Wizard of Oz's Last Surviving Munchkin Jerry Maren Dies at 98

People ^ | 6/6/2018 | Stephanie Petit

[simpson96]

The last living Munchkin from The Wizard of Oz has died.

Jerry Maren, who memorably welcomed Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) to Munchkinland in the classic 1939 film as part of the Lollipop Guild, died last week at a San Diego nursing care facility, TMZ reported. The actor was laid to rest over the weekend at Forest Lawn in Hollywood, said the outlet.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Maren was the final surviving Munchkin actor from the 124 little people who starred in The Wizard of Oz. The bio on his Instagram page also states, “Last living munchkin from the Wizard of Oz.”

Maren was close to his nieces and nephews after his wife Elizabeth, who was also a little person, died in 2011 at age 69, TMZ reports.

The actor appeared in TV bits on popular shows over the years including The Twilight Zone, Seinfeld and Bewitched, according to IMDB. His most recent role was back in 2010, when he appeared in the movie Dahmer vs. Gacy.

However, he is best remembered for being in the middle of the Lollipop Guild trio donning green and presenting Garland with a giant candy.

[trisham]

Wow!

[EdnaMode]

RIP

[Bob434]

wow he lived a long time- Starred in one of hte greatest movies ever-

[dfwgator]

"And he's not only merely dead, he's really most sincerely dead."

[Red Badger]

I always thought the Lollipop Guild were children dressed as adults...................

[Red Badger]

He would have been 19 at the time..................

[Snickering Hound]

[ETL]

[Responsibility2nd]

Merely dead?

Or most sincerely dead?

[FatherofFive]

I hear the Little People had a great time on the set. Lord Tyrion would be proud.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

I always thought they were a bit creepy as a kid. I think it was the singing style and how they screwed their mouth up.

[SMGFan]

And the secret of what the munchkins allegedly did to Judy Garland dies with him.

[ETL]

[ETL]

[lee martell]

There are many #MeToo stories about those Munchkin’s getting too handsy with Judy Garland. I don’t know how true they are.
When you realize many of these actors were teenagers at that time, it’s not out of the question. Judy was only 13 when she signed the contract with MGM.

[ETL]

[AppyPappy]

He said it never happened

[Leaning Right]

> Starred in one of the greatest movies ever <

Gone with the Wind was made the same year as was The Wizard of Oz (1939). And one of the stars of Gone With the Wind is still with us, Olivia de Havilland, at age 101.

[ETL]