Mickey Carroll
Encyclopedia
Mickey Carroll was an American
actor and was one of the last surviving munchkin
s from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz
.
, Carroll was the son of Italian
immigrants. At age 7, Carroll began dance lessons at the Fox Theater in St. Louis. At 17 he was one of six bellhops in the 'Call for Phillip Morris' live radio ads, and at 18 was appearing in shows with Mae West
.
While under contract to MGM, he went to school with Judy Garland
and Mickey Rooney
. It was Garland herself who offered him a part in The Wizard of Oz
. He stayed with her during filming. Carroll was cast as Munchkinland's "Town Crier". His costume consisted of a purple cloak with a yellow flower sticking out of his striped vest. He also marched as a "Munchkin Soldier", and as one of the candy-striped
"Fiddlers" who escorted Dorothy down the yellow brick road towards the Emerald City.
Soon after the success of the film, Carroll left show business, realizing that his height would prevent him from having any long-term success as an actor.
In November 2007, Carroll, along with six of the other remaining Munchkins, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
. Thanks to the popularity of The Wizard of Oz
, Carroll made many appearances that year, serving as a grand marshal
in parades, appearing on nationwide radio and TV shows, and signing thousands of autographs for fans. He helped raise money for several different charities.
. He was entombed in St. Louis, Missouri's Calvary Cemetery
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor and was one of the last surviving munchkin
Munchkin
The Munchkins are the natives of the fictional Munchkin Country in the Oz books by L. Frank Baum. They first appeared in the 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, in which they are described as being somewhat short of stature, and wear only blue...
s from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
.
Early life and career
Born Michael Finocchiaro in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Carroll was the son of Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
immigrants. At age 7, Carroll began dance lessons at the Fox Theater in St. Louis. At 17 he was one of six bellhops in the 'Call for Phillip Morris' live radio ads, and at 18 was appearing in shows with Mae West
Mae West
Mae West was an American actress, playwright, screenwriter and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned seven decades....
.
While under contract to MGM, he went to school with Judy Garland
Judy Garland
Judy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
and Mickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney is an American film actor and entertainer whose film, television, and stage appearances span nearly his entire lifetime. He has won multiple awards, including an Honorary Academy Award, a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award...
. It was Garland herself who offered him a part in The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
. He stayed with her during filming. Carroll was cast as Munchkinland's "Town Crier". His costume consisted of a purple cloak with a yellow flower sticking out of his striped vest. He also marched as a "Munchkin Soldier", and as one of the candy-striped
"Fiddlers" who escorted Dorothy down the yellow brick road towards the Emerald City.
Soon after the success of the film, Carroll left show business, realizing that his height would prevent him from having any long-term success as an actor.
In November 2007, Carroll, along with six of the other remaining Munchkins, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
. Thanks to the popularity of The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
, Carroll made many appearances that year, serving as a grand marshal
Grand Marshal
Grand Marshal is a ceremonial, military, or political office of very high rank. The term has its origins with the word "Marshal" with the first usage of the term "Grand Marshal" as a ceremonial title for certain religious orders...
in parades, appearing on nationwide radio and TV shows, and signing thousands of autographs for fans. He helped raise money for several different charities.
Death
On May 7, 2009, Carroll died in his sleep at the home of his caretaker in Crestwood, MissouriCrestwood, Missouri
Crestwood is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States, part of the Metropolitan Statistical Area known as Greater St. Louis. The population was 11,912 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Crestwood is located at ....
. He was entombed in St. Louis, Missouri's Calvary Cemetery
Bellefontaine and Calvary Cemeteries
Bellefontaine Cemetery and the Roman Catholic Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri are adjacent burial grounds, which have numerous historic and extravagant tombstones and mausoleums. They are the necropolis for a number of prominent local and state politicians, as well as soldiers of the...
.
External links
- AP Obituary in the St. Louis Post-DispatchSt. Louis Post-DispatchThe St. Louis Post-Dispatch is the major city-wide newspaper in St. Louis, Missouri. Although written to serve Greater St. Louis, the Post-Dispatch is one of the largest newspapers in the Midwestern United States, and is available and read as far west as Kansas City, Missouri, as far south as...
- Official Mickey Carroll web site