The last surviving voice of the Lollipop Guild
In short: In 1939, a young dancer from Massachusetts arrived in Hollywood to play a green-clad Munchkin. Decades later, Jerry Maren became the final remaining adult cast member from The Wizard of Oz with a specifically identifiable speaking or singing role.
Born Gerard Marengly in Lynn, Massachusetts, Maren was the youngest of a large family, including several brothers who reached heights of six feet or more. His path to stardom began in New England, where he performed in a dance act called 'Three Steps and a Hop.' It was during these regional tours that MGM scouts discovered him while searching for performers for the legendary 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz.
At the time of filming in late 1938 and early 1939, Maren stood 3 feet 6 inches tall. He played a member of the Lollipop Guild, famously handing a sweet to Dorothy Gale. While he later reached 4 feet 6 inches through hormone treatments, his career remained defined by his unique stature. Beyond Oz, his filmography was remarkably diverse, spanning roles as a primate in the 1973 production Battle for the Planet of the Apes to appearing in the Marx Brothers' film At The Circus.
Maren’s career extended far beyond the silver screen into the world of advertising and television. From the 1950s, he became a household face as Little Oscar for Oscar Mayer and later portrayed iconic McDonald's characters like Mayor McCheese and the Hamburglar. He also helped organize Little People of America alongside Billy Barty. Maren passed away in La Jolla, California, in May 2018 at the age of 98, having outlived nearly all the major members of the Oz ensemble.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Jerry Maren
- Also: Jerry Maren
- Also: Wikidata — Jerry Maren, Who Sang and Danced as a Munchkin in Oz, Dies at 98 · CC0
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