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Thursday, October 01, 2026

Actor's ages - "The Wizard of OZ"

"The Wizard of Oz," a classic film released in 1939, featured a range of actors of various ages. Here are the ages of the principal cast members during the time of filming, which took place primarily in 1938:

  1. Judy Garland (Dorothy Gale) - Judy Garland was born on June 10, 1922. She was 16 years old when filming began.
  2. Ray Bolger (Scarecrow/Hunk) - Ray Bolger was born on January 10, 1904. He was 34 years old during filming.
  3. Jack Haley (Tin Man/Hickory) - Jack Haley was born on August 10, 1897. He was 40 years old when he joined the cast, replacing the original Tin Man, Buddy Ebsen, who had to leave due to a severe allergic reaction to the aluminum powder used in his makeup.
  4. Bert Lahr (Cowardly Lion/Zeke) - Bert Lahr was born on August 13, 1895. He was 43 years old at the time of filming.
  5. Margaret Hamilton (Wicked Witch of the West/Miss Gulch) - Margaret Hamilton was born on December 9, 1902. She was 35 years old during the production of the film.
  6. Billie Burke (Glinda, the Good Witch of the North) - Billie Burke was born on August 7, 1884. She was 53 years old while filming "The Wizard of Oz."
  7. Frank Morgan (Professor Marvel/The Wizard of Oz/and others) - Frank Morgan was born on June 1, 1890. He was 48 years old during the film's production.
  8. Charley Grapewin (Uncle Henry) - Charley Grapewin was born on December 20, 1869. He was 68 years old at the time of filming.
  9. Clara Blandick (Aunt Em) - Clara Blandick was born on June 4, 1876. She was 62 years old during the filming.

The Munchkins:

The Munchkins in "The Wizard of Oz" were played by members of the Singer Midgets, a troupe managed by Leo Singer. This group of performers was composed primarily of adult dwarfs, rather than children. Here are some notable facts about the Munchkin actors:

  1. Jerry Maren (Lollipop Guild Member) - Born on January 24, 1920, Jerry Maren was 18 years old when he played one of the members of the Lollipop Guild. He is often remembered as the last surviving Munchkin actor from the film, passing away in 2018.

  2. Billy Barty - Born on October 25, 1924, Billy Barty was 14 years old during the filming. Although not as prominently featured as Maren, Barty had a long and successful career in entertainment.

Most of the Munchkin actors were adults, with their ages typically ranging from their late teens to middle age. The Singer Midgets troupe included performers from various backgrounds, some of whom had already established careers in vaudeville and theatre before joining the cast of "The Wizard of Oz."

The exact ages of many of the Munchkin actors aren't well-documented individually, but collectively, their contribution added a unique and memorable element to the film. The group's portrayal of the joyful and colorful inhabitants of Munchkinland remains one of the most iconic aspects of the movie.

These ages give a sense of the varied experience and backgrounds of the actors who brought this timeless story to life.

Source: Some or all of the content was generated using an AI language model

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