Debbie Lee Carrington dead: Total Recall and Star Wars actress dies aged 58

The actress died of undetermined causes, according to her sister

Debbie Lee Carrington in 'Total Recall.' Credit: TriStar Pictures (Debbie Lee Carrington in Total Recall. Credit: TriStar Pictures)

Actress Debbie Lee Carrington - a little person who starred in the original Total Recall as one of the Martian rebels and in Star Wars as an ewok alongside other TV and film roles - has died at 58.

According to Deadline, Carrington's death was confirmed by her sister Cathy Ellis who said she passed away in her sleep from "undetermined causes."

Born on December 14, 1959 in San Jose, California, Carrington found a passion for acting after playing Sancho Panza in the play Man of La Mancha during her junior year of high school.

While Carrington attended the University of California-Davis, she was captivated by an ad for extras in Little People of America for Chevy Chase's film about the munchkins from The Wizard of Oz, Under the Rainbow.

She ended up landing a role in the film, taking time off from college for the opportunity, but eventually returned to UC-Davis to get a degree for early childhood development. But she ended up pursuing acting instead.

One of Carrington's most memorable roles was in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi as an ewok, which she took on again for two made-for-TV movies, Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure (1984) and Ewoks: The Battle for Endor.

She worked consistently, taking on TV roles like Tammy in Seinfeld and Doreen in The Drew Carey Show, and film appearances in She's All That and Men in Black.

In 2004 she portrayed an elf in 2004's The Polar Express and played Tina Marie in Netflix's Grace and Frankie.

Carrington is survived by her parents Fred and Marlene Carrington; her sister, Cathy; brother Robert Carrington; and many nieces, nephews and great nieces.

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Memorial plans for Carrington remain private, but services in her honour will take place in Northern and Southern California.