Ian Michael Smith (born May 5, 1987) is a former American actor, known for his sole starring role in Simon Birch.
[1][2] His short physical stature (3 ft 1 in (0.94 m)) is a result of Morquio syndrome,[3] a rare enzymatic disorder affecting the circulatory, muscular and skeletal systems.
A Chicago-area hospital worker approached his parents about him auditioning for the leading role in The Mighty, a feature film about a character with Morquio Syndrome.
Kieran Culkin was cast instead, but Smith was recommended for the title role of Simon Birch (1998), a film based loosely on John Irving's novel A Prayer for Owen Meany, which also called for a small child actor.
He is a co-founder of a nonprofit organization, Project Alloy, that gives assistance to underrepresented people in tech fields.