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Rumpelstiltskin in Movies and TV: Every Notable Version
Rumpelstiltskin has been on screen since at least 1915, from a silent film to the villain of a Shrek movie. The best known versions are the 1987 Cannon musical with Billy Barty, the 1995 horror film, Robert Carlyle's Rumplestiltskin in Once Upon a Time, and the villain of Shrek Forever After. The viral 2026 tiptoe clip is not one of them. It is an AI video, not a scene from any studio film or TV show.
Quick answer: the main Rumpelstiltskin films and shows
This table lists the notable screen versions we could verify. Where a source does not say who played Rumpelstiltskin, we say so.
| Year | Title | Type | Rumpelstiltskin played by | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1915 | Rumpelstiltskin | American silent film | Not confirmed | Directed by Raymond B. West |
| 1940 | Rumpelstiltskin | German film | Not confirmed | Directed by Alf Zengerling |
| 1955 | Rumpelstiltskin | German film | Not confirmed | Directed by Herbert B. Fredersdorf |
| 1982 | Faerie Tale Theatre: Rumpelstiltskin | TV episode (Showtime) | Hervé Villechaize | Shelley Duvall, Ned Beatty and Paul Dooley also star |
| 1985 | Rumpelstiltskin | Animated short (24 minutes) | Not confirmed | Animated retelling of the tale |
| 1987 | Rumpelstiltskin | Musical film (Cannon Movie Tales) | Billy Barty | Amy Irving plays Katie, the miller's daughter |
| 1995 | Rumpelstiltskin | Horror film | Max Grodénchik | Directed by Mark Jones, who also made Leprechaun (1993) |
| 2009 | Rumpelstilzchen | German TV film | Not confirmed | Gottfried John is in the cast |
| 2010 | Shrek Forever After | Animated film (DreamWorks) | Walt Dohrn (voice) | Rumpelstiltskin is the main villain |
| 2011 to 2018 | Once Upon a Time | TV series (ABC) | Robert Carlyle | Spelled Rumplestiltskin; also Mr. Gold |
| 2013 | Grimm: Nameless | TV episode (NBC) | Not a direct retelling | Name-guessing plot, opens with a quote from the tale |
| 2025 | Rumpelstiltskin | British dark fantasy horror film | Not confirmed | Hannah Baxter-Eve is in the cast |
The story itself comes from the Brothers Grimm. If you want the plot before the films, read our plain summary of the Rumpelstiltskin story.
Early films: 1915, 1940 and 1955
The first known film version is an American silent film from 1915, directed by Raymond B. West. Germany, the home of the Grimm tale, made two later versions. Alf Zengerling directed one in 1940, and Herbert B. Fredersdorf directed another in 1955.
These films are hard to find today. Most people who search for an "old Rumpelstiltskin movie" now are thinking of the 1987 film or of the AI clip that looks old.
Faerie Tale Theatre (1982)
Shelley Duvall created Faerie Tale Theatre, a series of fairy tale episodes that aired on Showtime. Its "Rumpelstiltskin" episode premiered on October 16, 1982. It was the second episode of the first season.
Hervé Villechaize played Rumpelstiltskin. Shelley Duvall played the miller's daughter, Ned Beatty played the King, and Paul Dooley played the Miller. Emile Ardolino directed the episode.
Rumpelstiltskin (1987): the Cannon musical
This is the film most people mean when they search "Rumpelstiltskin 1987". It was the first US release in the Cannon Movie Tales series, a set of live-action fairy tale films. David Irving wrote and directed it. Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus produced it.
- Billy Barty plays Rumpelstiltskin. It was his only lead role in a film.
- Amy Irving plays Katie, the miller's daughter. She also sings several songs.
- Clive Revill plays King Mezzer.
- Priscilla Pointer plays the Queen, and John Moulder-Brown plays Prince Henry.
The film runs 84 minutes and follows the Grimm tale fairly closely. You can read the full cast, plot and songs on our Rumpelstiltskin 1987 movie page.
Many people believed the viral tiptoe clip was a lost scene from this film. It is not. We explain why on is the Rumpelstiltskin 1987 clip real or AI.
Rumpelstiltskin (1995): the creepy horror version
If you are looking for a creepy Rumpelstiltskin movie, this is the main one. It is a horror film from Republic Pictures. It had a limited release in the United States on November 24, 1995.
Mark Jones directed it and wrote it with Joe Ruby. Max Grodénchik plays Rumpelstiltskin, and Kim Johnston Ulrich plays Shelly Stewart. In the story, Rumpelstiltskin is turned to stone in the 15th century. A widow in modern Los Angeles releases him by accident, and he comes after her baby son.
There is a link to another little horror villain. Mark Jones also directed Leprechaun (1993). He was preparing Leprechaun 2 but chose to make Rumpelstiltskin instead. So if the AI imp reminds you of a leprechaun movie, the two films share a director.
Once Upon a Time: Robert Carlyle as Rumplestiltskin
Once Upon a Time aired on ABC for seven seasons, from October 23, 2011, to May 18, 2018. Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz created it. Robert Carlyle plays the character, who appears from the very first episode.
The show spells the name Rumplestiltskin, with "ple" instead of "pel". In the fairy tale world he is a powerful dark figure. In the town of Storybrooke he is known as Mr. Gold. The show's cast list also names him Weaver in later seasons.
