Incredibly, the studio called Hamilton the next day wondering when she would return to set. Over the course of filming, the suit apparently got incredibly disgusting, exacerbating Berts poor health. Amid safety concerns, and anxiety over the fate of a $200 million movie, Gabby Petitos Life WithAnd Death ByBrian Laundrie. However, many audience members didnt realize that. The show was a success due to its excellent writing and directing. Join Facts Verse as we take a look at every actor who almost died while making The Wizard of Oz. Theres also the matter that a form of crystallized asbestos use as fake snow during the films production. This included the scene where the Wicked Witch of the East is writing a message to Dorothy with smoke in the sky. Because of this, Bert force to wear the same suit throughout the majority of The Wizard of Ozs production. It wasnt until the films later broadcast on television during the 1950s that it would begin to catch its audience. Clara Blandick. But she ended up spilling the beans on one of the most embarrassing chapters of her life instead. Buddy Ebsen name of the actor that is originally cast in the role of the Tin Man. She continued her volunteer work on the Island with the Mercer Island Thrift Store and Mercer Island Youth and Family Services (MIYFS). And while Williams sadly is no longer with us, Pam Dawber is still alive and well. A childhood role in a treasured film classic during the Golden Age of Hollywood didn't define Betty Ann Bruno's life, but being a Munchkin in "The Wizard of Oz" has been . 3. July 2, 2021, 6:38 am, by As a result of his time as the Tin Man, Esben experienced lifelong health effects and breathing problems, and he never even got the chance to appear on the screen. Author / Teacher / MFA in Fiction. 817 Views. While filming the scene in which the witch disappears in a flash of smoke, the effects crew started their fire before actor Margaret Hamilton had enough time to safely exit the stage. Mork, of course, played by the late Robin Williams. The first take of the scene went off fine. Despite the fact that The Wizard of Oz stands as a favorite amongst family audiences today; the film wasnt all that positively received upon its 1939 debut. Facts Verse The unusual movement in the background of the scene described above was noticed years ago, and it was often attributed to a stagehand's accidentally being caught on the set after the cameras started rolling (or, more spectacularly, a stagehand's falling out of a prop tree into the scene). The filmed at a time when studios didnt have to be very considerate about how they treated their stars. The studio, Metro-Goldwyn Mayer, outbid 20th Century Fox for the movie rights. Now, when I saw this, I began to flip out. That wasn't the only costume that had the potential to cause significant health issues, either. Shirley was younger than Judy, and MGM was never quite happy with Judys age or appearance during the filming of the picture. For starters, the white snow that fell on the actors during the famous poppy field scene was actually pure asbestos. (The tragic incident would also had to have been overlooked by all the directors, editors, film cutters, musicians, and others who worked on the film in post-production as well.) Why Decision to Leave deserves the Best Costume Design Oscar, Stoker at 10: Park Chan-wooks Hitchcockian fairytale, Why I love Zo Lunds performance in Ms 45. And this meant that it was incredibly expensive to produce. Darkness abounds in The Wizard of Oz. March 28, 2021, 6:21 am, by Dawber has married to NCIS star Mark Harmon for more than three [] More, Jan Smithers is a former television actress that is best known for her portrayal of the character Bailey Quarters on the television series WKRP in Cincinnati. Glass got the part because her mothers first cousin, Mervyn LeRoy, was the director-producer of the film. Asbestos, a cancer-causing carcinogen, was in common use in buildings and in consumer products in the 1930s. We'll wrap up our epic 3-part deep dive into the Wizard of Oz! After The Wizard of Oz, Glass went on to work in Hollywood for a few more years, mostly as an extra or stand-in. Released 80 years ago, Victor Flemings The Wizard of Oz is best remembered and indeed beloved for its pioneering use of Technicolor (in Baums book, Dorothys shoes are silver, not ruby; they were changed to showcase the new colour motion picture process) and for composer Herbert Stotharts Oscar-winning score. Meredythe Glass was one of the last surviving cast members of The Wizard of Oz. She died on Saturday at age 98. January 27, 2023, 6:25 pm, Trending Listen to this episode from Occult Symbolism and Pop Culture with Isaac Weishaupt on Spotify. Facts Verse Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com, A lovelorn actor portraying one of the munchkins hanged himself on the set during the filming of. Can you save the priceless pieces of art? The Wizard of Oz was a huge