Margaret Pellegrini, ‘Wizard Of Oz’ Munchkin Actress, Dies At 89

Margaret Pellegrini, one the last surviving Munchkin actors from 1939’s The Wizard of Oz, died at a Phoenix-area hospital on Wednesday. She was 89.

Pellegrini suffered a stroke at her home in Glendale, Az., on Monday. She was later transported to a local hospital, where she died two days later, according to theater owner Ted Bulthaup. Bulthaup, whose theater is in Chicago, often hosted appearances by Pellegrini and others who played Munchkins in the classic film. Pellegrini’s death was brought to his attention by her relatives.

Pellegrini was 16 when she filmed The Wizard of Oz. She had played one of the “sleepy head” kids and had sported a flowerpot on her head during her scenes. Only two of the original 124 Munchkins are still alive.

Following her appearance in The Wizard of Oz, Pellegrini took to the guest speaking circuit, paying visits to local grade schools in costume to talk about her time playing the iconic role, according to the Arizona Republic. She liked to relay the film’s moral lesson to the school children, saying, "There are two roads in life that you can take — the wrong road and the right road. And remember, there really is no place like home."

Jerry Maren, 93, and Ruth Duccini, 95, are the two lone surviving Munckins.

– Chelsea Regan

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