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John Ghavam
1947 - 2006 (58 years)-
Name John Ghavam Nickname Mohammad Ali Birth Jun 1947 Iran 
Gender Male Also known as Little John Education Oxford, UK Oxford University Occupation Italy 1971 working in a circus as a referee of kangaroo boxing matches. Occupation Actor:
Film
Phantom of the Opera, The 1989 - Dwarf/The Devil
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi~1983 (as John Gavam) - Ewok
Dark Crystal, The~1982 - Additional Performer (see Actor Connections - Film)
History of the World: Part I~1981 - Marche (see Actor Connections - Film)
Flash Gordon~1980 - Dwarf (see Actor Connections - Film)
Theatre/Live Performances
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs~2001-2004 - Dozy (New Theatre, Cardiff, Wales; Civic Theatre, Darlington/Wimbledon Theatre, London, England) (with Nicky Read @ Cardiff)
Video Games
Star Wars: Battlefront~2004 - Ewok (archive footage)Occupation Elephant Man Occupation Harry Potter Occupation United Kingdom Toured the UK starring in pantomimes. Death 04 Apr 2006 York Road, Northampton, UK - Ghavam died accidentally at his home in York Road in Northampton, UK, on April 4, 2006 of liver failure after a particularly heavy drinking session. The previous year he had tried to seek help from doctors about his drinking and smoking habits.
- Actor from Northampton who appeared in several bigbudget films. 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 smoking and drinking habit in 2005. He had been drinking 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."
Notes - John Ghavam was born in Iran in June of 1947 to diplomat parents. Because of his small stature and concern that he would not get the best education in Iran, he was sent to live in Buckinghamshire, UK at the age of two.
- John Ghavam - 1939 - 2006 Posted by Nerf-Herders Anonymous & L Mangue Art On Sunday, June 11, 2006
John Ghavam
In April an actor named John Ghavam died of liver failure in Northampton, UK. This actor had played an Ewok in Return of the Jedi and was credited as John Gavam.
One of the most astonishing things about Mr. Ghavam was an accident he'd had in 2002. He had awoken very early (dark) one morning to get a glass of water, in the process he slipped and fell. He managed to pick himself up, get his water and go back to bed. He got up later that morning and drove to Darlington's Civic Theatre, where he was starring in a stage production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
His cast mates noticed how much pain he was in and called a doctor. After a short exam the doctor determined that Ghavam has broken his collar bone which is exceedingly painful.
I'm currently trying to find a little more information on him to share with you.
I'll let you know when/if I receive such info.
Leah
EDIT: When this article was written in June of 2006, there was only a hair of information that was released, that info stated that he died in May. It was only in 2007 that we learned the real date of his death being April 4 and the true circumstances surrounding his death. Why did it take so long? I don't know if we'll ever know the answer to that.
I have updated the information so as not to confuse anyone. Thanks. LM
http://www.nerf-herders-anonymous.com/2006/06/john-ghavam-1939-2006.html
Person ID I180 Ghavami English Last Modified 12 Jul 2017
Father Ali Mohammad Ghavam, b. 1911 Mother Anvar Shaibani d. 14 Aug 2018 Photos 
Ali Mohammad Ghavam and Anvar Shaibani Family ID F109 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family Family ID F163 Group Sheet | Family Chart
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Event Map 
Birth - Jun 1947 - Iran 
Education - Oxford University - - Oxford, UK 
Occupation - 1971 working in a circus as a referee of kangaroo boxing matches. - - Italy 
Occupation - Toured the UK starring in pantomimes. - - United Kingdom 
Death - 04 Apr 2006 - York Road, Northampton, UK = Link to Google Earth
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Documents 
John Ghavam
John Ghavam (Ewok) from Star Wars
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