Wizard of Oz' Munchkin Mickey Carroll Dies at 89
Mickey Carroll, a Munchkin from the 1939 classic film `The Wizard of Oz,' dies at 89

Mickey Carroll, one of the last surviving Munchkins from the 1939 beloved film "The Wizard of Oz," died Thursday. He was 89.

In this 2007 file photo, actor Mickey Carroll, the Town Crier with The Munchkins from "The Wizard of...
In this 2007 file photo, actor Mickey Carroll, the Town Crier with The Munchkins from "The Wizard of Oz," jokes as he arrives, to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, site of "The Wizard of Oz's" 1939 premiere, in Los Angeles. One of the last surviving Munchkins from the 1939 classic film, "The Wizard of Oz" has died. The St. Louis actor Carroll died today, at age 89.
His caretaker, Linda Dodge, said Carroll died in his sleep at her home in suburban Crestwood. He had heart problems and received a pacemaker in February. Until January, he had lived in his own home in suburban Bel-Nor.

Carroll was one of more than 100 adults and children who were recruited to play the movie natives of what author L. Frank Baum called Munchkin Country in his 1900 book "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."

Carroll told The Associated Press in a 2007 interview that the Munchkins made only $125 a week while filming the movie that would become a classic.

"The Wizard of Oz" was Carroll's only movie. When it appeared on television in the 1960s, he found a new career at charitable events, retail events and Oz-related events.

"It's not me; it's the movie," Carroll said. "When they see me, they think of their childhood, and it makes them smile."

I heard creamation is in the works, and the ashes will be stored in a box of Altoids..

Geez, thought he was probably dead along time ago. Loved that movie, saw it at least 20 times or more over the years, mostly as a kid. I can still watch it today.

Who?

yea i used to watch it all the time to.. it got bord after awhile.. my older sister used to play around and sound the voice out of the munchkins it was funny..

Queen,

He was living in St. Louis. His funeral service is going to be at a beautiful Catholic cathedral here. He's being laid out at the funeral parlor that my family uses.


By Michael Sorkin
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
05/08/2009

Mickey Carroll left an estate estimated at more than $1 million and it's being squandered by "unscrupulous agents," heirs of the former "Wizard of Oz" Munchin claim in a suit filed in Clayton.

They filed the suit at just about the time that Carroll, 89, died Thursday morning.


A physician for the state found that Carroll was suffering from dementia when he signed over control of his assets and health care to his caretaker, Linda Dodge of Crestwood, the suit alleges.

The suit claims Carroll’s assets are "in imminent danger of continued dissipation, waste and theft." The heirs are seeking an immediate court hearing to freeze the assets.

In response, a judge in St. Louis County Circuit Court set a hearing for 9 a.m. Wednesday.

But Patrick J. McCarthy, lawyer for the heirs, noted that Carroll’s funeral also is scheduled for that morning. He’s asking for a change in the time and date of the court hearing.

Dodge has set visitation for Carroll at 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Kutis Funeral Home, 10151 Gravois Road, Affton. The funeral is at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica.

In an interview, Dodge called allegations in the suit "foolish."