Margaret Pellegrini

Margaret Pellegrini (née Williams; September 23, 1923 – August 7, 2013) was an American actress, vaudeville performer and dancer, best known for playing one of the Munchkins from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.[1][2] Until her death in 2013, she was one of the three surviving munchkins, the other two being Jerry Maren and Ruth Robinson Duccini.[3]

Margaret Pellegrini
Margaret Pellegrini in June 2006
Born
Margaret Williams

(1923-09-23)September 23, 1923
Tuscumbia, Alabama, U.S.
DiedAugust 7, 2013(2013-08-07) (aged 89)
Glendale, Arizona, U.S.
Occupation
  • Actress
  • vaudevillian performer
  • dancer
Years active1938-2013
Spouse(s)Willie Pellegrini
Children2
From left: Jerry Maren (Lollipop Guild), Karl Slover, Clarence Swensen and Margaret Pellegrini (1998)

Biography

She was born Margaret Williams in Tuscumbia, Alabama, U.S. When she was helping a relative in a potato chip booth at the Tennessee State Fair, a group of little people came by and asked if she wanted to join their show, Henry Kramer's Midgets. "At that time I didn't think I was a midget," says Pellegrini (who then stood about 3 ft 4 in (1.02 m)). In the film, Pellegrini played a "sleepyhead" flower pot and Munchkin villager. After the film, she married Willie Pellegrini (an average-sized ex-fighter) and had two children. Through the years, Pellegrini frequently appeared at surviving Munchkins of Oz festivities.

Munchkins Walk of fame

She was present on November 21, 2007, when the remaining Munchkins were given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was also named the Grand Marshal of this year's annual "Oz-Stravaganza" parade in Chittenango, New York, but health issues prevented her from attending. Near the time of her death, she was described as a widowed great-great grandmother living in Glendale, Arizona, with a room in her house devoted to her treasured Oz collectibles. She was survived by daughter Margaret, grandchildren William III, Anna, Juliette, Joe, Vincent, and Dawnelle Mowrey. Great grandchildren are: Anthony, Ashley, Barbara, Cheryl, Dalyn, Elizabeth, Heaven, Kaylee, and Shayla, and one great-great grandchild Sejla,

Death

Pellegrini died on August 7, 2013, in Glendale, Arizona, due to complications from a stroke she suffered two days earlier.[3] She was 89.[4] She was cremated and her remains were given to her family.[5]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1939The Wizard of OzMunchkin Villager/SleepyheadUncredited
1971Johnny Got His Gun
1990The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of MagicAcknowledgement credit
1993We're Off to See the Munchkins
1994I Married a MunchkinSleepyhead
1997BiographyHerself1 episode
2001Memories of Oz
2005Entertainment Tonight1 episode
Because of the Wonderful Things It Does: The Legacy of Oz
2009The Yellow Brick Road and BeyondHerself/Munchkinalso Special Thanks credit
Hollywood Celebrates Its Biggest Little Stars!Herself
2013The Making of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz
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References
  1. Associated, The. "Oz "munchkin" comes to Kansas". CJOnline.com. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
  2. Margaret Pellegrini - IMDb
  3. "Margaret Pellegrini dies at 89; actress played Munchkin in 'Oz'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 29, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  4. Herbert, Geoff (2013-08-09). "Oz Museum in Chittenango holding remembrance event for Munchkin Margaret Pellegrini". Syracuse.com. Syracuse Media Group. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
  5. Margaret Pellegrini at Find a Grave
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