John Rhys-Davies: Biography, Height, Gimli Role & Tattoo Mystery

You know the face—and the voice—even if you don’t immediately place the name. John Rhys-Davies has spent decades behind beards and bulky costumes, playing two of the most beloved sidekicks in film: Gimli the Dwarf and Sallah the excavator.

Born: 5 May 1944 ·
Nationality: Welsh ·
Most famous role: Gimli in The Lord of the Rings ·
Instagram followers: 100K

Six facts capture the essentials of John Rhys‑Davies’ life and career, from his birth in Wales to the iconic characters he brought to life.

What is John Rhys‑Davies most famous role?

Gimli in The Lord of the Rings

• Rhys‑Davies portrayed Gimli, son of Glóin, in all three LOTR films (2001–2003) (Wikipedia).
• He is the only Fellowship actor who did not receive the elvish tattoo for “nine” (Wikipedia).
• The makeup process took five hours every day, and after six months his skin began peeling off due to an allergy to the glue (TheOneRing.net).

Gimli remains the role that defines Rhys‑Davies for a generation of fans. The character’s gruff humour and improbable size (given the actor’s real height) made the performance a technical and acting marvel.

Sallah in the Indiana Jones franchise

• Rhys‑Davies appeared as Sallah in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) (Wikipedia).
• Sallah is the excavator and friend of Indiana Jones, providing comic relief and local knowledge.

Two franchises, two iconic sidekicks. The pattern: Rhys‑Davies excels at bringing warmth and physicality to characters who, on paper, could be mere comic relief. The catch: he often disappears so thoroughly into costume that audiences don’t recognise the man behind the beard.

How did they make Gimli so short?

Forced perspective techniques

• Rhys‑Davies stands 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) (IMDb).
• Director Peter Jackson used forced perspective: objects closer to the camera appear larger; those farther away seem smaller. By placing Gimli closer to the lens and the taller actors farther back, the illusion of size difference was created (TheOneRing.net).
• Rhys‑Davies explained that shooting from below optically shortens people (TheOneRing.net).

Use of scale doubles and camera tricks

• A tall stand-in (“Tall Paul”, an ex‑basketball player from New Zealand) was placed next to Rhys‑Davies to emphasize the dwarf’s small stature (TheOneRing.net).
• Because Rhys‑Davies was 6’1″ while the hobbit actors were around 5’6″, full‑Fellowship shots would have required three camera passes instead of two—a logistical advantage (Wikipedia).

Digital effects in close-ups

• In close shots, digital compositing adjusted scale to maintain the illusion (TheOneRing.net).
• The combination of practical and digital methods allowed the filmmakers to keep Rhys‑Davies’ expressive face visible while selling the dwarf’s height.

What this means: Rhys‑Davies’ real height was not a problem—it was a tool. His tall frame simplified group compositions and, with clever cinematography, became an asset rather than a liability.

Why did Gimli’s actor not get the tattoo?

The cast elvish tattoo tradition

• Nine members of the Fellowship—except Rhys‑Davies—got a tattoo of the word “nine” in Tengwar script (Wikipedia).
• His stunt double, Brett Beattie, was offered the tattoo instead (Wikipedia).

Rhys‑Davies’ reasons for declining

• Reports at the time quoted him saying, “I’m a Dwarf, not an Elf” as his light‑hearted explanation (TheOneRing.net).
• Wikipedia confirms that he declined to get the tattoo himself (Wikipedia).

The pattern: While camaraderie bound the cast together, Rhys‑Davies chose to stay true to his character. For a dwarf, an elvish symbol didn’t feel right. It’s a small but telling detail about how seriously he took the role.

Who was John Rhys‑Davies first wife?

Marriage to Suzanne Wilkinson

• Rhys‑Davies married Suzanne Wilkinson in 1966 (Wikipedia).
• The couple later divorced; Rhys‑Davies has since been in a long‑term relationship with Lisa Manning.

Children and personal life

• He has two children from his marriage: a son, Tomos, and a daughter, Maia (Wikipedia).
• He holds dual British‑American citizenship and lives primarily in the Isle of Man.

Why this matters: Despite his larger‑than‑life screen persona, Rhys‑Davies has maintained a relatively private family life, with his children staying out of the spotlight.

What is John Rhys‑Davies net worth?

Estimated earnings from acting

• Exact figures are not publicly documented, but his two major franchises—The Lord of the Rings and Indiana Jones—are among the highest‑grossing film series ever (TheOneRing.net for LOTR context).
• He also earned income from television series such as Sliders and voice work in Rick and Morty (IMDb).

Real estate and other assets

• Little is publicly known about his property holdings, though he has lived in a converted barn on the Isle of Man for many years.

The catch: without publicly audited financials, any specific net‑worth figure is speculative. What is certain: his career spans five decades and includes roles that guarantee long‑term residuals.

“I am six feet tall, tallest of the actors playing the Fellowship, and I of all was selected to play the little Gimli.”

John Rhys‑Davies, speaking to TheOneRing.net

“The makeup process took five hours every day, fourteen months straight. After six months my skin started peeling off—there was nothing to glue the mask to.”

John Rhys‑Davies, speaking to TheOneRing.net

For fans who grew up watching the Fellowship, the real magic is that a 6’1″ Welshman with an allergy to glue became one of the most beloved dwarves in cinema history. The lesson: the most memorable performances often come from the most unlikely choices—casting a tall actor as a dwarf, and letting a good story matter more than a tattoo.

Related reading

• Anthony Hopkins – Another iconic Welsh actor of the same generation.
• Vince Gilligan – Behind‑the‑scenes production trivia from a major showrunner.