A DWARF actor from Northampton who appeared in several big-budget films died after a heavy drinking session, a coroner heard. John Ghavam, who lived in York Road in the town centre, had roles in the Harry Potter films as well as Return of the Jedi and The Elephant Man in his career as a movie extra. He was found lying face down on his bedroom floor on April 4 by close friend Gerald Williams after he had let himself into Mr Ghavam's home. A pathologist later found that the 58-year-old had drunk so much he was more than four times over the legal drink drive limit and had died from the effects of alcohol. At yesterday's inquest Coroner Anne Pember said: "The police officer dealing with the death said the house was messy and disorganised but there were no suspicious circumstances." As well as his career as a film extra, Mr Ghavam, known as 'Little John', travelled around the UK and the rest of the world starring in pantomimes and spent time in Italy working in a circus. He was born in Iran in June 1947 to parents who are believed to have been diplomats and was sent to live in Buckinghamshire, aged two, as he was thought of as an outcast in the Middle East because of his size. He became a Catholic despite his family being Muslims and visited clubs in Northampton regularly in his teens before eventually moving to the town. Afterwards, Mr Ghavam undertook several unusual jobs such as three months as a referee of kangaroo boxing matches in a circus in Italy in 1971. After returning home to Northampton he contacted film agencies, securing roles alongside Anthony Hopkins, Harrison Ford, Britt Ekland and Mel Brooks. Later, he worked in pantomime, mainly in productions of Snow White with Linda Lusardi, Lionel Blair and Bruce Forsyth. Mr Ghavam's death came after he had seen his doctors about his excessive smoking and drinking habit in 2005. He had been drinking heavily with Mr Williams the night before he died and had said he wanted to go on to Molly's Bar in Abington Square before Mr Wiliams left him. When Mr Williams went to check on him the next day he found his friend had died. Mrs Pember said: "Having heard the evidence, I am satisfied he died of acute alcohol intoxication. The cause of death was accidental."

Last Updated: 22 March 2007

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a search here didn't turn up anything on Mr. Ghavam, but info. from another site says he died May 2006:

http://www.nerf-herders-anonymous.net/JohnGhavam.html