The MGM Munchkins

Following is available information about the little people who worked as Munchkins on the MGM 1939 classic, The Wizard of Oz. All are midgets except where noted. (Contributed by Peter Schulenburg.)

Women:

  • Allison, Gladys W. - a dwarf actress
  • Besky, Freda
  • Balluck, Josefine, died 1984
  • Buresh, Christine
  • Buresh, Lida
  • Cain (Bruno), Betty Ann - a child actress
  • Cooper, Nona
  • Coulter, Elizabeth
  • Denis, Ethel W, died 1968
  • Derthrick (Resmondo), Hazel I., 4'4"
  • Fern, Jeanette (a.k.a Fern Formica) 1//27/25 to 1995.
  • Frank, Addie E.
  • Granger, Corolyn E.
  • Hoy, Hellen M
  • Hoy, Marguerite
  • Kelley (Becker), Jessie E.
  • Kenmore, Joan - a child actress, born Nov 3, 1931.
  • Kennedy, Shirley Ann - a child actress
  • Koestner, Emma
  • Koestner, Mitzi
  • Kramer, Dolly 4'1"
  • Krebs, Nita, a 3'8" ballerina in the Lullabye League 1907 -
  • LaBarbera, Jeane (Little Jeane) Only 24" tall in 1939, she grew to 36" before her death
  • Lange, Hilda
  • Leslie, Anne Rice
  • Moray (Bistany), Yvonne, a 3'8" ballerina in the Lullabye League
  • Nardone, Olga C. (Little Olga) a ballerina in the Lullabye League
  • Nickloy, Magaret C.H.
  • Olsen, Hildred C.
  • Parks, Leona M.
  • Porter, Lillian
  • Raia, Margaret (Margie)
  • Rice, Gertrude H.
  • Rice, Hazel
  • Robinson (Duccini), Ruth L.
  • Royale (Wojnarski), Helen J.
  • Schneider, Elly A. (Tiny Doll)
  • Schneider, Frieda (Gracie Doll) died Mar 16, 1980
  • Schnneider, Hilda E. (Daisy Doll) died Nov 1970.
  • Schultz, Elsie died Jul. 11, 1987 age 94.
  • Shepard, Valerie - a child actress
  • Smith, Ruth E. died Sep 5, 1985
  • Stevens (Barnes), Alta M. 4'5" in 1939. Grew only one more inch
  • Tanner, Betty, She grew from 3'8" in 1939 to 4'3" by her death in 1995.
  • Williams, Charlotte V.
  • Williams, Grace G.
  • Williams (Pellegrini), Margaret, born Sep 23, 1923. The actress was a 3'5" sleepyhead in addition to her townswoman role.
  • Winters (Maroldo), Marie, 3'5"
  • White (Banks), Viola - a child actress
  • Wolff, Gladys V. 1911-May 14-1984 3'3"
Men
  • Ballas, John
  • Balluck, Franz (Mike) died Jan 24, 1987
  • Bambury, John T.
  • Becker, Charles (Charlie) born Nov 24 1887. The 3'9" actor was the mayor of Munchkinland
  • Boers, Henry
  • Boers, Theodore
  • Buresh, Eddie
  • Carroll, Mickey, born 1920
  • Casper, Colonel note says bearded man
  • Cottonaro, Thomas J (Tommy) born Mar 16, 1920. He was 4'6" in 1939.
  • Croft, Lewis (Idaho) was 3'8" in 1939 but grew to be 4'6"
  • Cucksey, Frank H, Was 3'tall when he said "You killed her so completely, that we thank you very sweetly." He died Sep 9 1984.
  • Curtis, Billy died Nov 9, 1988. He was 4'2"
  • David, Eugene S. Jr.,
  • David, Eulie H.
  • Denis, Prince, 1900-Jun 21, 1984
  • Doyle, Major
  • Erickson, Carl M. (Kayo) was part of the Lollypop Guild
  • Gerlich, Jacob (Jackie)
  • Giblin, William A.
  • Herbst, Joseph was less than 4' tall
  • Hofbauer, Jacob Photos show Jacob trying out a Munchkin soldier costume.
  • Howerton, Clarence C. (Major Mite)
  • Hulse, James R., Mar 16 1915-Dec 29, 1964
  • Kanter, Robert (Lord Roberts)
  • Kelley, Charles E. (Charley)
  • Kikel, Frank
  • Klima, Bernard (Harry)
  • Koestner, Willi
  • Kosiczky (Slover), Karl (Karchy) born 1920 3'4" in 1939 grew to 4'4"
  • Kozicki, Adam Edwin/Eddie Adams
  • Koziel, Joseph J.
  • Kranzler, Emil
  • Leal, Johny, born Feb 26 1905 sp?
  • Ludwig, Charles (Charley)
  • Magro, Dominick
  • Manzo, Carlos
  • Marco, Howard
  • Marenghi (Maren), Gerard (Jerry) was a 3'6" Lollipop Guild member in 1939. He later grew to 4'3"
  • Matina, Bella (Ike)
  • Matina, Lajos (Leo)
  • Matina, Mike
  • Miller, Walter died Oct 26, 1987
  • Ministeri, George died Jan 29, 1986 at 4'5"
  • Monty, Harry was 4'6' and grew only one more inch. He was both a soldier and a winged monkey.
  • Nelson, Nels P. born Nov 21, 1921. He celebrated his 17 birtday during the shooting of The Wizard of Oz. He lost 3 inches off of his 1939 height of 4'6" by his death in 1995.
  • O'Baugh, Franklin H.
  • O'Docharty, William H. (W.H.) born Sep 12, 1920. He grew from his 1939 height of 3'6" to 4'7"
  • Packard, Frank
  • Page, Nicholas was a Munchkin soldier.
  • Pizo, Johnny - a dwarf actor
  • Polinsky, Leon (Prince Leon)
  • Raabe, Meinhardt, born Sep 2 1915 he grew to 4'8" after he played the Munchkin Coroner at just 4'2"
  • Raia, Mathew
  • Retter, Friedrich (Freddy) was a Munchkin fiddler.
  • Rhodes, Billy (Little Billy) stood just 40". He died Jul 24, 1967
  • Roka, Sandor
  • Rosen, Jimmie
  • Royale (Or Wojnarski?), Charles F. Charley
  • St. Aubin, Elmer (Pernell) born 1903, died Dec 4, 1987
  • Schnieder, Kurt (Harry Earls or Harry Doll) died May 14, 1985. He was 3'6" when he was in the Lollypop Guild in 1939.
  • Silvern, Charles
  • Slatton, Garland (Earl) grew from 3'6" to 4'10" in his lifetime
  • Spangler, Elmer
  • Stephan, Carl
  • Suchsie, George
  • Swensen, August Clarence Born Dec 29, 1917. He was 4'6" in 1939.
  • Vierling, Arnold
  • Wayne, Gus
  • Wetter, Victor was just 4' tall in 1939
  • Williams, Harvey B.
  • Winters (Maroldo), Johnny
  • Wood, Murray was born Jun 12, 1908 and was 4'2" in 1939.

Special thanks to Steve Cox, author of " The Munchkins of Oz", for many updates and corrections to the above information.

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