Portraying all 165 Oompa-Loompas in the 2005 film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory stands as a defining achievement for Deep Roy, a Kenyan-British actor, writer, and stunt performer. Standing 132 centimetres tall, he has navigated a diverse career across international film and television since his professional debut in 1970.
Early Career and Training
Born Mohinder Purba in Nairobi on 26 January 1949, Roy was raised in an Indian Sikh family. He pursued accounting studies in London but left at age 18. He subsequently trained at The Slim Wood School of Comedy and began performing as a stand-up comic in English cabaret clubs. His theatrical debut occurred in April 1970 at the Palace Theatre in Westcliff-on-Sea, appearing in Ray Cooney's Miracle Worker.
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Roy's professional screen debut arrived in 1976 with a role in the television series The New Avengers. Later that year, he appeared as the Italian Assassin in The Pink Panther Strikes Again. In the Doctor Who serial The Talons of Weng-Chiang, he portrayed the character Mr. Sin. His versatility extends to stunt work, including acting as a stand-in for the character Yoda in the production of The Empire Strikes Back.
Collaborations with Tim Burton
Frequent collaborations with director Tim Burton have highlighted Roy's capacity for physically demanding roles. Beyond his work as the Oompa-Loompas, he appeared in Big Fish and provided the voice for General Bonesapart in Corpse Bride. He also portrayed characters in the 2001 Planet of the Apes remake. For these projects, he underwent specialized training in dance, yoga, and instrumentation.
Diverse Roles in Science Fiction and Television
His filmography includes work in Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes, The NeverEnding Story as Teeny Weeny, and Return to Oz as the Tin Woodman. In television, he appeared in The X-Files and played the role of Aaron in Eastbound & Down. Within the Star Trek franchise, he portrayed Keenser in the 2009 film and its two subsequent sequels.
Fast facts
- Name: Gurdeep Deep Roy
- Born: 26 January 1949, Nairobi
- Citizenship: Kenya, United Kingdom
- Height: 132 centimetres
- Occupations: Actor, writer, stunt performer, marionetteist
- Film debut: The Pink Panther Strikes Again, 1976
Questions readers ask
What was his debut film role?
He played an Italian Assassin in the 1976 film The Pink Panther Strikes Again.
Which recurring character did he play in the Star Trek reboot films?
He played the character Keenser, the assistant to the character Scotty.
Achievements
- Worked as actor, writer and marionetteist
