- The Wizard of Oz is a classic movie favourite
- Actress Judy Garland leads the cast of the 1939 film
- Our video looks at the Wizard of Oz actors in real life
The Wizard of Oz features some great actors from classical Hollywood – but most of them are fully costumed throughout the film. Here's what the cast of The Wizard of Oz actually looked like in real life (see in the video above!)...
The Wizard of Oz made young Judy Garland a star. The actress was just a teen when she explored the land of Oz as "Dorothy." Garland remained a star for a few decades after, but she struggled with fame and tragically died young in 1969.
Would you recognize The Wizard of Oz actors in real life?
In Oz, "Dorothy" is joined by a trio of colourful characters. First there is the "Tin Man," played by actor Jack Haley. In real life, Jack Haley was a multitalented star who danced, sang, and performed in radio and vaudeville. He passed away in 1979.
The memorable "Scarecrow" was played by the popular actor Ray Bolger. Away from The Wizard of Oz, Ray Bolger is remembered from Disney's Babes in Toyland and a range of TV work. He lived until 1987.
Actor Bert Lahr starred as the loveable "Cowardly Lion." Lahr was a screen and stage star who enjoyed a long career in the entertainment business. He passed in 1967.
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As "The Wicked Witch of the West," actress Margaret Hamilton has terrified young movie fans for generations. In real life, Hamilton wasn't so scary. She was a former schoolteacher who would go on to appear in dozens of films and TV series.
The mysterious "Wizard of Oz" was played wonderfully by actor Frank Morgan. Morgan was a silent-era film star who also acted in radio after The Wizard of Oz.
A group known as The Singer Midgets starred as the memorable "Munchkins" in The Wizard of Oz. Did you know? Over 100 performers played "Munchkins" in the film. Some of the troupe appeared in other films years before The Wizard of Oz.
See The Wizard of Oz actors in real life in the video above!
