The last surviving Oz munchkin, Jerry Maren, has died at the age of 96

The last surviving Oz munchkin, Jerry Maren, has died at the age of 96. Mr. Maren is best known as one of the Lollipop Guild in the classic 1939 movie version of “The Wizard of Oz.” But his career lasted long enough for him to have also appeared on TV’s “Seinfeld.”

Born Gerald Marenghi on January 24, 1920, Maren’s appearance in “The Wizard of Oz” resulted in a movie career that included the Our Gang comedy “Tiny Troubles,” The Marx Brothers feature “At the Circus,” and the notorious all-midget western “Terror of Tiny Town.” He would often appear in bit parts, but always resonated and did what he could with each role.

But the 1950s, Maren centered upon television with appearances on “The Beverly Hillbillies,” “Bewitched,” “Get Smart,” “The Odd Couple,” and “The Wild Wild West” among others. Maren kept working into the 21st century. Along with “Seinfeld,” Maren can be seen in “The Great Outdoors,” and “Spaceballs.” He made his last movie in 2010.

Jerry Maren also was involved in radio and TV advertising. He played Buster Brown on TV and radio during the 1950s and 1960s, appeared as Little Oscar in the Oscar Meyer commercials, and was Mayor McCheese and the Hamburglar on several McDonald’s commercials in the 1970s.

Mr. Maren would later state that the munchkins were only paid $50 a week while the dog, Toto, received $200 for “The Wizard of Oz.” At the time of his death, he was the last surviving actor to have played munchkin in the movie. He succumbed to pancreatic cancer on February 28, 2016.