production with many extras, and the MGM records from that era have been lost. The Wicked Witch's broom was also made up of asbestos, as well as the Scarecrow costume that Ray Bolger wore nearly every single day of filming. All rights reserved. From the very beginning of filming, The Wizard of Oz was the site of all kinds of dangerous accidents and unsafe working conditions. It took her six weeks to recoverbut even then, the nerves in her hand were still so exposed that she had to wear green gloves rather than makeup. Glass retired from her psychiatric work in the 1970s. The change in focus of the rumor from a hapless stagehand to a suicidal munchkin (driven to despair over his unrequited love for a female munchkin) seems to have coincided with the heavy promotion and special video re-release of The Wizard of Oz in celebration of its 50th anniversary in 1989: someone made up the story of a diminutive actor who, suffering the pangs of unrequited love for a female "little person," decided to end it all right there on the set, and soon everyone was eager to share this special little film "secret" with others. While Robert Urich was famous for doing battle with tough foes on the screen. Maren died . He is the first friend that Dorothy meets, and he is someone who wants to find a brain, in order to be a little smarter. Tags: August 14, 2019 4:00 PM EDT. David Mikkelson founded the site now known as snopes.com back in 1994. A lot has changed in the entertainment world since then, but the Judy Garland-starring movie still inspires . She interviewed kids, families she had a huge binder for every kid she worked with and would present her findings to the court. The double was reportedly paid $35 for her days work. 7.4K 948K views 8 years ago Here's the original scene from "The Wizard of Oz" showing the munchkin that committed suicide on-screen by hanging! Since (grossly exaggerated) tales of munchkin lechery and drunken misbehavior on the "Oz" set had been circulating for years (primarily spread by Judy Garland herself in television talk show appearances), the wild suicide story had some seeming background plausibility to it. Ever Since The wizard of Oz had been released to Home Video years before High Definition there have been rumors of a crew member of the Wizard of Oz hanging himself backstage just as Dorothy the Tin Man and the Scare Crow are leaving the Apple Tree yard where Dorothy and the Scarecrow final meet the Tin man. Tammone said thats when Glass blossomed.. Having starred in such television programs as VEGA$ and Spenser: For Hire. Due to the fact that he could no longer perform in the role of the Tin Man on time. She died on July 26, 2022. He would end up having to fight an even tougher battle [] More, What could be more mysterious than an island filled with buried treasure? It was only when the film was released on home video that the legend really took on a life of its own. Almira Gulch. Judy remained addicted to substances throughout the majority of her life as a result of being hooked on amphetamines during the filming of the seminal 1939 fantasy picture. The so-called "munchkin suicide" scene in the 1939 MGM film The Wizard of Oz occurs at the very end of the Tin Woodsman sequence, as Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Woodsman head down the road on their way to the Emerald City. Ad Choices. Scarecrow. Tragically, the accomplished actress committed suicide in 1962. Youre Jason Kenney. 3.. School district and city collaborate on major project. When she turned 18, LeRoy got her a Screen Actors Guild card. (uncredited) Production Design by 7.6K Followers. Producer Mervyn LeRoy once stated that the actors had orgies in the hotel and we had to have police on every floor. According to History of Yesterday, Judy Garland hadn't been the top choice to play Dorothy. Filled with photographs, newspaper clippings, cards, letters and memorabilia, her voice catches in her throat as she speaks. 1. | Little White Lies was established in 2005 as a bi-monthly print magazine committed to championing great movies and the talented people who make them. Margaret Hamilton The Wicked Witch of the West, "I Thought The Beaverton Was Satire" T-Shirt, https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fil:Wizard_of_Oz_Lobby_card_1939.JPG. The Alleged Sighting, Theories, and Explanation One of the most ubiquitous of film legends holds that a munchkin hanged himself on-camera during the filming of 'The Wizard of Oz.' David Mikkelson Published Dec 12, 1997 Advertisment: Claim: A. Everyone knows the beloved Hollywood classic The Wizard Of Oz. February 19, 2023, 6:17 am, by Now, to celebrate her life and achievements, Covenant Living at the Shores (formerly Covenant Shores) will host a memorial for Glass at 11 a.m. on Oct. 14. Combining cutting-edge design, illustration and journalism, weve been described as being at the vanguard of the independent publishing movement. Our reviews feature