It takes people's breath away," he told writer Paul Zollo during a 2011 interview for the publication North Hollywood Patch. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. He returned to Oz in the 1990 TV movie The Dreamer of Oz. "He was a 'song and dance man,' which is how he got the Munchkin job," his nephew said. "I’m grateful to have had such important people in my family. The last 'Wizard of Oz' munchkin, Jerry Maren, is dead at 98. Maren died in his sleep on May 24 at a private home care residence in La Jolla, California, where he had been in hospice care for six months. His family held a private celebration of his life before his burial. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. They'd have these barber chairs down below street level on one of the stages, and we'd go from chair to chair – wigs, fake cheeks, noses, chins. Jerry … Actor Jerry Maren, the green-clad tough guy of the Lollipop Guild who famously handed Dorothy (Judy Garland) a giant lollipop in the 1939 film classic “The Wizard of Oz,” has died at 98. Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)|Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills. He was also featured in marketing campaigns as he portrayed McDonald's Hamburglar and Mayor McCheese, as well as Oscar Mayer's Little Oscar. In 2007 he and other munchkins attended the unveiling of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame honoring them. Stacy Michelle Barrington confirmed his death to Fox News, saying he died more than a week ago but the family decided to hold off on sharing the news with the media. ", "Whenever they needed a munchkin extra in another scene, I was in there. Jerry was 98 years old at the time of death. Recently Passed Away Celebrities and Famous People. "It shows that it could happen to any one of us, you know, if you get lucky breaks.". He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Burbank and is interred in the mausoleum at the Court of Remembrance. Maren passed away last week at a San Diego nursing home, according to a TMZ report. The actor played many roles over the years, but he was best known for his time as a lollipop-toting munchkin in the classic film. Jerry Maren, the last surviving munchkin in the "Wizard of Oz" has died at 98. Julius is an LA Entertainment Reporter for Fox News. She heard of her uncle's passing through an aunt and cousin. Despite all the preparation, Maren said he really did not grasp the size of the production until he got on set. "He was a very sweet person and he was very approachable if you were a fan," his niece said Wednesday. But Maren's connection to "The Wizard of Oz" never faded. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. By creating an account, you verify that you are at least 13 years of age, and have read and agree to the PopCulture.com Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, By John Connor Coulston "It took two weeks of makeup preparation," Maren said about preparing for the role. Jerry Maren, the last surviving munchkin from "The Wizard of Oz," died at 98 due to complications from congestive heart failure, according to his family. "My uncle was a hardworking professional who led a very full life," Maren's nephew, Lloyd Decker, told CNN. CNN's Judy Oehling contributed to this report. He stood out from almost all the others, however, as the "Lollipop Kid" who sang and danced his way to front and center before the film's star, Judy Garland as Dorothy, and then, with a flourish, handed her an oversized lollipop. Where did Jerry Maren die? Jerry Maren was born on January 24, 1920 and died on May 24, 2018. Jerry Maren, who played a Munchkin in The Wizard of Oz, has died at 98. In 2013 he placed his handprints in cement outside Hollywood's Chinese Theatre to promote the release of a 3-D version of "The Wizard of Oz. "Being short never stopped him from doing anything.". or redistributed. I was approached by a casting agent who said, “We need little people who can sing and dance.”, He had never met another little person before filming “Oz.”. I thought, 'Geez, look at that. Jerry Maren has died! Among them was another film classic in its own right, "The Terror of Tiny Town," a traditional Western but with a little people cast. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. "He was the kind of person who would always take time to talk to you.". The 98-year-old actor died at a nursing care facility in San Diego, Calif. Your contribution is much appreciated! Maren recalled being cast for the movie in a 2009 interview with The New York Post. Maren left no immediate survivors. Coronavirus Update. "But then I realized," he added, "geez, it must have been a hell of a picture, because everyone remembers it everywhere I go.". His cause of death is unknown, but Maren did suffer from dementia before his passing. Maren was the only surviving actor to play a Munchkin in the iconic 1939 film at the time of his death. The actor's niece, Stacy Michelle Barrington tell us he died at a nursing care facility in San Diego, Calif. (Reuters/Mario Anzuoni). Jerry Maren, who played a Munchkin in The Wizard of Oz, has died at 98.. Maren passed away last week at a San Diego nursing home, according to a TMZ report. The reports were shot down at the time by Maren’s close friend Steve Cox. He became the last survivor of the original dwarf Munchkin cast (there are some other actors that appeared in the film that are living, including some child Munchkins) following the death of fellow Munchkin Ruth Duccini on January 16, 2014. But he couldn't escape the recognition of his role in Oz. Maren portrayed a member of the Lollipop Guild, a group of Munchkins which greets Dorothy Gale when she arrives in Munchkin Land. "I've done so many things in show business but people say, 'You were in The Wizard of Oz?' In an entertainment career that spanned more than 70 years, he portrayed The Hamburglar and Mayor McCheese in McDonald's commercials, appeared in scores of films and TV shows and made personal appearances as Little Oscar for Oscar Mayer hot dogs. Born Gerald Marenghi in Boston on Jan. 24, 1919, Maren was singing and dancing at a show at a Connecticut hotel in 1938 when MGM talent scouts saw the diminutive teenager actor and invited him to Hollywood to join the munchkin cast. However, he made both credited and uncredited appearances in numerous classic shows and films, including Seinfeld, TRON, The Beverly Hillbillies, Planet of the Apes, The Wild Wild West, Bewitched, The Bob Hope Show, Lidsville, The Twlight Zone and Spaceballs, among others. Maren was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth Maren. The actor always seemed proud of his Oz contribution, recounting his experience on the film numerous times over the years, including in a 2011 interview with Patch.

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