Martin Klebba steals scenes as a tough pirate in third “Pirates of the Caribbean”

By K. Michelle Moran
Arts & Entertainment Editor

You could say Martin Klebba has been preparing for his current role as Marty the pirate since high school.

The Troy Athens High School graduate and former Sterling Heights resident can be seen on the big screen this summer in the hit action adventure film “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End,” opposite Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley. Interestingly, the role is similar to one he played as a freshman in “Peter Pan.”

“I ended up being one of the main pirates,” Klebba said. “So, 25 years later, here I am, doing pirates again.”

As a kid, Klebba, 38, was a skilled athlete. His height, however, was a barrier to a professional sports career: A little person, he stands 4 feet one inch tall. So, he gave drama a try instead, and discovered that he had a talent for acting.

Klebba — who still has immediate family in Troy, Sterling Heights and Macomb Township — played Nikko in a national tour of the New York production of “The Wizard of Oz” at the Fox Theatre in 1998. Although he said he’d love to do more theater, he’s been too busy since that tour wrapped; he moved to Hollywood around 2000 and has been working steadily since. As an actor, he’s appeared in “Men in Black II,” “Cradle 2 the Grave” and episodes of “Mad TV,” “ER,” “Malcolm in the Middle” and “Charmed,” among many others. He plays the recurring character Randall Winston on the sitcom “Scrubs” and is a frequent guest on Howard Stern’s radio program. As a stunt player, his numerous credits include “Evan Almighty,” “Epic Movie” and “Van Helsing.”

Klebba hasn’t had to entirely abandon his athletic aspirations, either. He has held the record for being the world’s fastest little person since 1994, and he also plays for the Los Angeles Breakers, a professional basketball team made up of little people.

His role in the third installment of the “Pirates” trilogy was expanded because the filmmakers liked his tough character. Klebba said the project has “been an amazing ride.”

“The object for me was to try to get the audience to at some point forget that I’m just a little person pirate and just (see me) as Marty the pirate,” he said.

Klebba said his famous co-stars were refreshingly down-to-earth.

“Johnny (Depp) is the biggest kid at heart,” Klebba said. “You’re one of the boys with him, and pranks are being pulled and (there’s) dirty talk and all of that other stuff. (It’s) just like hanging out with your buddies from high school. … Same thing with Orlando (Bloom).”

He’s the proud father of 10-year-old Alec Klebba — who is already a foot taller than his dad, Klebba laughs. Alec was the first to get “Pirates” action figures of his dad, and on Alec’s birthday, Klebba even visited his class in New Jersey. The boy lives there with his mother — Klebba’s former fiancée — and stepfather, but Klebba remains active in his life.

“He’s my everything,” Klebba said. “He’s the reason why I put so much into my work and try to be successful. That way, when I leave this place, he’ll be taken care of.”

Fatherhood has inspired Klebba to put his notoriety to good use. Last fall, he and his friend, Matt Roloff, started the nonprofit Coalition for Dwarf Advocacy, or CoDA, which works to find adoptive parents for dwarf children around the world. They’ve already placed several children in loving homes.

“It’s great,” said Klebba. “I’m not looking to make myself feel better, but it definitely makes you feel good when you know some little boy or girl (finds a home). I wish I could do it for every child, whether they’re a little person or not, but I know that being a little person in other countries (is harder).”

You can reach K. Michelle Moran at kmoran@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1047.