Career
While many people assume Anderson is a dwarf, he actually has the genetic disorder osteogenesis imperfecta. This disease leads to frequent breaks in long bones and improper healing, leaving him with a shortened stature of 3 foot 7 inches tall. Prior to his acting career, Anderson worked as a computer technician for Martin Marietta, working on the ground support system for National Aeronautics and Space Administration"s space shuttle.
He appeared as himself in a 1984 documentary called Little Mike: A Videoportrait of Michael Anderson.
Anderson appeared in four episodes of Twin Peaks. The Manitoba from Another Place is attired in a red suit and speaks in an unusual manner.
Anderson used phonetically reversed speaking as a secret language with his junior high school friends and then played a character in Twin Peaks where he used the same method of speaking. He first appears in Special Agent Dale Cooper"s cryptic dream about the murder of Laura Palmer, set in a red room.
Anderson"s Manitoba also materializes in the film prequel to Twin Peaks, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Maine.
Anderson portrayed a man of average height in Lynch"s Mulholland Drive, using a prosthetic body. Video games Anderson portrayed "Punt" in the PlayStation video game Road Rash: Jailbreak. (1989) "Turtle Song", music promo video by New York alternative/indie band Hugo Largo (2000) Lodge Anathema (with The Nether-Carols).