Jerry Maren facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jerry Maren
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Maren attending the premiere of Dahmer vs. Gacy in Hollywood on January 15, 2010 (nine days before his 90th birthday)
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| Born |
Gerard Marenghi
January 24, 1920 Lynn, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Died | May 24, 2018 (aged 98) La Jolla, California, U.S.
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| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1938–2016 |
| Known for | Last surviving Munchkin from 1939 film The Wizard of Oz |
| Height | 4 ft 6 in (137 cm) |
| Spouse(s) |
Elizabeth Barrington
(m. 1975; died 2011) |
Jerry Maren (born Gerard Marenghi; January 24, 1920 – May 24, 2018) was an American actor. He is best known for playing a Munchkin in the famous 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz. He was the green-suited member of the Lollipop Guild who gave a giant lollipop to Dorothy Gale.
Jerry Maren was the last adult Munchkin actor from The Wizard of Oz to pass away. He was also the last surviving cast member who had a speaking or singing part in the film.
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Early Life and Dance Steps
Gerard Marenghi, who later became known as Jerry Maren, was born in Lynn, Massachusetts. He was the youngest of many children in his family. His father, Emil Marenghi, worked in a shoe factory. Interestingly, his four older brothers were all very tall, standing at six feet or more.
When Jerry was 12 years old, he started taking dancing lessons with his sister. He loved dancing so much that he began performing with his dance teacher. Their act was called Three Steps and a Hop. They toured around New England, putting on shows.
During one of their performances, scouts from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) noticed Jerry. MGM was a big movie studio looking for three short people who could sing and dance for a new film. This was a huge opportunity for young Jerry.
Jerry Maren's Acting Career
After finishing high school, Jerry Maren received an exciting message. It was a telegram asking him to come to California to work on a movie. He was offered a good salary, nearly $100 per week, plus his travel costs.
The Wizard of Oz Role
In The Wizard of Oz, Jerry Maren played a Munchkin from the Lollipop Guild. He was the one dressed in green who handed a large lollipop to Dorothy Gale, played by Judy Garland. Jerry was about 18 or 19 years old when he filmed his scenes for The Wizard of Oz in 1938 and 1939. At that time, he was only about 3 ft 6 in (107 cm) tall. Later in his life, special hormone treatments helped him grow to 4 ft 6 in (137 cm).
In the same year as The Wizard of Oz, Jerry also appeared in a short film called Tiny Troubles. He played a character named "Light-Fingered Lester." He was also an extra in a Western movie called The Terror of Tiny Town.
Life After Oz
After his famous role in The Wizard of Oz, Jerry Maren continued to act in many movies and TV shows. He played a circus performer in the Marx Brothers film At The Circus (1939). He was also an ape in Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973). He even appeared with another Munchkin actor, Billy Curtis, in the movie Little Cigars (1973).
In the 1950s, Jerry Maren became famous for playing "Little Oscar" for the Oscar Mayer Company. He also played "Buster Brown" in TV and radio commercials. Later, he worked with his friend Billy Barty to help create an organization called Little People of America. This group helps people with dwarfism.
Jerry Maren also played "Mayor McCheese" and "The TurkeyBoy" in commercials for McDonald's. He even worked as a stuntman in the 1975 film The Apple Dumpling Gang. He once said he "nearly got killed" during a scene where a horse-drawn cart went out of control.
From 1969 to 1971, Jerry was a regular on The Andy Williams Show, playing "The Little General." In the late 1970s, he was the well-dressed man in a top hat and tuxedo on The Gong Show. He would throw confetti to celebrate the end of each show. He also appeared in an episode of The Odd Couple and was a regular character named Morris the bellboy in the sitcom No Soap, Radio in 1982.
Later in his career, Jerry Maren had a small role in an episode of Seinfeld called "The Yada Yada." He also played a mime in the 2010 movie Dahmer vs. Gacy.
Public Appearances
On November 21, 2007, Jerry Maren joined six other Munchkin actors for a special event. They unveiled a Hollywood Star for the Wizard of Oz Munchkins on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This was a big honor for them.
On June 3, 2010, Jerry Maren visited the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York. He was there to help promote a new Wizard of Oz-themed slot machine.
After 2011, Jerry stopped traveling to Oz Festivals. However, he did attend a special handprint and footprint ceremony. This event took place at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on September 18, 2013.
Personal Life
Jerry Maren was married to Elizabeth Barrington. They were married in 1975, and she passed away in 2011 at the age of 69. Jerry lived in southern California for many years.
In February 2016, there were false reports that Jerry Maren had passed away from cancer. However, he posted a video on Instagram to let everyone know he was alive and well. His friend, Steve Cox, confirmed that Jerry did not have cancer.
By August 2016, Jerry's caretakers shared that he was too frail to make public appearances or give interviews.
Passing Away
Jerry Maren passed away at a nursing facility in La Jolla, California, on May 24, 2018. He was 98 years old. He died from natural causes related to old age, including heart failure.
Jerry Maren lived longer than all the other main cast members of The Wizard of Oz. He was the last surviving adult Munchkin actor from the film. He was also the last living actor who had co-starred in a movie with the famous Marx Brothers. Jerry Maren did not have any immediate family members surviving him.
Images for kids
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Maren attending the premiere of Dahmer vs. Gacy in Hollywood on January 15, 2010
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Maren (far left), Karl Slover, Clarence Swensen and Margaret Pellegrini in 1998