a unique tripartite ranking system that captures the different aspects of the movie-going experience. She was an actress, known for The Wizard of Oz (1939). http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Priscilla+Montgomery/ From expensive cars to enormous mansions to copious quantities [] More, While Peter Lawford might the least well-known member of the Rat Pack, he is sometimes referred to as the Man Who Kept The Secrets due to his secretive efforts to connect Marilyn Monroe and his brother-in-law JFK. Both of these rumors have been disproven. Filming & Production When he had difficulty breathing, his wife called an ambulance and rushed him to the hospital. Bert Lahr's Cowardly Lion costume had been fashioned out of genuine lion hide which unsurprisingly made it very heavy and hot inside. Facts Verse The Original Tin Man Was Hospitalized After a Makeup Disaster. She wouldve loved it., Linda Tammone, daughter of Wizard of Oz extra Meredythe Glass, looks through her mothers photographs, newspaper clippings, cards and memorabilia in Glasss former apartment at Covenant Shores on Sept. 5. | Leo Von Singer, manager of popular vaudeville group Singers Midgets, was paid $100 for every little person he brought in. Ebsen was replaced by Jack Haley, and the dust was replaced with an aluminum paste that could be painted on, reports ThoughtCo. https://artduckobooko.com/blog/visiting-caren-marsh-doll/And here's a link to get more info (and order if you're interested) Ms. Marsh-Doll's fascinating autobiography: According to Atlas Obscura, chrysotile asbestos fibers were commonly used by film studios to simulate falling snow, despite the fact that people had been aware of its health risks since the early 20th century. Following up on our previous series of "Where is the cast of Friends now?", and "Where is the cast of Seinfeld now?", get ready to find out what Dorothy, the Tin Man, and all their pals are up to today. According to Atlas Obscura, chrysotile asbestos fibers were commonly used by film studios to . Besides the severe burns that Margaret Hamilton received on the set of The Wizard of Oz; she went on to find out that the heavy green makeup that she had worn throughout the duration of the pictures filming was incredibly toxic and couldve easily killed her. Fox had wanted Shirley Temple to star. LWLies Recommends. Sadly, the crew didnt perform trial and error before putting actual performers into the sky. I think she started clowning in the mid-80s. Mercer Islanders garner 16 awards in New York City. I am so positive that I saw munchkin in the background who committed suicide because he was in love. Garland was 16 years old when she shot the film, and she was required to take extreme measures to make her body appear younger including having her breasts taped down and squeezing into a tight corset. According to him, she looked like a mummy! And there were also times where many of them could have died! Company Credits Despite the fact that it was studio MGM who was responsible for performer Buddy Ebsens hospitalization; The star still end up being fire from The Wizard of Oz. At the very end of this sequence, as the three main characters move down the road and away from the camera, one of the larger birds (often said to be an emu, but more probably a crane) standing at the back of the set moves around and spreads its wings. She was one of about 100 green ladies, Tammone said. You have a chance to punch a Nazi. The 42 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time, The 25 Best Shows on Netflix to Watch Right Now. Technical Specs, See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro, makeup artist: Margaret Hamilton (uncredited), executive in charge of production (uncredited), supervising re-recording mixer (uncredited), senior special effects technician (uncredited), stereoscopic production manager (3D version 2013), managing director: stereoscopic conversion (3D version 2013), stereoscopic compositor (3D version 2013), stereo conversion producer: Prime Focus (as Scott Farrar) (3D Version 2013), stereo conversion supervisor (3D version 2013), technical support (1998 release, credited on theatrical prints only), director of global development: Prime Focus (3D version 2013), lead digital film restoration artist (2009 restoration), digital paint artist (1998 restoration) (uncredited), digital compositor (1998 restoration) (uncredited), digital paint artist: 1998 restoration (uncredited), camera operator: digital restoration (uncredited), digital production coordinator (1998 restoration) (uncredited), director of photography: visual effects unit (uncredited) / special photographic effects (uncredited), visual effects supervisor (1998 restoration) (uncredited), assistant visual effects supervisor (uncredited), lead digital compositor (1998 restoration) (uncredited), director of matte painting staff (uncredited), director of global development at prime focus (uncredited), senior