In addition to the Lollipop Guild member (a part he was given because he had a singing and dancing background) in The Wizard of Oz (1939), he played a number of munchkin filler parts throughout the movie.
Jerry Maren (born January 24, 1920) is an American actor and the last surviving Munchkin from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. He is also the last surviving cast member of that film.
Maren was born Gerard Marenghi in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Italian immigrants. His father died when he was three, and his mother remarried. He has two sisters and a brother. His early education was in the Boston public schools.
Maren began his career as a child actor in vaudeville. He first appeared on stage at the age of four. He later appeared in burlesque, stock, and night clubs. He also worked as a clown in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
In 1939, Maren auditioned for the role of a Munchkin in The Wizard of Oz. He was one of 124 actors who were hired for the film. He played the role of the Lollipop Guild Member who presented Dorothy Gale (played by Judy Garland) with a lollipop.
Maren appeared in several other films, including The Three Stooges in Society (1945), The Greatest Show on Earth (1952), and It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963). He also appeared on television shows such as The Love Boat and Fantasy Island.
In the 1980s, Maren retired from acting and opened a collectibles shop in San Diego, California. He later worked as a tour guide at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Maren married Elizabeth Barrington-Ward in 2006. He has no children.
Maren is 5 feet 2 inches (157 cm) tall and weighs 100 pounds (45 kg). He has blue eyes and gray hair.
General Info
Full Name
Jerry Maren
Date Of Birth
January 24, 1920
Height
1.29 m
Profession
Actor
Nationality
American
Family
Spouse
Elizabeth Barrington
Accomplishments
Movies
Dahmer vs. Gacy, Where the Buffalo Roam, Little Cigars, The Terror of Tiny Town
For me, it was meeting all the little people from all over the world. Not only the United States but from all over. A few of them came from Texas. You'd never believe that. I always thought only big tall men came from Texas and there they had about 10 little guys from Texas--I couldn't believe it. I met other little people from Germany, France, Italy--they were from all over. There were over 120! -- JM, describing the "Munchkins" experience while filming The Wizard of Oz.
2
We represent the Lollipop Guild, the Lollipop Guild, the Lollipop Guild and in the name of the Lollipop Guild we welcome you to Munchkin Land.
Facts
#
Fact
1
With the death of Ruth Duccini on January 16, 2014, Maren is the only surviving actor to have played a Munchkin in The Wizard of Oz (1939).
2
In addition to the Lollipop Guild member (a part he was given because he had a singing and dancing background) in The Wizard of Oz (1939), he played a number of munchkin filler parts throughout the movie.
3
Claims that the Munchkins got paid only $50 a week while the dog Toto received $200 a week during the filming of The Wizard of Oz (1939).
4
The location of the Munchkins' star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is 6915 Hollywood Blvd.
5
Played "Boko" the comedy assistant to Ms. Geraldine Larsen's "Magic Lady" on "The Magic Lady TV Show" on The ABC TV network in the early 1950s.
6
Works as a stand in for child actors.
7
He was Little Oscar.
8
He played Buster Brown on television and radio during the 1950s and 1960s and did McDonald's commercials under the heavy costume of Mayor McCheese or the Hamburglar for several years.
Movies
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Dahmer vs. Gacy
2010
Mime
Frankenstein Rising
2010
Manlon
Bit Players
2000
Short
Oompa Loompa
Seinfeld
1997
TV Series
Dad
The Dreamer of Oz
1990
TV Movie
Mr. Munchkin
Short Ribbs
1989
TV Series
The Great Outdoors
1988
uncredited
Spaceballs
1987
uncredited
The Twilight Zone
1986
TV Series
Creature (segment "Personal Demons")
House
1986
Little Critter
Petronella
1985
TV Movie
George
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
1984
TV Movie
Elf 3
Hot Moves
1984
Arcade Vendor
The Being
1983
Monster (as Jerry Marin)
High School U.S.A.
1983
TV Movie
Robot
Wizards and Warriors
1983
TV Series
Floyd the Feather
Something Wicked This Way Comes
1983
uncredited
TRON
1982
uncredited
No Soap, Radio
1982
TV Series
Morris
Under the Rainbow
1981
Hotel Rainbow Guest
Side Show
1981
TV Movie
Tom Tiny
Where the Buffalo Roam
1980
Bell Man
Americathon
1979
The Lord of the Rings
1978
The Bad News Bears Go to Japan
1978
Page Boy
The Amazing Captain Nemo
1978
TV Movie
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
1977
TV Series
Dash
Switch
1977
TV Series
Shoe Shiner
The Odd Couple
1975
TV Series
Harry Tallman
Little Cigars
1973
Cadillac
Outlaw Riders
1971
Bartender
Lidsville
1971
TV Series
Boris / Rah-Rah
Here's Lucy
1970
TV Series
Milton
Bigfoot
1970
Baby Creature
Get Smart
1970
TV Series
Lower Gemini
Julia
1970
TV Series
Little Green Man
Hello, Dolly!
1969
Midget (uncredited)
Planet of the Apes
1968
Child Ape (uncredited)
The Wild Wild West
1967
TV Series
Coco
Bewitched
1967
TV Series
Gremlin
The Beverly Hillbillies
1966
TV Series
Spaceman #2
Producers' Showcase
1956
TV Series
Andy's Gang
1955
TV Series
Buster Brown (voice)
Smilin' Ed's Gang
1954
TV Series
Superman and the Mole-Men
1951
Mole-Man (uncredited)
Samson and Delilah
1949
uncredited
When My Baby Smiles at Me
1948
Midget (uncredited)
Are You with It?
1948
Midget (uncredited)
Three Wise Fools
1946
Sir Boulder (uncredited)
An Angel Comes to Brooklyn
1945
Midget Baby (uncredited)
Duffy's Tavern
1945
Midget (uncredited)
That's the Spirit
1945
Midget (uncredited)
The Great John L.
1945
Midget (scenes deleted)
Bring on the Girls
1945
Midget in Fireman Skit (uncredited)
Johnny Doesn't Live Here Anymore
1944
Gremlin
Silent Partner
1944
Messenger (uncredited)
Flesh and Fantasy
1943
Midget (uncredited)
Beyond the Blue Horizon
1942
Native (uncredited)
Fingers at the Window
1942
Small Boy (uncredited)
True to the Army
1942
Col. Delaroy (uncredited)
Maisie Was a Lady
1941
Midget (uncredited)
At the Circus
1939
Little Professor Atom (as Jerry Marenghi)
The Wizard of Oz
1939
Lollipop Guild Member (uncredited)
Tiny Troubles
1939
Short
Light Fingered Lester
The Terror of Tiny Town
1938
Townsperson (uncredited)
Stunts
Title
Year
Status
Character
Prophecy
1979
stunts
Dirty Harry
1971
stunts - uncredited
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Here We Go Again
1942
body double: Charlie McCarthy in motion - uncredited / stand-in: Charlie McCarthy - uncredited