The Last Of The Yellow Brick Road: Where Are The Surviving Cast Of The Wizard Of Oz Now? (Updated 2025)
The 1939 classic, The Wizard of Oz, remains one of the most beloved and culturally significant films in cinematic history, a timeless journey from the sepia tones of Kansas to the vibrant, revolutionary Technicolor of the Land of Oz. As of the current date in late 2025, the film’s enduring legacy is experiencing a fresh resurgence, driven by the upcoming film adaptation of the Broadway hit Wicked, which explores the untold story of the Wicked Witch of the West. This renewed interest brings the original cast—a group of legendary performers whose lives were as dramatic as the film itself—back into the spotlight.
Beyond the iconic main characters, the story of the cast is one of shocking on-set dangers, tragic post-fame struggles, and, for a select few, an astonishing longevity that makes them living links to the Golden Age of Hollywood. We look back at the primary actors who traveled the Yellow Brick Road and reveal the incredible lives of the last surviving members who still share their memories.
The Main Cast: Biographies and Legacies of the Yellow Brick Road Travelers
The core ensemble of The Wizard of Oz created performances that are now etched into global popular culture. Their lives after the film were a mix of continued success and profound personal challenges.
- Judy Garland (Dorothy Gale):
- Born: June 10, 1922, Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
- Role: Dorothy Gale, the young girl from Kansas.
- Legacy: An international icon whose rendition of "Over the Rainbow" is legendary. Her career was marred by studio pressure, drug dependency (which started on the Oz set with "pep pills" and sedatives prescribed by the studio), and multiple marriages. She received a special Juvenile Academy Award.
- Died: June 22, 1969, London, England, at age 47 from an accidental overdose.
- Ray Bolger (The Scarecrow):
- Born: January 10, 1904, Dorchester, Massachusetts.
- Role: Hunk / The Scarecrow, seeking a brain.
- Legacy: A renowned dancer and vaudevillian. He was originally cast as the Tin Man but successfully convinced the studio to let him play the Scarecrow, a role better suited to his physical comedy and dance style. His career continued successfully on Broadway and television.
- Died: January 15, 1987, Los Angeles, California, at age 83.
- Jack Haley (The Tin Man):
- Born: August 10, 1898, Boston, Massachusetts.
- Role: Zeke / The Tin Man, seeking a heart.
- Legacy: Haley replaced Buddy Ebsen (the original Tin Man) after Ebsen suffered a severe, near-fatal allergic reaction to the aluminum powder makeup. Haley’s makeup was changed to a safer aluminum paste. He was a popular vaudeville comedian before the film. His son, Jack Haley Jr., married Liza Minnelli, Judy Garland’s daughter.
- Died: June 6, 1979, Los Angeles, California, at age 80.
- Bert Lahr (The Cowardly Lion):
- Born: August 13, 1895, New York City, New York.
- Role: Zeke / The Cowardly Lion, seeking courage.
- Legacy: A celebrated Broadway star and comic actor. His costume was notoriously hot and heavy, made from actual lion hides. His signature line, "I'm R-r-r-eady!" remains iconic.
- Died: December 4, 1967, New York City, New York, at age 72.
- Margaret Hamilton (The Wicked Witch of the West / Miss Gulch):
- Born: December 9, 1902, Cleveland, Ohio.
- Role: Miss Gulch / The Wicked Witch of the West.
- Legacy: A former schoolteacher who created one of cinema’s most terrifying villains. She suffered severe burns during the filming of the Witch’s dramatic exit in a puff of smoke, requiring a long hospital stay. Despite the pain, she later embraced the role, often appearing on television to demystify the character for children.
- Died: May 16, 1985, Salisbury, Connecticut, at age 82.
- Frank Morgan (The Wizard / Professor Marvel, and others):
- Born: June 1, 1890, New York City, New York.
- Role: The title character, plus Professor Marvel, the Gatekeeper, the Carriage Driver, and the Guard.
- Legacy: A versatile and prolific actor who played five roles in the film, showcasing his range. He was nominated for two Academy Awards in his career.
- Died: September 18, 1949, Beverly Hills, California, at age 59.
- Billie Burke (Glinda, the Good Witch of the North):
- Born: August 7, 1884, Washington, D.C.
- Role: Glinda, the Good Witch of the North.
- Legacy: Already a major star and the widow of theatrical impresario Florenz Ziegfeld, she embodied the ethereal grace of Glinda. She continued to act in films until the early 1960s.
