Margaret Pellegrini
Encyclopedia
Margaret Pellegrini is an American
actress and one of three surviving munchkin
s from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz
., the other two being Jerry Maren
and Ruth Robinson Duccini
. She was born as Margaret Williams in Tuscumbia, Alabama
. When she was helping a relative in a potato chip
booth at the Tennessee State Fair, some little people came by and asked if she wanted to join their show—Henry Kramer's Midgets. "At that time I didn't think I was a midget," says Pellegrini (who then stood about 3 ft. 4 inches).
Margaret loved playing one of the Sleepyheads in The Wizard of Oz. Director Victor Fleming
used her in more than one place, no doubt, because she was so small, perfect for the setting. And she still knows the entire scene by heart. It was a fantasy to make the movie, and she has never regretted it, remembering almost every detail as though it were yesterday.
After she and Willie Pellegrini (an average-sized ex-fighter
) had their two children, she stayed home to raise them. Today, Margaret is widowed, a great grandmother and lives in Glendale, Arizona
. Usually one or two of her great-grandchildren travel with her to her Oz engagements. Margaret has one room in her house devoted to her treasured Oz collectibles.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress and one of three 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...
., the other two being Jerry Maren
Jerry Maren
Jerry Maren is an American actor and one of only three confirmed surviving dwarf munchkins from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. The other two surviving munchkin cast members are Margaret Williams Pellegrini and Ruth Robinson Duccini, making Maren the last surviving male Munchkin from the...
and Ruth Robinson Duccini
Ruth Duccini
Ruth Duccini is an American actress and one of the last three surviving Munchkins from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, the other two being Jerry Maren and Margaret Williams Pellegrini. Her role in the film as a Munchkin villager was uncredited...
. She was born as Margaret Williams in Tuscumbia, Alabama
Tuscumbia, Alabama
Tuscumbia is a city in and the county seat of Colbert County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 8,423 and is included in The Shoals MSA....
. When she was helping a relative in a potato chip
Potato chip
Potato chips are thin slices of potato that are deep fried...
booth at the Tennessee State Fair, some little people came by and asked if she wanted to join their show—Henry Kramer's Midgets. "At that time I didn't think I was a midget," says Pellegrini (who then stood about 3 ft. 4 inches).
Margaret loved playing one of the Sleepyheads in The Wizard of Oz. Director Victor Fleming
Victor Fleming
Victor Lonzo Fleming was an American film director, cinematographer, and producer. His most popular films were The Wizard of Oz , and Gone with the Wind , for which he won an Academy Award for Best Director.-Life and career:Fleming was born in La Canada, California, the son of Elizabeth Evaleen ...
used her in more than one place, no doubt, because she was so small, perfect for the setting. And she still knows the entire scene by heart. It was a fantasy to make the movie, and she has never regretted it, remembering almost every detail as though it were yesterday.
After she and Willie Pellegrini (an average-sized ex-fighter
Fighter
Fighter or The Fighter may refer to:*Warrior, a person skilled in combat*Soldier, someone in the army*Fighter aircraft, a warplane designed to destroy or damage enemy warplanes in air-to-air combatFilms...
) had their two children, she stayed home to raise them. Today, Margaret is widowed, a great grandmother and lives in Glendale, Arizona
Glendale, Arizona
Glendale is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, located about nine miles northwest from Downtown Phoenix. According to 2010 Census Bureau, the population of the city is 226,721....
. Usually one or two of her great-grandchildren travel with her to her Oz engagements. Margaret has one room in her house devoted to her treasured Oz collectibles.