FEATURE : SUPER-SHORT CULT STAR
Documentary rediscovers the life and times of Weng Weng
Australian filmmaker completes seven-year search for a Filipino dwarf who found fame and fortune as an action hero in films but died in obscurity .
By MARILIE BOMEDIANO
A SHOOTING star who earned a place in the Guinness Book of world records but died in obscurity at 34 years of age : That ’ s the story of Ernesto de la Cruz , better know as Weng Weng through movies in the Philippines as an action star .
Australian filmmaker Andrew Leavold brought the Filipino back to life in a documentary , The Search for Weng Weng , and a book by the same title , to Australia recently .
What made Weng Weng so special was that he stood only 2ft 9in tall , born with a condition known as primordial dwarfism , yet he starred in 14 movies .
He rose to fame in B-movies as an action-hero in the mould of English author Ian Fleming ’ s superspy James Bond ‘ Agent 007 ’.
The Guinness Book records the diminutive Filipino action star as the world ’ s shortest actor to star in the lead role .
Some people have said that Weng Weng has become a cult figure in some parts of the world , particularly in the United States .
The Chuds , an Australian rap group , and John R of R Room produced a music video about the Filipino action star .
The Weng Weng documentary and book launch were organised by the Philippine Australian Sports and Culture Club ( PASC ) led by president Lolita Farmer . They were held at Rooty Hill RSL Club on Monday , June 12 , 2017 . Leavold . 47 , was at the function to detail his undying interest in Weng Weng ’ s life and the seven-year journey it took to complete the documentary and book .
Ernesto de la Cruz was born in Baclaran , Manila , in 1957 .
Among his more memorable films were For Y ’ ur Height Only where he starred as ‘ Agent 00 ’ in a spoof of James Bond ’ s ‘ Agent 007 ’; The Impossible Kid , D ’ Wild Wild Weng and Da Best In Da West .
In time Weng Weng ’ s fame waned , movie offers dwindled and ceased
altogether .
He fell into obscurity and alcoholism , dying after a series of strokes in 1992 , in the same Baclaran shanty where he was raised .
The Search For Weng Weng will be screened in Sydney again at the Fiesta Kultural on the 2017 October longweekend .
The film will be screened in many other parts of the world including Spain , Italy , Sweden , Denmark , Norway , England , Scotland , Wales , The Netherlands , Belgium , France , Germany , United States , Mexico , and Cambodia .
The 242-page book with illustrations was published by Melbourne ’ s LedaTape Organization . •
In picture , top , Ernesto de la Cruz , otherwise known as Weng Weng in films , plays ' Agent 00 ' in the James Bond movie spoof , For Y ' ur Height Only . Above , film producer-director Andrew Leavold speaks before the screening at Rooty Hill RSL Club . Below , Weng Weng poses in a move set .
04 JULY 2017 | AK NewsMagazine , Vol 7 No 10 www . kalatas . com . au