The Cast and Crew of the Wizard of Oz

Casting The Wizard of Oz - How the movie might have been cast

Metro Goldwyn Mayer's famous line of the 1930's was that it had more stars than the heavens. From Clark Gable to Rin Tin Tin, MGM had it's pick of Hollywood's finest to cast the Wizard of Oz. Earlier in the decade, MGM had established a formula of casting several well known actors in a movie, which they believed would help make the movie a success. Wizard of Oz was no different.

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Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale

On February 24, 1938, MGM announced that Judy Garland would be playing the role of Dorothy. In 1940, she was awarded a miniature Oscar for her performances as a child actress, notably in the Wizard of Oz. She was later nominated for Best Actress for a Star is Born in 1955, and again in 1962 for her performance in Judgement at Nuremberg. In addition she was nominated for 3 Emmy awards, and won a Golden Globe for A Star is Born. In 1960, she was given a star on the Hollywood walk of fame, on 1715 Vine Street.

Jack Haley as The Tin Man

Not the original Tin Woodsman, Jack Haley was brought in to replace ill Buddy Ebsen. Like many of his Wizard of Oz collegues, the majority of his film work occured between 1930 and 1950, while his later work consists of guest appearances on TV shows. Prior to the Wizard of Oz, Jack Haley and Judy Garland worked together in Pigskin Parade, however they were tied together later, when his son, Jack Haley Jr. was married for several years to Judy Garland's daughter Liza Minelli. Jack Haley passed away in 1979.

Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow

Ray Bolger was originally cast as the Tin man (at this point during the casting process referred to as the Tin Woodsman), with Buddy Ebsen to play the Scarecrow. However, in an interesting twist of fate, Ray Bolger, who felt he was miscast, convinced producer Mervyn LeRoy to allow them to switch roles. The Wizard of Oz was only Ray Bolger's 3rd film. He would work with Judy Garland again in Harvey Girls, and then left for a short stint on Broadway. In 1961, he was cast as Barnaby in Babes in Toyland. Ray Bolger may have prefered TV to movies, as he had his own TV show, and made frequent guest appearances on tv shows until the 1980's.

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Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion

Bert Lahr was a seasoned veteran of Broadway when he was cast in the Wizard of Oz. However, he struggled with his movie career. After the Wizard of OZ, he returned to the stage, where he received a Tony nomination in 1963 for best actorin a dramatic play. In 1964, he won the Tony for best actor in a musical. He passed away in 1967.

Margret Hamilton as The Wicked Witch of the West

Margret Hamilton

Billy Burke as Glinda the Good Witch of the North

Billy Burke's work at MGM was far from immortalized by her role as Glinda in the Wizard of Oz, and yet that's how she's best remembered. Her career includes the early David O'Selznick acclaimed production "Dinner at 8", which, for the first time, showcases MGM's newest director and uses stars in all the major roles.

Frank Morgan as the Wizard of Oz

Perhaps best known for his role as the Wizard in the Wizard of Oz, Francis Wuppermann - AKA Frank Morgan - was well known in Hollywood as a character actor and appeared in almost 100 films, spanning from the early 1910's to 1950. Other than the Wizard of Oz, the most recognizeable of his films are The Shop Around the Corner, Kismet, Yolanda and the Thief, the Courage of Lassie, and The Three Musketeers, where he plays King Louis the 13th.

Charley Grapewin as Uncle Henry

Clara Blandick as Auntie Em

Pat Walsh as Nikko (the head flying Monkey)

Terry the Dog as Toto

Munchkin Cast

"The Singing Midgets"
Billy Bletcher - Mayer
Jon Dodson - Lollypop Guild
Bud Linn - Lollypop Guild
Rad Robinson - The Cornoner

Crew

The many faces of MGM were evident in some familiar crew members. Mervyn LeRoy was the Producer on the film. Victor Fleming and King Vidor directed a maority of the movie, however George Cukor finished some of the filming. Art Director Cedric Gibbons and Set Designer Edwin Willis were responsible for creating the fanticiful land of oz, while the famed costume designer Adrian and Jack Dawn was tasked with the job of bringing a scarecrow and a tinman to life.