This show is the reason many people search "who plays Rumplestiltskin". For more on the two spellings, see who is Rumpelstiltskin and how to spell it.
Shrek Forever After (2010)
In the fourth Shrek film, Rumpelstiltskin is the main villain. He tricks Shrek into signing a magic contract. Walt Dohrn, a DreamWorks story artist, voices him.
Dohrn first recorded a temporary voice while the team developed the character. The studio then kept him in the role. Director Mike Mitchell said, "We found that Walt's voice was irreplaceable."
This Rumpelstiltskin had his own meme before the AI clip. "Rumpelstiltskin Sliding In a Chair" uses a scene from Shrek Forever After. It spread on TikTok in late 2023. It is a different meme from the 2026 tiptoe dance.
Grimm, Star Trek and other TV appearances
NBC's Grimm did not do a straight retelling, but its season 2 episode "Nameless" is built around the tale. It aired on March 29, 2013. It opens with a quote from the Grimm story, and its plot turns on finding a hidden name.
Rumpelstiltskin also shows up in many other shows and films:
- Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics, an anime series from the late 1980s
- Muppet Classic Theater (1994)
- Simsala Grimm (1999), an animated series
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, in the episode "If Wishes Were Horses"
- Courage the Cowardly Dog, in the episode "Rumpledkiltskin"
- Happily N'Ever After (2007), an animated film
- Ever After High, where a professor character is based on him
Is there a 1978, 1970s or 1960s Rumpelstiltskin movie?
Searches for "Rumpelstiltskin 1978" and "Rumpelstiltskin movie 1970s" went up during the meme. We found no notable Rumpelstiltskin film from 1978 in standard film lists. The only 1970s screen appearance on Wikipedia's list is a cameo in 3 Dev Adam (1973), a Turkish superhero film.
The reason for these searches is simple. The viral clip has grain, soft light and old colors, so it looks like a film from the 1960s, 1970s or 1980s. But it was made with AI in 2026. It was first posted on Instagram on August 27, 2026. You can read the full story on our Rumpelstiltskin meme page.
Where the 2026 AI clip fits
The tiptoe clip is not a screen version from any studio. It was made with AI and posted on Instagram by the pages Stroinaya, Neuroferma and Anna Glinskaya. NBC News credits Tatyana Tereshchenko, a self-described AI artist and filmmaker. In late September 2026, people paired it with Riff Raff's song "Tip Toe Wing In My Jawwdinz", and it became a meme.
If you want to join the trend, you can make your own Rumpelstiltskin video from one photo. You can put yourself, a friend or a pet into the dance, then add the song on TikTok or Reels.
Questions people ask
Who played Rumpelstiltskin in the 1987 movie?
Billy Barty played Rumpelstiltskin in the 1987 Cannon film. It was his only lead role in a film. Amy Irving co-starred as Katie, the miller's daughter.
Who plays Rumplestiltskin in Once Upon a Time?
Robert Carlyle plays Rumplestiltskin in Once Upon a Time. The character is also known as Mr. Gold in the town of Storybrooke. The show aired on ABC from 2011 to 2018.
Who voices Rumpelstiltskin in Shrek Forever After?
Walt Dohrn voices Rumpelstiltskin in Shrek Forever After (2010). He was a DreamWorks story artist who first recorded a temporary voice, and the studio kept him in the role.
What is the creepy Rumpelstiltskin horror movie?
It is Rumpelstiltskin (1995), directed by Mark Jones, with Max Grodénchik as the title character. In it, Rumpelstiltskin is released from a stone in modern Los Angeles and hunts a widow's baby.
Is there a Rumpelstiltskin movie from 1978?
We found no notable Rumpelstiltskin film from 1978 in standard film lists. Many people search for it because the viral AI clip looks like an old film, but that clip was made in 2026.
Is the viral tiptoe Rumpelstiltskin clip from a real movie or show?
No. The clip is AI-generated and was first posted on Instagram in August 2026. It is not from the 1987 film or any other studio production.
Is the 1995 Rumpelstiltskin movie related to Leprechaun?
They are separate films, but they share a director. Mark Jones directed Leprechaun (1993) and then made Rumpelstiltskin (1995) instead of directing Leprechaun 2.
Why does Once Upon a Time spell it Rumplestiltskin?
The show uses the spelling Rumplestiltskin for its character. The fairy tale is usually spelled Rumpelstiltskin, but both spellings appear in English.
More about Rumpelstiltskin
- The Rumpelstiltskin meme explainedWhere the creepy tiptoeing imp came from, how it went viral, and why people thought it was real.
- Is the 1987 Rumpelstiltskin clip real?The short answer is no. Here is the proof, and how to spot AI clips that look like old films.
- How to make the videoOne photo, one choice, one payment. A step-by-step guide to making your own tiptoe video and adding the song on TikTok, Reels or CapCut.
- The tip toe song behind the memeRiff Raff's 2014 track, what the title means, and how to add it to your video.
- The real 1987 Rumpelstiltskin movieCast, plot, songs and reviews of the Cannon musical with Billy Barty and Amy Irving.
- The Rumpelstiltskin storyThe Grimm fairy tale in plain words: straw into gold, a promised child, a secret name and three different endings.