Many people think E.T. was only a puppet or robot.
But a 12-year-old boy with a disability gave the alien life.
His name was Matthew DeMeritt.
He was born without legs.
In E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, he crawled inside the suit.
DeMeritt used his hands to walk inside the costume.
This created E.T.’s awkward, stumbling walk.
It gave the alien a natural, child-like movement.
Other performers also helped.
Little people and mime artists played E.T. in certain shots.
Different heads and animatronics were used for expressions.
Still, DeMeritt was essential.
He handled many crawling, falling, and shifting scenes.
The alien felt vulnerable and real because of him.
People often assume technology made E.T. believable.
But it was human performance, especially from a child with a disability.
That is what made E.T. emotionally powerful.
DeMeritt’s work was largely invisible.
Yet his role proves that inclusion matters.
It shows how people with disabilities can shape iconic art.
Behind the rubber skin of E.T.
It was the heart and courage of a 12-year-old boy.