Ray Bolger - wikipedia Ray Bolger Ray Bolger Bolger, c. 1942 Raymond Wallace Bolger ( 1904 - 01 - 10 ) January 10, 1904 Dorchester, Massachusetts, U.S. January 15, 1987 ( 1987 - 01 - 15 ) ( aged 83 ) Los Angeles, California, U.S. Cause of death Bladder cancer Resting place Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City Occupation Vaudevillian Actor Singer Dancer Years active 1922 -- 1985 Known for Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz Spouse ( s ) Gwendolyn Rickard ( m. 1929 ) Raymond Wallace `` Ray '' Bolger ( January 10, 1904 -- January 15, 1987 ) was an American actor, singer, and dancer ( particularly of tap ) of vaudeville, stage ( particularly musical theatre ) and screen, who started in the silent film era. He is best known for his portrayal of the Scarecrow in what is widely considered among the best films of all time, MGM 's The Wizard of Oz. He was also the host of his own television show, The Ray Bolger Show. Contents 1 Early life 2 Early career 3 The Wizard of Oz 4 Post-Oz film career 5 Broadway and television 6 Death and legacy 7 Filmography 8 Stage work 9 References 10 External links Early Life Raymond Wallace Bolger was born into a Roman Catholic family of Irish descent in Dorchester, Boston, the son of James Edward and Anne C. ( née Wallace ) Bolger. His entertainment aspirations evolved from the vaudeville shows of his youth. He began his career in a vaudeville tap show, creating the act `` Sanford & Bolger '' with his dance partner. In 1926, he danced at New York City 's legendary Palace Theatre, the premier vaudeville theatre in the United States. His limber body and improvisational dance movement won him many leading roles on Broadway in the 1930s. Eventually, his career would also encompass film, television and nightclub work. In 1932 he was elected to the famous theater club, The Lambs. Early career Bolger signed his first cinema contract with MGM in 1936, and although The Wizard of Oz was early in his film career, he appeared in other movies of note. His best known pre-Oz appearance was The Great Ziegfeld ( 1936 ), in which he portrayed himself. He also appeared in Sweethearts ( 1938 ), the first MGM film in Technicolor, starring Nelson Eddy, Jeanette MacDonald, and Frank Morgan. He also appeared in the Eleanor Powell vehicle Rosalie ( 1937 ), which also starred Eddy and Morgan. The Wizard of Oz Ray Bolger, as the Scarecrow, `` The Wizard of Oz '' 1939. Bolger 's MGM contract stipulated that he would play any part the studio chose. However, he was unhappy when he was originally cast as the Tin Woodman in the studio 's 1939 feature film adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. The role of the Scarecrow had already been assigned to another lean and limber dancing studio contract player, Buddy Ebsen. In time, the roles were switched. While Bolger was pleased with his role as the Scarecrow, Ebsen was struck ill by the powdered aluminum make - up used to complete the Tin Woodman costume. The powdered aluminum badly coated Ebsen 's lungs, leaving him near death. While Ebsen recuperated from his illness, Jack Haley was instead cast in the role of the Tin Woodman. Meanwhile, Bolger 's face was permanently lined by wearing the Scarecrow 's makeup. Post-oz film career Following Oz, Bolger moved to RKO Pictures. In 1941, he was a featured act at the Paramount Theatre in New York, working with the Harry James Band. He would do tap dance routines, sometimes in a mock - challenge dance with the band 's pianist, Al Lerner. One day during this period, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, and Bolger 's performance was interrupted by President Roosevelt 's