BOGOTA — A Colombian who claimed to be the smallest man in Latin America has died in Bogota after a short bout with pneumonia, local media reports said Monday.

Bryan Naranjo, who was 18 years old and stood just 27.9 inches tall, died Sunday, Bogota’s El Espectador newspaper said.

In an interview with Reuters in June of last year, Naranjo said he had been informed that he had won a place in Guinness Book of Records as Latin America’s smallest man. He said he wanted to work as an actor with some of the heartthrobs featured on Colombia’s steamier soap operas.

He also stressed that he was not necessarily looking for a dance partner or someone he could see eye-to-eye with.

“I like all kinds of women,” he said. “Blonds with green eyes, tall ones, and especially those who wear miniskirts so I can see their legs.”



Reuters, Posted at 5:54 p.m. PDT Monday, April 7, 1997