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Karl Slover who appeared in The Wizard of Oz passes away

Karl Slover who appeared in The Wizard of Oz passes away

THE death has taken place of Karl Slover who appeared as one of the Munchkins in the film The Wizard of Oz. He was 93.

Mr. Slover, who was born Karl Kosiczky in Hungary, had suffered from pituitary dwarfism and was just 4ft. 4ins tall. He changed his name to Slover after becoming an American citizen in 1943.

He had travelled to the United States in 1928 as a member of a troupe called The Singer Midgets who performed at shows across the country.

He was to get his break in films in 1937 when he appeared in They Gave Him A Gun, starring Spencer Tracey. 

This was to lead to other film work, including Bringing Up Baby (1938) and Block-Heads (1938) which starred Laurel and Hardy.

But it was for The Wizard of Oz (1939) that he will be best remembered.

In the movie he was one of the singers who encourage Judy Garland to sing Follow The Yellow Brick Road.

He was one of only seven Munchkins who attended the unveiling of a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in 2007 which was dedicated to the “little people” in the The Wizard of Oz.

To see Karl Slover sing We’re Off To See The Wizard click here.

 

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