| Birth name | Edward Gale |
|---|---|
| Birth date | August 23, 1963 |
| Birth place | Plainwell, Michigan, U.S. |
| Death date | May 27, 2025 (aged 61) |
| Death place | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor · stunt performer |
| Years active | 1986–2022 |
Edward Gale (August 23, 1963 – May 27, 2025) was an American actor and stunt performer who appeared in films and television series primarily between 1986 and 2013.[1] He was notably the physical performer of Chucky in Child's Play (1988), Child's Play 2 (1990), and Bride of Chucky (1998).[2]
Early life
Gale was born with dwarfism.[1][specify] He was born in Plainwell, Michigan, and graduated from Plainwell High School. His parents were Robert Allison and Beverly Ann (Whitmore) Gale, but from age 14 to 21 he resided with the Babbitt family of Plainwell.
Career
His debut was as the title role of Howard in the 1986 film Howard the Duck. While Chip Zien provided Howard's voice, Gale was the actor in the suit throughout the film. In 1988, he played Chucky in the horror film Child's Play.[3] He went on to appear in two other films in the franchise.[1][4] He played the dinosaur Tasha in the short-lived television series Land of the Lost (1991). In 2002, he had a supporting role as Matthew McConaughey and Gary Oldman's characters' uncle Bobby Barry in Tiptoes, a film that revolves around a family of people with dwarfism. Gale appeared in a minor role in the popular American television sitcom My Name Is Earl. The episode, titled "Little Bad Voodoo Brother," aired in 2006 and featured Gale as a carnival performer named "Little Eddie."
Sexual misconduct conviction
In April 2023, Gale was accused by a group of online predator-hunters of attempting to solicit sex from multiple minors, one male among whom he allegedly believed to be aged fourteen years.[5] He had his smartphones seized by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) during a home visit on April 19, but was at that time neither charged nor arrested.[6] It was soon revealed Gale had admitted to the group that he at that time had recently been "sexting" and attempting to "hook up" with an underage 14-year-old boy, and that he had in the past also had sexual conversations with at least 10 other people who he assumed were minors.[7][8][2] Until his death, he remained under investigation by the LAPD and the Los Angeles County District Attorney.[9] Following Gale's death, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office revealed to People that a case had been referred to the Los Angeles City Attorney's office in September 2023, but only for a possible misdemeanor filing.[2]
In 2024, he pled guilty to one charge of contacting a minor with intent to commit a specified sex offense and registered as a sex offender.[10][11]
Death
Gale died at a Los Angeles hospice on May 27, 2025, at the age of 61.[2][12]
Selected filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Howard the Duck | Howard T. Duck | In-suit performer |
| 1987 | Spaceballs | Dink | |
| 1988 | Child's Play | Chucky | In-suit performer/stunts |
| 1989 | Chopper Chicks in Zombietown | Bob Littleton | |
| 1990 | Child's Play 2 | Chucky | In-suit performer/stunts |
| 1991 | Dolly Dearest | The Doll | |
| 1991 | Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey | Station (alongside Arturo Gil) | |
| 1994 | The Jungle Book | Baby Baloo | |
| 1998 | Bride of Chucky | Chucky | In-suit performer/stunts |
| 2000 | O Brother, Where Art Thou? | Little Man | |
| 2000 | The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle | The Mole | In-suit performer |
| 2002 | Tiptoes | Bobby Barry | |
| 2004 | The Polar Express | Elf | Voice and motion capture |
| 2005 | L.A. Dicks | ||
| 2007 | Marksman | Tony Valino | Short |
| 2009 | The Gold & the Beautiful | Eddie | |
| 2010 | Speed-Dating | Willlie | Uncredited |
