Pat Bilon - Film Career

Film Career

In 1979, while attending a Little People of America convention, Bilon was spotted by producer Steve Rash and director Fred Bauer, who were seeking potential cast members for the slapstick comedy, Under the Rainbow. Of the more than 400 potential actors interviewed, Bilon was among 150 selected to appear in the film. Bilon, who was working as a radio dispatcher for the Mahoning County Sheriff's Department in Youngstown, took a leave of absence and went to Hollywood to "begin his new role". The small role gave Bilon an opportunity to perform with top professionals including Chevy Chase, Carrie Fisher, and Eve Arden. He later commented in a newspaper interview, "When a star like Chevy Chase sees you after a scene and says it was hilarious, as you watch him practically falling out of his seat, it makes you feel real good".

Bilon's next major opportunity to participate in a film came in 1981, when he was selected to operate one of the mechanical "creatures" used in the filming of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Four mechanical E.T.s were created for the production. The puppets (constructed of fiberglass, polyurethane, and foam rubber) were designed for different functions. As a contemporary newspaper article reported: "One of the 'bodies' contained mechanical controls for large body moevements and was operated by cables, the second had electronic controls and the third was operated by a combination of controls". Bilon "moved" a fourth E.T. that was needed for scenes in which the creature "lurched" across the floor. During five months of filming, the actor was burdened by a 40-pound rubber costume that weighed nearly as much as he did.