A marvelous road
“We wish to welcome you to Munchkin Land!” was the creed of every “Wizard of Oz” Munchkin as they welcomed Dorothy in psychedelic rainbow-colored costumes to the wonderful Land of Oz.
Today, TMZ reports that the last female Munchkin of the cast of “The Wizard of Oz” died at the age of 95.
Ruth Robinson Duccini was the last surviving female munchkin from the original cast, passing away from natural causes at a hospice center in Las Vegas. According to CBS news, her death was confirmed by Stephen Cox, author of “The Munchkins of Oz”.
Her story began in Rush City, Minnesota, where she, and a group of little people, decided to head out to California to take their chance at the motion picture industry. Standing at 4 feet, Duccini was cast in the classic 1939 film, “The Wizard of Oz.” And the rest is history.
Author of “The Munchkins of Oz,” Stephen Cox shares a quote with CBS news, from Ruth Duccini about her time on the film: “It was long hours and heavy costumes. We didn’t have much time for ourselves. It was all new to me then, and I loved being a part of what is now a classic,” she said.
The LA Times reports, “In her later years she appeared at “Oz” events across the country. She returned to Hollywood in 2007 when the Munchkins received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.” The LA Times goes on to share that Duccini had never seen another little person in her life before she showed up on the set of “The Wizard of Oz,” which is where she met her husband.
93-year-old Jerry Maren is the last remaining Munchkin of the 124 little people cast in the movie, according to TMZ.
Her legacy will live on, where bluebirds fly.
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