In June 2017, Povinelli was elected President of the Little People of America, an organization started in 1957 by Billy Barty,[1] which promotes awareness, advocacy and medical assistance for individuals with forms of dwarfism.
He has appeared in a wide range of productions, from stage plays by William Shakespeare and Ben Jonson to roles in television series such as Modern Family[3][non-primary source needed] and Boardwalk Empire, as well as in popular movies including The Polar Express.
"[8] He has characterized his approach to acting for The Village Voice: "Being so tremendously different provides you with an analytical depth ... Like any actor, I try to bring as much of myself to the role I'm playing as possible.
"[9] Povinelli starred opposite Robert Pattinson and Oscar winners Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz in the 2011 film Water for Elephants, playing the role of Kinko.
[15] In 2015-2016 he had a recurring role as "The Cat" in the Amazon Studios original Mad Dogs, which also starred Steve Zahn and Michael Imperioli.