stereoscopic supervisor: Prime Focus (uncredited), camera operator: visual effects unit (uncredited), roto supervisor: 3D version 2013 (uncredited), stunt double: Margaret Hamilton (uncredited), associate: Technicolor photography (as Allen Davey), still photographer: Kodachrome stills (uncredited), camera technician: Technicolor (uncredited), assistant camera: Technicolor (uncredited), orchestrator: Munchkinland musical sequence (uncredited), music pre-recording supervisor (uncredited), singing voice: Lollipop Guild (uncredited), composer: original incidental music (uncredited) / conductor (uncredited), orchestral and vocal arrangments (uncredited), choreographer: scarecrow's dance (scenes deleted) (uncredited), dance stand-in: Judy Garland (uncredited), agent: Leo Feist Music Publishing (uncredited), assistant choreographer (uncredited) / assistant: Mr. Connolly (uncredited), handler: Cowardly Lion's tail (uncredited), dog owner and trainer: Terry (uncredited). | Bert Lahr, who played the character of the Cowardly Lion. When the studio was told that Ebsenwhose skin had turned blue during his reactioncould not immediately return, production replaced him with Jack Haley. Ezra Millers Messiah Delusions: Inside. Release Dates She was trained to work with kids and fight for their best interest, Tammone said. Bert already had health issues before taking on the role. Irving Lahrheim (August 13, 1895 - December 4, 1967), known professionally as Bert Lahr, was an American stage and screen actor.He was best known for his role as the Cowardly Lion, as well as his counterpart Kansas farmworker "Zeke", in the MGM adaptation of The Wizard of Oz (1939). In honor of the films 80th anniversary, heres a look back at a few shocking behind-the-scenes anecdotes that have not aged nearly as well as the film itself. In addition to her attempted felt hat business, Tammone said she tried to launch a state relief map of each state company as well as a falafel company. Theyre one of Hollywoods brightest starsand most troubled actors. She loved kids and she would do anything to make a kid smile.. It is said that as the trio began skipping down the road, the crane unfolded its wings defensively, casting a strange shadow in the background. To give the indoor set used in this Oz sequence a more "outdoors" feel, several birds of various sizes were borrowed from the Los Angeles Zoo and allowed to roam the set. The burns on her legs never healed. Wizard of Oz Facts 1. The show followed widowed aeronautical engineer named Steven Douglas and his three sons. 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. Linda Tammone sorted through the last box of her mothers belongings at Covenant Shores retirement community. I didnt want to be an actress. There is a massive dark side to the films production that may change the mind of audience members. She was so surprised when all these letters came in from people asking for her autograph, she said. This guy is a painter AND a geocentrist, Damp-hand fetishist introduces himself to people coming out of public restrooms, Medical Experts admit there is no cure for hiccups, Hospitals to fight critical staffing shortage by declaring that all PhDs are that kind of doctor now, Doug Ford announces 50% of all Ontario surgeries will now be done by his buddy Steve, Everything is broken so lets make it worse vs Everything is perfect so lets fix nothing. Quiz: Do you have Omicron? ESSAY WRITERS NEEDED ASAP. The AFI Life Achievement recipient discusses her most memorable filmsand what moviegoers actually misremember. Munchkin (child) - played a munchkin villager, can be seen in the crowd with the other munchkins outside the hutsHere is an old Web page about Ms. Lee Shepard: Joan Kenmore was born on November 3, 1931 in Los Angeles, California, USA. The bird appears in a different place to where it first appeared. After Margaret healed and returned to filming; she understandably balked at the prospect of filming any more scenes that involved fire. Although the film stands as an audience favorite today; audiences might not enjoy the picture so much if they knew about the dark side of its production. March 29, 2021, 4:49 am, Way back in 1980, Dolly Parton sat down with Chet Flippo of Rolling Stone magazine for what she thought was just going to be a typical interview. So many people were touched by her, she said. She would say, I was just an extra, but I knew it made her feel really good that people wanted to connect with her.. February 19, 2023, 6:22 am, by Though it remains uncertain if the usage of the snow ended up causing injuries later on down the line. He shows an incredible amount of heart, courage . QUIZ: Is it a pyramid scheme or just a regular cult? Throughout Tammones childhood, she said her mother was one of the strongest, independent and most creative people she had ever known. His accent wasnt so theatrical, and he was way funnier than Baz Luhrmann gives him credit for. They