Jerry Maren
Jerry Maren ( born January 24, 1920 in Boston, Massachusetts as Gerard Marenghi ) is an American actor. Over a period of more than seventy years had the minderwüchsige actor over 60 film and television appearances. Since the death of Ruth Duccini in January 2014 Maren was the last known surviving Munchkin actors from the classic film The Wizard of Oz ( 1939).
Life and career
Career
From a young age pursued Jerry Maren the goal to become an actor and took dance for hours. In November 1938, at which time a meter Maren joined in New York a dwarf troupe, which traveled by bus to California to make there career in Hollywood. Soon he got leading roles, for example in the classic film The Wizard of Oz (1939 ), where he presents Judy Garland as a member of Munchkin dwarf people a lollipop. He also appeared in the films of the Little Rascals and the Marx Brothers in supporting roles. He appeared in numerous films and television programs in the coming decades. Frequently he was played by dwarfs, Gremlins or animals, so he embodied, for example, a monkey in Planet of the Apes and its sequel. Along with Billy Curtis, he played in the 1973 film Little Cigars on a dwarf criminal gang. He also worked as a film double for children. In 2010 he had a minor roles in the films Frankenstein Rising and Dahmer Vs. Gacy.
Jerry Maren has also appeared as an advertising face, so he went as Werbefigur Little Oscar in the 1950s with the Wienermobile for the company Oscar Mayer America. For McDonald's, he embodied the Werbefiguren Mayor McCheese and The Hamburglar in various commercials.
Other appearances
Jerry Maren's public appearances are related to The Wizard of Oz, especially with the movie. He has performed numerous film and Fanfestivals on for the film. 2007 saw the Munchkins a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at the ceremony was also attended by Maren and six other Munchkin actor. When Margaret Thatcher died, brought many of their opponents the song Ding- Dong! The Witch Is Dead from the film in the British charts. Maren sharply criticized the abuse of the song to celebrate the death of someone. Since the death of Ruth Duccini in January 2014 Maren was the last known surviving Munchkin actors.
With his friend and fellow actor Billy Barty, he founded the Little People of America, a nonprofit organization for midgets.
He published in 2008 with Stephen Cox 's biography, Short and Sweet: The Life and Times of the Lollipop Munchkin.
In September 2013 he left his footprints on TCL Chinese Theatre.
Private life
Maren was married to actress Elizabeth Barrington from 1975 until her death in January 2010 at the age of 69 years. He currently lives in Southern California.