Did you know that Buddy Ebsen was the original actor cast as the Tin Man? Unfortunately, he developed a serious reaction to the aluminum powder make-up that he wore for the film. This led to him being hospitalized and spending a lot of time recovering. This delay prevented him from filming the Tin Man scenes, which were reshot with the actor Jack Haley.
Jerry Maren
In his late seventies, Jerry Maren was the last living munchkin from “The Wizard of Oz.” The role was one of the most beloved of all time, and made Maren a household name. The actor, who had a career spanning over 70 years, also played other memorable roles, such as the Hamburglar from the McDonald’s commercials and Mayor McCheese in the Twilight Zone. His career was so prolific and beloved that in 2013, a handprint ceremony was held at the TCL Chinese Theatre in honor of his career.
Maren was married to Elizabeth Barrington from 1975 until her death in 2011. He devoted the rest of his life to his career and to his family, and even attended festivals celebrating Garland and Oz.
Ray Bolger
Ray Bolger played the Scarecrow in the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz.” Born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, he had a long career in theatre and on film. He began his career as a dancer on Boston’s streets. When the Tin Man role came up in the film, Bolger was already contracted. He wanted to play the Scarecrow instead.
The role of the Scarecrow was initially played by Buddy Ebsen but he grew ill after using aluminum makeup. He was eventually replaced by Jack Haley. The costume that Bolger wore for the film is now on display at the National Museum of American History in Washington, DC.
Bert Lahr
Bert Lahr was an American actor. He was best known for his role as the Tin Man in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. Before his role in the film, he had acted as an oddball aviator on stage. Later, he would play Bottom in the Shakespearean play A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He was honored with two Tony Awards for his performances in these two roles. In addition to his role as the Tin Man, Lahr also played a variety of other characters on stage.
Lahr’s lion costume was made of real lion skin and was more than fifty pounds! While Lahr wore it, he sweated under the hot lights during the filming process. He had to dry his wig after every take, and he had to wait to cool down before re-dressing.
Gloria Haley-Parnassus
Haley was cast as the Tin Man by the film’s studio, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, after a contracted song-and-dance comedian suffered from an allergic reaction to aluminium dust used in his silver face makeup. Haley was forced to go off set for four days, but thankfully, she avoided permanent damage.
Haley was a devoted Roman Catholic. She also performed several guest appearances on the religious television show The Christophers. In addition to her Broadway roles, she also appeared in plays and films. In 1943, she appeared in the film version of “Higher and Higher” and played a different role.