Obituary: Nelson de la Rosa

Nelson de la Rosa, once recognised as the world's shortest actor and a ubiquitous good-luck charm for the Boston Red Sox during their victorious 2004 World Series run, has died aged 38.

De la Rosa, who stood about 0.72m (2ft 4in) tall, died of unknown causes in a New York hospital. Born and raised in a small village near San Miguel, in the Dominican Republic, De la Rosa became internationally known when he appeared alongside Marlon Brando in the 1996 film, The Island of Dr Moreau. The Internet Movie Database called him the world's shortest actor and he was believed to be one of the world's smallest men.

After the baseball fan was introduced to then-Boston ace Pedro Martinez by a mutual friend, the two Dominican men became friends. De la Rosa became a regular presence in the team's clubhouse in the playoffs of the 2004 season, in which the Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years.

He is survived by his wife, Jennifer, a 9-year-old son, Christian, and his mother and five siblings.