announcement of the news of the attack. Bolger toured in USO shows with Joe E. Lewis in the Pacific Theater during World War II, and was featured in the United Artists wartime film Stage Door Canteen. In 1946, he returned to MGM for a featured role in The Harvey Girls. Also that year, he recorded a children 's album, The Churkendoose, featuring the story of a misfit fowl ( `` part chicken, turkey, duck, and goose '' ) which teaches children that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it `` all depends on how you look at things ''. Broadway and television Bolger in a publicity photo for The Bell Telephone Hour, 1963 Bolger 's Broadway credits included Life Begins at 8 : 40 ( 1934 ), On Your Toes ( 1936 ), By Jupiter ( 1942 ), All American ( 1962 ) and Where 's Charley ? ( 1948 ), for which he won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical and in which he introduced `` Once in Love with Amy '', the song often connected with him. He repeated his stage role in the 1952 film version of the musical. He also made April in Paris ( 1952 ) with Doris Day. Bolger appeared in his own ABC television sitcom with a variety show theme, Where 's Raymond ? ( 1953 -- 1954 ), renamed the second year as The Ray Bolger Show ( 1954 -- 55 ). He continued to star in several films, including Walt Disney 's remake of Babes in Toyland ( 1961 ). Bolger made frequent guest appearances on television, including the episode `` Rich Man, Poor Man '' of the short - lived The Jean Arthur Show in 1966. In the 1970s, he had a recurring role as the father of Shirley Partridge ( Shirley Jones ) on The Partridge Family, and appeared in Little House on the Prairie as Toby Noe and also guest starred on other television series such as Battlestar Galactica and Fantasy Island. His last television appearance was on Diff'rent Strokes in 1984, three years before his death. In his later years, he danced in a Dr Pepper television commercial, and in 1985, he and Liza Minnelli, the daughter of his Oz co-star Judy Garland, starred in That 's Dancing !, a film also written by Jack Haley, Jr., the son of Jack Haley, who portrayed the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz. In 1998, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars was dedicated to him. He was a Roman Catholic, and a member of the Good Shepherd Parish and the Catholic Motion Picture Guild in Beverly Hills, California. Bolger was a staunch Republican who campaigned for Richard Nixon in 1968. Death and legacy Ray and Gwendolyn Bolger 's grave at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City Bolger died of bladder cancer on January 15, 1987 in Los Angeles, five days after his 83rd birthday. He was interred at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City in the Mausoleum, Crypt F2, Block 35. He was survived by his wife of over 57 years, Gwendolyn Rickard. They had no children. At the time of his death, he was the last surviving main credited cast member of The Wizard of Oz. At Judy Garland 's funeral, Bolger was the only one of her Oz co-stars to be present. He joined Harold Arlen, the composer of `` Over the Rainbow '', and his wife Anya Taranda. They were reported as among the last remaining guests at the conclusion of the service. Whenever asked whether he received any residuals from telecasts of the 1939 classic, Bolger would reply : `` No, just immortality. I 'll settle for that. '' Bolger is ranked among the `` most beloved movie characters of all time '' by AMC and the American Film Institute. Filmography Theatrical films Year Title Role Notes 1936 The Great Ziegfeld Ray Bolger 1937 Rosalie Bill Delroy 1938 Sweethearts Hans 1939 The Wizard of