When you see the movie “Who played the Tin Man?” and ask yourself “Who played the Scarecrow?” you’ll find that there are several candidates. There’s Jack Haley, Buddy Ebsen, Mary Cote, and Ozzy Smith, and you may not even realize it. But you can’t make this movie without one of these four actors.
Jack Haley
John Joseph Haley Jr. was an American actor, dancer, radio host, and vaudevillian who was best known for his role as the Tin Man in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. Born in 1912, Haley’s career spans multiple genres, including comedies, drama, and music. He is perhaps most recognizable for playing the Tin Man, a character with the most iconic role in cinema history.
Before playing Tin Man, Haley was a popular song-and-dance artist. He was loaned to the studio by 20th Century Fox and replaced Buddy Ebsen, who was unable to play the role. The actor had an allergic reaction to the makeup, missing several days of filming because of eye infection. The 40-pound costume prevented him from sitting down and provided him with limited rest.
Buddy Ebsen
Originally, Buddy Ebsen was set to play the Tin Man in the 1939 film version of The Wizard of Oz. However, after aluminum makeup made him sick, the role was recast with another actor. In the end, Ebsen was replaced by Jack Haley, who was better suited for the role.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1btGGWQlA6I
Ebsen, who was earning $1500 a week at the time of the film’s production, was also a talented dancer. At the time, he had already appeared in eight films and had danced with Judy Garland in Broadway Melody of 1938. Originally, he was slated to play the Scarecrow, but was ultimately cast as the Tin Man instead. He suffered from a bronchial reaction to the aluminum dust he breathed during the production.
Mary Cote
Hollywood has a long history of casting the wrong actors, and Mary Cote is no exception. The role is notoriously difficult to portray, but she did an exceptional job as Tin Man in the 1939 film. The film won several awards, including four Oscars. The performance was one of the most memorable in Hollywood history.
The actress was born in Iowa and graduated from high school. She then moved to Los Angeles to attend Los Angeles City College. While there, she became the college campus queen and was noticed by film talent scouts. After completing her studies, Reed made her film debut in the B-movie The Get-Away (1941). She also starred in the fourth installment in the Thin Man film series, Shadow of the Thin Man. In addition, she appeared in Babes on Broadway.
Ozzy Smith
Ozzie Smith’s career is reminiscent of Dorothy’s trip through the land of Oz in the Wizard of Oz. Like the Tin Man, the Lion and the Scarecrow, Smith had to travel from Kansas to reach the Emerald City. He said that his life was like a journey, and he compared his career to the life of the characters in the film.
Smith has also made great contributions to the community, both on and off the field. He has worked with many community organizations and has made a point to support children. He has won several awards for sportsmanship and humanitarianism, including the 1995 Image Award for Sportsmanship. In addition to his career as an athlete, Smith has also been a columnist and baseball analyst for Sports Illustrated. He also runs his own restaurant, and remains involved in philanthropic causes.