Danny Woodburn is an American actor, comedian, and one of Hollywood’s most dedicated disability rights advocates.
With over 150 television appearances and more than 30 film credits, he is best known for his memorable portrayal of Mickey Abbott, Kramer’s hot-tempered best friend, on the iconic NBC sitcom Seinfeld.
Throughout a career spanning more than three decades, Woodburn has consistently fought against the stereotyping and demeaning portrayal of little people in entertainment, earning both industry respect and landmark awards for his advocacy work.
| Daniel Charles Woodburn | |
|---|---|
Daniel Charles Woodburn: History · Bio · Photo
|
|
| Wiki Facts & About Data | |
| Full Name: | Daniel Charles Woodburn |
| Born: | July 26, 1964 |
| Age: | 61 years old |
| Birthplace: | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Nationality: | American |
| Occupation: | Actor, Comedian, Writer, Director, Producer, Activist |
| Height: | 3 feet 11 inches (1.19 m) |
| Parents: | Mother (nurse), Father (professional golfer) |
| Spouse: | Amy Buchwald (m. 1998) |
Early Life
Daniel Charles Woodburn was born on July 26, 1964, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He grew up in the Philadelphia area, the son of a nurse mother and a professional golfer father. His condition, achondroplasia dwarfism, meant he stood at 3 feet 11 inches tall and navigated a world not designed for his stature from an early age. Rather than being defined by his height, however, Danny was shaped by his humor, intelligence, and passion for performance, qualities that would eventually propel him to a remarkable career in Hollywood.
Growing up in Philadelphia, Danny developed an early love for comedy and theater. He participated in school productions and began performing stand-up comedy, finding that laughter could be both a shield and a bridge between himself and audiences who might initially see only his height. His natural charisma and timing made him a compelling performer from his earliest days on stage.
Education
Danny Woodburn attended and graduated from Abington Senior High School in Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. He went on to earn his degree from Temple University’s School of Communications and Theater in Philadelphia, one of the country’s premier journalism and communications schools. In recognition of his distinguished career and lasting impact on the entertainment industry, Temple University presented him with their Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award in 2001.
Career
Early Stage and Stand-Up Comedy Career
Before arriving in Hollywood, Danny built a substantial stage career. He appeared in numerous theater productions including The Indian Wants the Bronx (by Israel Horovitz), Scapino, David Mamet’s Revenge of the Space Pandas, and a touring production of Viet Rock. His New York theater career began with The Soda Jerk. He has performed stand-up comedy nationwide for over 20 years, developing a uniquely sharp comedic voice that addresses disability, identity, and the absurdity of everyday life.
Hollywood Career
Danny’s first television appearance came in 1991 in a guest role on the NBC cop series Hunter. In the early days of his Hollywood career, he worked as a stand-in for child actors, a common practice for little people in the industry at the time, and an experience that later inspired the famous Seinfeld episode “The Stand-In.”
His career-defining role came in 1994 when he was cast as Mickey Abbott on the multi-Emmy Award-winning NBC sitcom Seinfeld. Mickey was Kramer’s best friend, a volatile, passionate, full-dimensional character who happened to be a little person. Crucially, Mickey was never played as a sight gag or a prop, he was written and performed as a complex human being. Woodburn made seven appearances on the show between 1994 and 1998, and his portrayal earned him enormous respect across the industry for proving that little people could carry substantive, dignified roles on mainstream network television.
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Woodburn appeared in a wide array of television series including Murder She Wrote, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Malcolm & Eddie, Baywatch, Charmed, and Passions. Between 1997 and 1998, he starred in 22 episodes of Conan the Adventurer. He also appeared in the TV series Crash & Bernstein (2012–2014) as Mr. Poulos, and in various film productions including Death to Smoochy (with Robin Williams), Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her, and Bad Ass.
In the film world, he provided the motion-capture performance for Splinter in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014), one of his highest-profile film credits. He also appeared in the critically acclaimed HBO limited series Watchmen and reprised his role as Zoltan Chivay in Netflix’s fantasy epic The Witcher, including Season 4 in 2025.
Advocacy Work
Alongside his acting career, Danny Woodburn has been one of Hollywood’s most committed and effective advocates for performers with disabilities. He serves on the SAG-AFTRA Performers with Disabilities Committee, where he has negotiated better contract terms for disabled actors, created new opportunities, fought for authentic on-screen representation, and worked to increase inclusion and diversity at the studio and network level. His advocacy has materially changed how little people and disabled performers are treated in the entertainment industry.
He has been a keynote speaker at numerous conferences including the 2010 RespectABILITY Conference and the Inclusion Network of Cincinnati. He has also been active as a teacher and speaker for the Little People’s Research Fund, Actors for Autism, Media Access, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), and the National ReelAbilities Film Festivals.
Awards & Nominations
- SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award (2010), for advancing employment opportunities for performers with disabilities
- Disability Rights Legal Center DREAM Award (2009), for efforts in TV and film on behalf of disability representation
- Temple University Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award (2001)
Social Media
Danny Woodburn is active on social media, where he engages with fans, shares advocacy updates, and promotes his projects with characteristic humor and warmth.
He can be found on Instagram and Twitter/X, where he maintains an active presence consistent with his public advocacy work.
- Twitter: @DannyWoodburn
Personal Life
Danny Woodburn is married to Amy Buchwald, an actress, writer, and comedian. They wed in 1998. Amy famously appeared as the love interest of Danny’s character in an episode of Conan the Adventurer. The couple share a private life away from the spotlight.
Throughout his career, Danny has actively resisted the temptation to take roles that demean or stereotype little people, refusing to play elves, props, or sight gags unless the role served the character’s dignity.
He has stated that his goal has always been to be cast in roles that “let me develop my craft,” rather than roles that simply exploit his height for easy laughs.
Net Worth
Danny Woodburn’s estimated net worth is between $1–2 million, accumulated through over 30 years of work in television, film, stand-up comedy, writing, producing, and directing.
His commercial work, including appearances in Burger King advertisements, has also contributed to his income.
Filmography (Selected)
| Seinfeld | 1994–1998 | TV – Mickey Abbott (7 eps) |
| Conan the Adventurer | 1997–1998 | TV – Otli (22 eps) |
| Death to Smoochy | 2002 | Film |
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | 2014 | Film – Splinter (motion capture) |
| Crash & Bernstein | 2012–2014 | TV – Mr. Poulos |
| Watchmen | 2019 | TV – HBO series |
| The Witcher | 2021–2025 | TV – Zoltan Chivay (Netflix) |
FAQs
Who is Danny Woodburn?
Danny Woodburn is an American actor, comedian, and disability rights advocate best known for playing Mickey Abbott on Seinfeld and Zoltan Chivay on The Witcher.
How tall is Danny Woodburn?
He stands at 3 feet 11 inches (1.19 m) tall, a result of achondroplasia dwarfism.
Who is Danny Woodburn’s wife?
He is married to actress, writer, and comedian Amy Buchwald, whom he wed in 1998.
What awards has Danny Woodburn won?
He has received the SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award (2010), the Disability Rights Legal Center DREAM Award (2009), and Temple University’s Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award (2001).
Conclusion
Danny Woodburn’s life and career represent something rare in Hollywood: a performer who has refused to compromise his dignity, used his platform to change an industry, and built a lasting legacy through both art and activism.
From the stages of Philadelphia to the sets of Seinfeld and The Witcher, Woodburn has never been defined by his height, only by his talent, his principles, and his extraordinary commitment to the idea that every performer deserves to be seen as a full human being. He is a giant of the industry in every sense that truly matters.
Related People
Leave a Reply