Oz Hunk / Scarecrow 1941 Sunny Bunny Billings 1942 Four Jacks and a Jill Nifty Sullivan 1943 Stage Door Canteen Ray Bolger 1946 The Harvey Girls Chris Maule 1949 Look for the Silver Lining Jack Donahue 1952 Where 's Charley ? Charley Wykeham 1952 April in Paris S. Winthrop Putnam 1961 Babes in Toyland Barnaby 1966 The Daydreamer The Pieman 1979 Just You and Me, Kid Tom 1979 The Runner Stumbles Monsignor Nicholson 1982 Annie Sound Effects Man Uncredited 1985 That 's Dancing ! Himself - Host Documentary film Television Year Title Role Notes 1953 -- 55 Where 's Raymond ? Raymond Wallace Lead role ( 61 episodes ) 1958 General Electric Theater Alfred Boggs Episode - `` The Girl with the Flaxen Hair '' 1959 General Electric Theater Stan Maylor Episode - `` Silhouette '' 1962 The Red Skelton Show Mayor Threadbare III Episode - `` The Mayor of Central Park '' 1962 The Little Sweep Storyteller Television film 1966 The Jean Arthur Show Wealthy Man Episode - `` Rich Man, Poor Man '' 1970 -- 72 The Partridge Family Grandpa Renfrew Recurring role ( 3 episodes ) 1971 Nanny and the Professor Uncle Horace Episode - `` South Sea Island Sweetheart '' 1976 The Entertainer Billy Rice Television film 1976 Captains and the Kings R.J. Squibbs Television miniseries ( Chapter I ) 1977 The Love Boat Horace McDonald Episode - `` The Jinx '' 1978 Baretta Episode - `` Just for Laughs '' 1978 Three on a Date Andrew Television film 1978 Fantasy Island Spencer Randolph Episode - `` The Over the Hill Caper '' 1978 Little House on the Prairie Toby Noe Episode - `` There 's No Place Like Home : Part 1 '' 1979 Heaven Only Knows Simon Television pilot 1979 The Love Boat Andy Hopkins Episode - `` My Sister, Irene '' 1979 Little House on the Prairie Toby Noe Episode - `` Dance with Me '' 1979 Battlestar Galactica Vector Episode - `` Greetings from Earth '' 1981 Aloha Paradise Harry Carr Episode - `` Best of Friends / Success / Nine Karats '' 1982 Fantasy Island Gaylord Nelson Episode - `` Dancing Lady '' Peter and the Magic Egg Uncle Amos ( voice ) Television special 1984 Diff'rent Strokes Clarence Markwell Episode - `` A Haunting We Will Go '' Stage work Broadway productions Year Title Role Theatre 1926 The Merry World Performer Imperial Theatre 1926 A Night in Paris Performer 44th Street Theatre 1929 Heads Up Georgie Alvin Theatre 1931 George White 's Scandals of 1931 Performer Apollo Theatre 1934 Life Begins at 8 : 40 Performer Winter Garden Theatre 1936 On Your Toes Phil Dolan III, Hoofer Imperial Theatre 1940 Keep Off the Grass Performer Broadhurst Theatre 1942 By Jupiter Sapiens Shubert Theatre 1946 Three to Make Ready Performer Adelphi Theatre 1948 Where 's Charley ? Charley Wykeham St. James Theatre 1951 Where 's Charley ? ( revival ) Charley Wykeham Broadway Theatre 1962 All - American Professor Fodorski Winter Garden Theatre 1969 Come Summer Phineas Sharp Lunt - Fontanne Theatre References Jump up ^ https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F46L-CPJ ^ Jump up to : Glenn Fowler ( January 16, 1987 ). `` Ray Bolger, Scarecrow in ' Oz ' Dies ''. The New York Times. Retrieved June 5, 2008. Jump up ^ https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M22C-B6N Jump up ^ https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHF7-R3Z Jump up ^ `` Ray Bolger profile at ''. Filmreference.com. Retrieved September 18, 2012. Jump up ^ http://www.The-Lambs.org Jump up ^ The Making of The Wizard of Oz, books.google.ca ; accessed September 27, 2014., by Aljean Harmetz ; published 1977. ^ Jump up to : Ray Bolger on IMDb Jump up ^ Lerner, Al. 2007. Vamp ' Til Ready Jump up ^ Ray Bolger at the Internet Broadway Database Jump up ^ `` Where 's