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Wizard of Oz munchkin Margaret Pelligrini passes away

Wizard of Oz munchkin Margaret Pelligrini passes away

THE death has taken place of Margaret Pelligrini who was one of the Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz film. She was 89.

Ms Pelligrini, who was born Margaret Williams, was only 15 when an agent put her name forward for a role in the 1939 fantasy movie which starred Judy Garland. 

She played the Flowerpot Munchkin and one of the sleepy head kids in film which has become a classic. In one memorable scene, Judy Garland’s character Dorothy enters Munchkinland (see below).

Ms Pelligrini had said she was honoured to have appeared in the film which she said would never be bettered. In one interview she said: “It’s really an honour to see how it keeps going from generation to generation. I don’t think The Wizard of Oz will ever die out. They’ll never make another one like it. I was so excited to have been part of it.”

In recent years, Ms Pelligrini had regularly made appearances at events organised by fans of the film. She was also present when a Star was unveiled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007 in honour of the Munchkins.

She passed away in Pheonix, Arizona after suffering a stroke. Her death means that out of the original 124 Munchkins only two now survive. They are Jerry Maren (93) and Ruth Duccini (95).

To view an excerpt from The Wizard of Oz in which Dorothy meets the Munchkins, click here.

To see an interview with Margaret Pelligrini, click here.

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