Matthew De Meritt, the actor who portrayed ET, was at the 40th-anniversary screening of ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.’
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De Merritt was reportedly 11 years old and undergoing physical therapy at a California hospital after being born without legs when he was contacted to do a screen test. "There was a fitting and they took all my measurements and they filmed me walking on my hands," he reportedly recalled to "I'm not sure what they were thinking when they got me down there," he added. "I'd never demonstrated to anybody that I could walk on my hands, and I don't see how they could think I could comfortably fit inside a costume and walk around and make a convincing alien - but it kind of worked out that way.
While viewers couldn't see De Merritt, it's likely they remember one of his scenes -- when E.T. drinks beer. "It was hot and Spielberg came up to me and asked if I was all right.
In addition to De Merritt, late actors Tamara De Treaux and Pat Bilon -- both had dwarfism -- are credited with E.T.'s movement.