Especially with the current advanced technology, if filmmakers and music video directors want a person to appear taller or shorter than they really are, they can do so with minimal fuss. As such, we can never really tell the actual height of a celebrity just by seeing them on TV. On average, a man is considered short if he is below 5ft 7in, while the standard for women is 5ft 3in. With this in mind, here are 15 celebrities who are surprisingly short.
1. Kanye West
Several things make Kanye West seem taller than he really is. One is his bold personality, and second, he often wears bulky sneakers that boost his height. While you will be forgiven to think the Good Morning hitmaker is over 6 feet tall, the truth is he only measures 5’8″.
2. Robert Downey
When dressed up as Iron Man, Robert Downey appears very tall. However, Robert Downey is reportedly 5’8″, and he wears elevator shoes to increase his height. Also, he dislikes his female colleagues wearing heels because they make him appear short.
3. Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise is the perfect example of an actor Hollywood makes appear taller on TV. However, compared to his ex-wives Nicole Kidman, who is 5’11” and Katie Holmes, 5’9″, Tom Cruise’s estimated height is about 5’7″. The renowned actor has recently converted into a stuntman, which gives him the stature of a very tall man.
4. Lady Gaga
Most fans Miss Lady Gaga’s shortness because she mainly grabs their attention with her out-of-the-world outfits, which she is famous for. However, beneath the massive heels and fancy makeup is a lady who is only 5’1″ tall.
5. Shakira
The Colombian icon Shakira often comes off as a tall musician because she is always vigorously dancing in her songs. But when she stands still, Shakira is just 5’1.” She even recalls being called “Enana” in school, which translates to dwarf.
6. Sylvester Stallone
Ask anyone who has watched Rocky, and they’ll tell you that Sylvester Stallone is probably more than 6 ft tall. However, despite his huge body and bold muscles, the legendary actor is reportedly 5’8″ tall, with some publications even claiming that he is as short as 5’7″. Despite the numerous debates, it’s an undeniable fact that Sylvester Stallone is shorter than most people assume.
7. Christina Aguilera
In her YouTube videos, the renowned pop star often seems tall because of wearing heels and camera angles used by producers. But during live performances, especially when she stands on stage next to other artists, it’s pretty clear that she is short. Christina Aguilera has a reported height of 5’1½ “.
8. Jeremy Renner
Popularly known for featuring in military movies like The Hurt Locker and SWAT, Jeremy Renner appears as a tall figure when clad in combat uniform and boots. However, he only measures 5’8″ and is the same height as fellow Avengers cast mates like Robert Downey.
9. Kendrick Lamar
While it is common knowledge that Kendrick Lamar is worth his salt when it comes to rapping, not many may be aware that he is incredibly short. In one of his songs, he claims to be 5’5″, whereas other reports claim he is only 5’4.”
10. Jon Stewart
As the host of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart spent most of his time on TV sitting behind a desk and cracking jokes. Therefore, most fans rarely saw him stand and may have assumed he was tall. However, Jon Stewart is only 5’6″. This is something he has admitted during the course of his career.
11. Mark Wahlberg
Except when filming Ted, Mark Wahlberg has always been the go-to character when producers are looking for tough guys to star in blockbuster movies; The Departed and Three Kings are perfect references. For such a badass character, Mark is often portrayed as huge and muscular, although his height doesn’t exceed 6ft. He has a reported height of 5’8,” which is okay for an average man. However, given the roles he plays, Mark Wahlberg is surprisingly short.
12. Kourtney Kardashian
The Kardashian siblings aren’t known to be particularly tall: Kim, Kanye West’s ex-wife, is only 5’2″. Kourtney is the shortest Kardashian and stands at 5’0″ tall. This might be surprising for fans because Kourtney mostly wears heels, and the camera angles on TV make her seem taller than she is.
13. Danny Trejo
Dany Trejo is usually the bad guy in almost every movie he has ever played. His face, coupled with his mean-looking body, always means business. Being the typical violent character, Danny Trejo often appears to be a huge person on screen; little do people know that he is only 5’6″. He is actually shorter than most of his castmates in the films he has taken part in.
14. Vanessa Hudgens
Thanks to wardrobes, camera angles, and props, Vanessa Hudgens is often portrayed as a tall figure in films like High School Musical, Spring Beakers, and Journey 2. However, she is only 5’1″. Vanessa’s powerful voice and lovable personality make her seem bigger than she is.
15. Lucy Liu
On Why Women Kill, Lucy Liu always wore heels and fancy outfits from brands like Yves Saint Lauren, making her appear taller. However, the famous American actress is only 5’3″. This can be hard to tell because she’s always wearing elongated shoes when walking the red carpet.