| Santa Preys for X-mas | Dick the Elf | Video short | |
| 2011 | The Amateur Monster Movie | Reporter Mel Tambor | Voice |
| 365 Days | Mr. Thomas | Direct-to-video | |
| 2013 | Mikeyboy | Pizza Shop Owner | |
| Crazy Town | Pat | Short | |
| 2020 | Pandemonic | Artist | |
| 2022 | In Search of Tomorrow | Himself | Documentary |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Friday the 13th: The Series | Oscar | Episode: "Read My Lips" |
| 1990 | The Dreamer of Oz | Ned Brown/Farmer | Television film |
| 1991–1992 | Land of the Lost | Tasha, Magas | 26 episodes |
| 1993 | Lifepod | Q-Three | Television film |
| 1994 | Baywatch | Simon McKay | Episode: "Short Sighted" |
| 1994–1998 | Weird Science | Genie Master, Little Person, Wyatt Primate | 3 episodes |
| 1995 | Pig Sty | Jack, Leprechaun | Episode: "Erin Go Barf" |
| 1996 | The Munsters' Scary Little Christmas | Larry | Television film |
| 1996 | Townies | Butch, Disgruntled Elf | Episode: "Christmas" |
| 1997 | Family Matters | Carlsbad | Episode: "Stevil II: This Time He's Not Alone" |
| 1998 | 3rd Rock from the Sun | Oscar | Episode: "Dr. Solomon's Traveling Alien Show" |
| Maggie | Chanter | Episode: "Ka-Boom" | |
| 1999 | Norm | Pikachu | Episode: "Artie Comes to Town" |
| Sabrina the Teenage Witch | Powell | Episode: "Sabrina, Nipping at Your Nose" | |
| 2000 | The Christmas Secret | Kevin | Television film |
| 2001 | Just Shoot Me! | Jimmy | Episode: "Christmas? Christmas!" |
| Grounded for Life | Jesus | Episode: "I Saw Daddy Hitting Santa Claus" | |
| Call Me Claus | Benson | Television film | |
| 2002 | Santa Jr. | Stan | Television film |
| The Hughleys | Mr. Briggs | Episode: "I Have a Scheme" | |
| First Monday | Melvin Meyers | Episode: "The Price of Liberty" | |
| The District | Hank Tarver | Episode: "Small Packages" | |
| 2007 | My Name Is Earl | Midget Prisoner | Episode: "Randy in Charge: Of Our Days and Our Nights" |
| 2009 | Bones | Lavalle | Episode: "Double Trouble in the Panhandle" |
| 2012 | Emerald Acres | Zeus | Television film |
| 2014 | Deadly Attraction | Mr. Thomas | TV mini-series |
References
- ^ "Interview with Ed Gale from 'Howard the Duck', 'Child's Play', 'Spaceballs' & More". Rediscover the 80s. June 30, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
- ^ McArdle, Tommy (May 28, 2025). "Ed Gale, Actor Who Played Chucky in Child's Play Films, Dies at 61". People. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
- ^ "Did You Know That Chucky Was Played by a Real Person?!; Exclusive Interview with Ed Gale". iHorror. January 29, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
- ^ "'Howard the Duck' a promising farce that never quite flies". The Columbia Record. August 8, 1986. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
- ^ Saad, Nardine (2023-04-21). "'Child's Play' actor Ed Gale admits soliciting child for sex in sting operation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
- ^ Silva, Gina (April 19, 2023). "'Chucky' star Ed Gale admits on-camera trying to meet teen for sex". FOX11. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
- ^ Rocha, Isai (April 18, 2023). "Former Chucky Actor Ed Gale Accused Of Trying To Meet With Minor For Sex". LA Weekly. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
- ^ Saad, Nardine (April 21, 2023). "Child's Play' actor Ed Gale admits soliciting child for sex in sting operation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
- ^ DuBose, Josh (2023-04-21). "'Creep Catchers' child advocacy group confronts 'Child's Play' actor in Hollywood". KTLA. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
- ^ "Ed Dale, known aliases". No. 1928900496796086477.
- ^ "Ed Gale, a registered Sex Offender in LOS ANGELES, CA 90028 at Offender Radar"
- ^ "'Chucky' Actor Ed Gale Dead at 61". TMZ. May 28, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
External links
- Ed Gale at IMDb