told me to get the hell back to work, Ebsen said. She considered suing, but opted against it for the very simple reason that I wanted to work again., Shortly After Hamilton Returned to Set After Catching Fire, She Was Asked to Film Another Fire Scene, Hamiltona single motherrefused to take part in the stunt. The Wizard of Oz Cast. When the Wicked Witch leaves Munchkinland in a pyrotechnic display of fire and smoke, Margaret Hamilton was supposed to drop through a trapdoor. On May 24, actor Jerry Maren passed away at age 98 in San Diego, Calif., and as was widely reported the world lost its last living "Wizard of Oz" munchkin.. Betty Ann Bruno Craig . Anyone is welcome to come and celebrate her life and connection to the film, Tammone said. Incapacitated, a friend had to pick her up from the movie studio. She was paid $16 a day to work on The Wizard of Oz, which was a fortune in those days.. Meredythe Glass was one of the last surviving cast members of The Wizard of Oz. She died on Saturday, Aug. 31, at the age of 98. Margaret Hamiltons son later recalled the moment where he came to the set of The Wizard of Oz and saw that his mother cover from head to toe in bandages. Hamilton had to take six weeks off to recover before she returned to the set, on the condition that she would not do any more scenes involving fireworks. But according to Alanna Nashwho spent time with the real Colonel in the 90sthere were times when he was just as scary as what you see onscreen. Judy Garland http://www.mar-ken.org/biossz/shepardv.html, Stand-in for Ms. Garland - Not to be confused with Ms. Bobbie Koshay (who was "Dorothy's" on-camera stand-in and body-double), Ms. Marsh-Doll was the off-camera stand-in for Ms. Garland, and participated in some of the dance routines.Here are some lovely pictures of Ms. Marsh-Doll from 2018: Since The Wizard of Oz utilized numerous cutting-edge effects and made at a time when studios didnt have to be very considerate about the safety of their performers. Out of all of the characters that Dorothy encounters along her journey through the Land of Oz, the Scarecrow is certainly the nicest and most likable of the bunch. So, it shouldnt really be that big of a surprise that, with numbers like those, celebrities would face the same risk of dying [] More, Every Actor Who Almost Died While Making the Wizard of Oz, Joanne Woodward is FURIOUS About Paul Newmans Affair, Mind-Blowing Details You Never Noticed in Adam-12, Scientists Discovered Evidence That Exposes An Ancient Lie About Woolly Mammoths, Handlers Thought This Owl Was Male For 23 Years Then He Laid An Egg, This Baby Elephant Decided To Spend His Last Days Alongside This Creature, Woman Adpots Tiny, Adorable Puppy. This was a popular American sitcom that ran over 12 seasons and 380 episodes from 1960 to 1972. January 27, 2023, 7:23 pm, by enjoy. Though her life began in childrens radio theater in San Francisco before moving to Hollywood, Glass told the Reporter in February she never wanted to be an actress. Facts Verse (At least he was finally free from the mask, which wasnt porous, so you couldnt sweat. Snopes.com, the internets go-to resource for fact checking urban legends and folklore, suggests alternative theories for the illusion, including a stagehand wandering on set, or even falling from one of the trees. "Really Most Sincerely, Still a Munchkin." Of course, the film is also notorious for exacerbating both Judy Garlands use of amphetamines and barbiturates prescribed to her at the behest of Louis B Mayer in order to increase the young stars productivity on set and her self-image issues. There is an infamous rumor that the corpse of a little person actor that commit suicide by hanging can be see in the background of one scene; Theres also rumor that the little person actors liked to get drunk and act rowdy on the set of the film. In February, Covenant Shores held an event celebrating the film and Glasss connection. She spent her life serving others as a psychiatric technician, a court appointed special advocate and a childrens clown. I remember helping her sew one of her costumes, Tammone said. http://www.bearmanormedia.com/hollywoods-babe-dancing-through-oz-hardcover-edition-by-caren-marsh-doll. Judy Garland Was Groped by Munchkins on Wizard of Oz Set, New Memoir Claims. The Hanging Munchkin is a well-known hoax, claiming that the original prints of the classic film The Wizard of Oz (1939), contains accidental footage of an onset suicide by one of the Munchkins. Additionally, the studio administered adrenaline shots to keep Garland's energy up, but at night she was given the sleep aid Seconal to help her rest at night (via Dusty Old Thing). The man originally cast to play the Tin Man, Buddy Ebsen, ended up in an iron lung after his silver make-up, made up of aluminium powder, got into his lungs. No one, munchkin or otherwise, died on-set during the filming of this cinematic classic, much less in a cut that was used