Raymond ?, The Ray Bolger Show ''. ctva.biz. Retrieved March 14, 2011. Jump up ^ Lucy E. Cross. `` About Ray Bolger ''. Retrieved June 12, 2011. Jump up ^ Palm Springs Walk of Stars by date dedicated, palmspringswalkofstars.com ; accessed September 26, 2014. Jump up ^ Church of the Good Shepherd : Our History, goodshepherdbh.org ; accessed September 26, 2014. Jump up ^ http://www.pophistorydig.com/topics/1968-presidential-racerepublicans/ Jump up ^ Ray Bolger at Find a Grave Jump up ^ Adelman, Gary ( 2008 ). `` Ray Bolger in The Wizard of Oz as the Scarecrow ''. Kansas Wizard of Oz ' N More. Retrieved June 5, 2008. Jump up ^ Masterworks Broadway -- Ray Bolger, Lucy E. Cross Jump up ^ `` Judy Garland 's Funeral Draws Her Colleagues ''. www.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2017 - 08 - 20. Jump up ^ Jane Albright ( 2008 ). `` Return to Oz & 50th Anniversary of MGM Film ''. The Oz Reference Library. Archived from the original on April 19, 2008. Retrieved June 5, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Greatest Movie Characters ''. www.filmsite.org. Retrieved 2017 - 08 - 20. Jump up ^ `` AFI : 10 Top 10 ''. www.afi.com. Retrieved 2017 - 08 - 20. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ray Bolger. Ray Bolger on IMDb Ray Bolger at the TCM Movie Database Ray Bolger at AllMovie Churkendoose album ( mp3 ) `` Did these stories Really Happen '' by Michelle Bernier. Createspace Pub. 2010 ; ISBN 1 - 4505 - 8536 - 1 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical 1948 -- 1975 Paul Hartman ( 1948 ) Ray Bolger ( 1949 ) Ezio Pinza ( 1950 ) Robert Alda ( 1951 ) Phil Silvers ( 1952 ) Thomas Mitchell ( 1953 ) Alfred Drake ( 1954 ) Walter Slezak ( 1955 ) Ray Walston ( 1956 ) Rex Harrison ( 1957 ) Robert Preston ( 1958 ) Richard Kiley ( 1959 ) Jackie Gleason ( 1960 ) Richard Burton ( 1961 ) Robert Morse ( 1962 ) Zero Mostel ( 1963 ) Bert Lahr ( 1964 ) Zero Mostel ( 1965 ) Richard Kiley ( 1966 ) Robert Preston ( 1967 ) Robert Goulet ( 1968 ) Jerry Orbach ( 1969 ) Cleavon Little ( 1970 ) Hal Linden ( 1971 ) Phil Silvers ( 1972 ) Ben Vereen ( 1973 ) Christopher Plummer ( 1974 ) John Cullum ( 1975 ) 1976 -- 2000 George Rose ( 1976 ) Barry Bostwick ( 1977 ) John Cullum ( 1978 ) Len Cariou ( 1979 ) Jim Dale ( 1980 ) Kevin Kline ( 1981 ) Ben Harney ( 1982 ) Tommy Tune ( 1983 ) George Hearn ( 1984 ) No award ( 1985 ) George Rose ( 1986 ) Robert Lindsay ( 1987 ) Michael Crawford ( 1988 ) Jason Alexander ( 1989 ) James Naughton ( 1990 ) Jonathan Pryce ( 1991 ) Gregory Hines ( 1992 ) Brent Carver ( 1993 ) Boyd Gaines ( 1994 ) Matthew Broderick ( 1995 ) Nathan Lane ( 1996 ) James Naughton ( 1997 ) Alan Cumming ( 1998 ) Martin Short ( 1999 ) Brian Stokes Mitchell ( 2000 ) 2001 -- present Nathan Lane ( 2001 ) John Lithgow ( 2002 ) Harvey Fierstein ( 2003 ) Hugh Jackman ( 2004 ) Norbert Leo Butz ( 2005 ) John Lloyd Young ( 2006 ) David Hyde Pierce ( 2007 ) Paulo Szot ( 2008 ) David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish ( 2009 ) Douglas Hodge ( 2010 ) Norbert Leo Butz ( 2011 ) Steve Kazee ( 2012 ) Billy Porter ( 2013 ) Neil Patrick Harris ( 2014 ) Michael Cerveris ( 2015 ) Leslie Odom Jr. ( 2016 ) Ben Platt ( 2017 ) Hosts of the Tony Awards ceremonies 1947 -- 1960 Brock Pemberton ( 1947 ) Bert Lytell / Hiram Sherman / Harry Hirshfield ( 1948 ) Brock Pemberton / James Sauter ( 1949 ) None ( 1950 ) James Sauter ( 1951 ) Helen Hayes ( 1952 ) Faye Emerson ( 1953 ) James Sauter ( 1954 ) Helen Hayes ( 1955 ) Jack Carter ( 1956 ) Bud Collyer ( 1957 ) Bud Collyer ( 1958 ) Bud Collyer ( 1959 ) Eddie Albert ( 1960 ) 1961 -- 1980 Phil Silvers ( 1961 ) Ray Bolger / Robert Preston ( 1962 ) Abe Burrows / Robert