is the result of spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SED), a rare genetic condition affecting bone development.
What was Warwick Davis’s first major film role?
Davis’s first major film role was Wicket W. Warrick in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983). He was 13 years old at the time. He secured the role after his grandmother responded to a casting call seeking people with dwarfism.
What roles did Warwick Davis play in the Harry Potter films?
Warwick Davis played two distinct roles in the Harry Potter franchise: Professor Filius Flitwick, the Charms teacher at Hogwarts, and Griphook, the goblin banker at Gringotts. He appeared in all eight Harry Potter films, from Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) to Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011).
What happened to Warwick Davis’s wife, Samantha Davis?
Samantha Davis, Warwick’s wife of 32 years, passed away in May 2023 following a short illness. Warwick confirmed her death publicly and received widespread condolences from the entertainment industry and fans. The couple had four children together, two of whom did not survive infancy.
Did Warwick Davis appear in the new Star Wars films?
Yes. Warwick Davis appeared in The Force Awakens (2015), Rogue One (2016), The Last Jedi (2017), Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019), often in multiple roles within a single film.
What is Willow Management, and why is it significant?
Willow Management is a talent agency co-founded by Warwick and Samantha Davis to represent actors with dwarfism and other diverse physical profiles. The agency has been credited with expanding professional opportunities for short-statured performers in the British entertainment industry and is considered part of Davis’s broader advocacy legacy.
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