in the finished version of the movie. In the upper left hand corner you could see a figure moving as though it was a Person swinging from a rope but it is in fact a Bird called a Peacock that is a Puppet that only appears in that scene and was not added for background anywhere else in the movie. Margaret Hamilton. The studio still decided to go forward with the skywriting scene, hiring a stunt actress named Aline Goodwin to finish the take. With the advent of home video, viewing audiences were able to rewind and replay the scene in question, view it in slow-motion, and look at individual frames in the sequence (all on screens smaller and less distinct than those of theaters), and imaginations ran wild. The Wizard of Oz is not initially a success, but it can be consider as one of the best films of all time. This is the original footage before MGM tried to. The snow in 1939's The Wizard of Oz was made using the toxic mineral asbestos. The Wizard of Oz Trivia Games. Now its time to hear from you: did you know that numerous actors almost died during the production of The Wizard of Oz as a result of toxic makeup, and that child actress Judy Garland hook on amphetamines by studio MGM during the filming of the picture in order to keep her weight down? Margaret Hamilton may have played the Wicked Witch of the East, but she was a good person in real life. 20 December 1996 (p. 90). She volunteered with the thrift store until the day before her death. Oak Island is a privately owned island that sits off the coast of Nova Scotia in Canada. The Oz costume woes don't stop there, unfortunately. Forensically examining Instagram accounts, interviews, and police reports, author Kathleen Hale reconstructs their relationship, and ultimately Petitos murder. Silver, Gold and . Rock stars are infamous for their insatiable appetites for all things in excess. In order to keep Judy looking as youthful as possible, she is force to take amphetamines to suppress her appetite. Margaret Hamilton (1902-1985) Miss Almira Gulch/The Wicked . And whether one believes that the figure on the film is a munchkin or a stagehand, it is simply impossible that a human being could have fallen onto a set actively being used for filming, and yet none of the dozens of people present actors, directors, cameramen, sound technicians, light operators noticed or reacted to the occurrence. In the new millennium, Jan has turned her interests [] More, Each year over 1.5 million patients become victims of medical malpractice in the US alone. Glinda the Good Witch. by policies. (Or, as Atlas Obscura elegantly put it, the film literally dous[es] its main characters in carcinogens.) It wasnt just The Wizard of Oz that relied on asbestos-laced snowthat substance was also used in the 30s in holiday decorations. Alan Simpson Producer | Camden The Professor 3. And this take ended up covering Margaret in severe burns when the pyrotechnics were set off just a moment too early. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. In addition to her continued drug use. And so [] More, Sex, Drugs, and Rock n Roll. Of the film's 10 main cast members, 16-year-old star Judy Garland got the second-lowest salarymaking more than only her canine companion, Terry, who played Toto. It is to meet the films production schedule. The studio also put Garland on a weight control diet that no modern dietician in their right mind would ever recommend. More 1939 Movies. Several facts emerged since the original 1939 production of The Wizard Of Oz that added to its reputation as a "cursed movie." Buddy Ebsen, who was originally cast to play the Tin Man, ended up with an iron lung after using the requisite silver makeup on his skin as it contained toxic aluminum powder. 1939s The Wizard of Oz has gone down in history as a film with a disastrous production. Quiz: Which Conservative leadership candidate are you, and why is it Pierre Poilievre you sick fuck? http://patch.com/california/lagunaniguel-danapoint/life-beyond-the-yellow-brick-road, Munchkin (child) - played a munchkin villager, can be seen in the background with the other munchkin villagersHere's a recent picture of Ms. Dondanville Todd (from 2016): Betty Danko, Hamilton's stunt double, was tasked with filming the next scene that required fire, and that scene also went horribly wrong. He became the last surviving adult Munchkin following the death of Ruth Duccini in 2014, and was also the last surviving cast member with a specifically identifiable speaking or singing role. Following up on our previous series of Where is the cast of Friends now?, and Where is the cast of Seinfeld now?, get ready to find out what Dorothy, the Tin Man, and all their pals are up to today. The studios official line has long been that what looks like a little person swinging from a tree is actually a shadow cast by a large crane, hired by Fleming, along with other animals from the Los Angeles zoo, in an attempt to make the forest seem alive.