Morse ( 1963 ) Sidney Blackmer ( 1964 ) Tom Bosley / José Ferrer / Van Johnson ( 1965 ) George Abbott / Ginger Rogers ( 1966 ) Mary Martin / Robert Preston ( 1967 ) Angela Lansbury / Peter Ustinov ( 1968 ) Diahann Carroll / Alan King ( 1969 ) Julie Andrews / Shirley MacLaine / Walter Matthau ( 1970 ) Lauren Bacall / Angela Lansbury / Anthony Quayle / Anthony Quinn ( 1971 ) Deborah Kerr / Henry Fonda / Peter Ustinov ( 1972 ) Rex Harrison / Celeste Holm ( 1973 ) Peter Falk / Florence Henderson / Robert Preston / Cicely Tyson ( 1974 ) Larry Blyden / George S. Irving / Larry Kert / Carol Lawrence / Michele Lee / Bernadette Peters / Bobby Van ( 1975 ) Eddie Albert / Richard Burton / Jane Fonda / Diana Rigg / George C. Scott / Trish Van Devere ( 1976 ) Jack Albertson / Bea Arthur / Buddy Ebsen / Damon Evans / Jean Stapleton / Leslie Uggams ( 1977 ) None ( 1978 ) Jane Alexander / Henry Fonda / Liv Ullmann ( 1979 ) Mary Tyler Moore / Jason Robards ( 1980 ) 1981 -- 2000 Ellen Burstyn / Richard Chamberlain ( 1981 ) Tony Randall ( 1982 ) Richard Burton / Lena Horne / Jack Lemmon ( 1983 ) Julie Andrews / Robert Preston ( 1984 ) None ( 1985 ) None ( 1986 ) Angela Lansbury ( 1987 ) Angela Lansbury ( 1988 ) Angela Lansbury ( 1989 ) Kathleen Turner ( 1990 ) Julie Andrews / Jeremy Irons ( 1991 ) Glenn Close ( 1992 ) Liza Minnelli ( 1993 ) Anthony Hopkins / Amy Irving ( 1994 ) Nathan Lane / Glenn Close / Gregory Hines ( 1995 ) Nathan Lane ( 1996 ) Rosie O'Donnell ( 1997 ) Rosie O'Donnell ( 1998 ) None ( 1999 ) Rosie O'Donnell ( 2000 ) 2001 -- 2020 Nathan Lane / Matthew Broderick ( 2001 ) Bernadette Peters / Gregory Hines ( 2002 ) Hugh Jackman ( 2003 ) Hugh Jackman ( 2004 ) Hugh Jackman ( 2005 ) None ( 2006 ) None ( 2007 ) Whoopi Goldberg ( 2008 ) Neil Patrick Harris ( 2009 ) Sean Hayes ( 2010 ) Neil Patrick Harris ( 2011 ) Neil Patrick Harris ( 2012 ) Neil Patrick Harris ( 2013 ) Hugh Jackman ( 2014 ) Kristin Chenoweth / Alan Cumming ( 2015 ) James Corden ( 2016 ) Kevin Spacey ( 2017 ) VIAF : 46949136 LCCN : n82036007 ISNI : 0000 0000 6310 123X GND : 134608011 SUDOC : 067133002 BNF : cb139301706 ( data ) MusicBrainz : 987cdd3c - 65f2 - 4645 - bf1e - ed93197101e8 IATH : w6th9tfm Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ray_Bolger&oldid=806695354 '' Categories : 1904 births 1987 deaths American Roman Catholics American tap dancers American male film actors American male musical theatre actors American male television actors Burials at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City Deaths from cancer in California Deaths from bladder cancer Donaldson Award winners American people of Irish descent Male actors from Boston Tony Award winners Vaudeville performers 20th - century American male actors 20th - century American singers California Republicans Eccentric dancers Hidden categories : Internet Broadway Database person ID same as Wikidata Articles with IBDb links Find a Grave template with ID same as Wikidata Use mdy dates from July 2011 Articles with hCards All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from September 2014 Turner Classic Movies person ID not in Wikidata Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers Wikipedia articles with SNAC - ID identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Asturianu Català Deutsch Español فارسی Français Italiano עברית Nederlands 日本 語 Polski Português Русский Simple English Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska Українська Edit links This page was last edited on 23 October 2017, at 16 : 10. 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Question: who was the actor who played the scarecrow in the wizard of oz
Answer: "Ray" Bolger