- Died: May 14, 1970, Los Angeles, California, at age 85.
The Dark Secrets of the Emerald City: Behind-the-Scenes Tragedies
While the film is a bright fantasy, the production was notoriously grueling and, in some cases, dangerous, a dark contrast to the magic on screen. This darker history is a crucial part of the film's legacy and a source of constant fascination for modern audiences.
Buddy Ebsen: The Near-Fatal Tin Man
The most alarming incident involved the original actor for the Tin Man, Buddy Ebsen, who later became famous as Jed Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies. Ebsen was initially cast as the Scarecrow but switched roles with Ray Bolger.
The "tin" makeup was an aluminum dust that was applied to Ebsen’s body. After only nine days of filming, the aluminum powder proved to be toxic, coating his lungs and causing a severe allergic reaction that left him hospitalized and near death.
He was forced to quit the production, and the role was recast with Jack Haley, whose makeup was changed to a less dangerous aluminum paste. Ebsen carried the health consequences for the rest of his life.
Margaret Hamilton's Fiery Accident
Margaret Hamilton, as the Wicked Witch, endured a terrifying on-set accident. During the sequence where she disappears in a cloud of smoke, the special effects mechanism malfunctioned.
The flames and smoke—which were supposed to be harmless—ignited the copper-based green makeup on her hands and face. She suffered severe second- and third-degree burns and had to be hospitalized for six weeks.
The studio, MGM, refused to let her wear gloves for the rest of the shoot, fearing they would affect the continuity of her makeup, a chilling example of the disregard for actor safety at the time.
Judy Garland’s Exploitation and Studio Control
Judy Garland was only 16 years old during filming, and her treatment by the studio, MGM, was a dark foreshadowing of her later struggles.
To maintain her youthful appearance and energy for the grueling 16-hour days, the studio put her on a strict diet and reportedly gave her "pep pills"—a cocktail of amphetamines and barbiturates to keep her awake and then put her to sleep.
This forced drug regimen is widely considered a major factor in the addiction and mental health issues that tragically cut her life short at age 47.
The Last Living Links to Oz: The Surviving Cast Members in 2025
While the principal actors are all deceased, a handful of performers from the massive ensemble cast remain alive today, representing an incredible connection to the film's production in 1939. Their stories are a testament to the film's enduring magic and the longevity of the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Caren Marsh Doll: The 106-Year-Old Stand-In
The most prominent surviving cast member is Caren Marsh Doll, who turned an astonishing 106 years old in 2025.
Marsh Doll served as Judy Garland's stand-in and body double for many of the dancing and walking sequences, particularly those on the Yellow Brick Road.
Her life story is as dramatic as any film: she was also an actress in other films and, remarkably, a survivor of a 1949 Standard Airlines plane crash.
In recent years, she has embraced her role in the film's history, making appearances at Wizard of Oz festivals and events, sharing her firsthand memories of working with Judy Garland and the challenges of the set.
The Surviving Munchkins
The film featured over 100 little people as Munchkins, and a few of these performers and background actors are also still alive and in their 90s, continuing to share their stories.
- Priscilla Montgomery Clark: One of the background Munchkin performers, who is in her mid-90s and has shared her memories of the chaotic, yet exciting, atmosphere on the set.
- Valerie Lee: Another background Munchkin, who has also been cited as one of the last surviving members of the large Munchkin ensemble.
These individuals are vital historical resources, offering a unique perspective on the film's production and the challenges faced by the performers of the time.
The Everlasting Influence and New Relevancy in 2025
The legacy of The Wizard of Oz extends far beyond its cast. It was a revolutionary achievement for its time, especially in its use of Technicolor, creating a vibrant world that felt completely new to audiences.
The film’s themes of home, courage, heart, and brains have made it a cornerstone of American storytelling, influencing countless films, books, and cultural movements, including its well-documented status as a major piece of queer cinema history.
Today, the film's relevance is spiking due to the highly anticipated two-part movie adaptation of the musical Wicked, which is set to hit theaters in late 2024 and 2025. This new franchise directly builds upon the world and characters established by the 1939 film, ensuring that the stories of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the Wicked Witch will be examined by a new generation.
From the tragic circumstances of Judy Garland’s life to the incredible longevity of Caren Marsh Doll, the story of the The Wizard of Oz cast is a complex, cautionary, and ultimately triumphant tale of Hollywood magic that continues to resonate nearly 90 years later.
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