Lights, Camera, Action: Wild and Intriguing Facts About Our Favorite Old Hollywood Movies and Stars

There have long been rumors and urban legends that Shirley Temple, the beloved child actress, and Hollywood icon, was actually a dwarf rather than a child. These rumors were fueled in part by Temple’s small stature and youthful appearance, as well as by the fact that many of her co-stars were much taller than she was.

The rumor that Shirley Temple was a dwarf gained popularity in Europe for reasons that are unclear. The Vatican even dispatched Father Silvio Massante to investigate and confirm that Temple was indeed a child, which he did. Ultimately, the rumors about Temple’s height were unfounded, as she was simply a child actress who was smaller than average for her age.