Pat Bilon, "E.T." star, dies (01/30/83)

Pat Bilon, "E.T." star, dies

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Pat Bilon, known to millions as the real E.T. for his performance in the movie's title role, died here in his home town at 1 a.m. Thursday, January 27. He was 35.

Mr. Bilon, who had his spleen removed last year, died of a blood disorder. He had taken ill on Tuesday, January 25, while in Cleveland to tape the "Dave Patterson Show." Not feeling well, Mr. Bilon never taped the show and traveled home to Youngstown. The next day he was taken to a local hospital and placed in the intensive-care unit.

Mr. Bilon, the human inside the $1.5 million E.T. costume, was to play the title role also in Steven Spielberg's sequel to the original movie. Filming of the movie was scheduled to begin in 1984.

A third-generation Ukrainian American, Mr. Bilon was born Michael Patrick Bilon in Youngstown on August 29, 1947. At a height of 2 feet 10 inches, he was one of the smallest adult male dwarfs in the country, yet he never considered himself handicapped.

He was active in Ukrainian community organizations, most notably the League of Ukrainian Catholics, St. Anne's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Youngstown and parish organizations. He was a member of UNA Branch 119.

He was the founder and host of the Ukrainian Radio Hour on WKTL-FM based in Struthers, Ohio. He also established a Ukrainian gift shop, Petrush's Ukrainian Arts, on what used to be the patio of the Bilon family home.

For over 20 years, Mr. Bilon was a member of Little People of America, a 4,000-member organization for dwarfs and their families whose goal is to prove that dwarfs are no different from other people. Mr. Bilon once served as director of LPA District 5, which encompassed seven states, and he often addressed groups on behalf of LPA.

At the 1979 LPA convention Mr. Bilon was spotted by talent scouts and chosen to appear in the slapstick comedy movie "Under the Rainbow." He played what he described as "a sub-major role" and was billed as Little Pat.

In 1981 Mr. Bilon auditioned and was awarded a role in a movie by Steven Spielberg - the part turned out to be the title role in the box-office smash "E.T."

In his understated manner, Mr. Bilon once described the film as "a good family movie." He attributed the movie's success to the fact that it "shows the love of children for all things."

Mr. Bilon, who studied drama in college and considered his occupation to be "starving actor," also appeared in various television commercials and at promotional events. He had been a performer since childhood, appearing in many shows and regional stage productions.

He was employed for a time as dispatcher for the Mahoning County Sheriff's Department.

Surviving are Mr. Bilon's parents, Esther and Michael, and a foster brother, John, 39.

The funeral was scheduled to take place Saturday, January 29, at 10 a.m. from St. Anne's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Youngstown. Burial was to be at Calvary Cemetery.

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