Margaret Pellegrini (née Williams; September 23, 1923 – August 7, 2013) was an American actress, vaudeville performer and dancer, best known for playing one of the Munchkins from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.[1][2] Until her death in 2013, she was one of the three surviving munchkins, the other two being Jerry Maren and Ruth Robinson Duccini.[3]

Margaret Pellegrini
Pellegrini in 2006
Born	Margaret Williams (1923-09-23)September 23, 1923 Tuscumbia, Alabama, U.S.
Died	August 7, 2013(2013-08-07) (aged 89) Glendale, Arizona, U.S.
Occupation	Actress vaudeville performer dancer
Years active	1938–2013
Spouse	Willie Pellegrini
Children	2

Biography

Pellegrini was born Margaret Williams in Tuscumbia, Alabama. When she was helping a relative in a potato chip booth at the Tennessee State Fair, a group of little people came by and asked if she wanted to join their show, Henry Kramer's Midgets. "At that time I didn't think I was a midget," says Pellegrini (who then stood about 3 ft 4 in (1.02 m)). In the film, Pellegrini played a "sleepyhead" flower pot and Munchkin villager. After the film, she married Willie Pellegrini (an average-sized ex-fighter) and had two children. Through the years, Pellegrini frequently appeared at surviving Munchkins of Oz festivities.

Munchkins Walk of fame

Pellegrini was present on November 21, 2007, when the remaining Munchkins were given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was also named the Grand Marshal of this year's annual "Oz-Stravaganza" parade in Chittenango, New York, but health issues prevented her from attending. Near the time of her death, she was described as a widowed great-great-grandmother living in Glendale, Arizona, with a room in her house devoted to her treasured Oz collectibles. She was survived by daughter Margaret, grandchildren William III, Anna, Juliette, Joe, Vincent, and Dawnelle Mowrey. Great-grandchildren are: Anthony, Ashlie, Barbara, Cheryl, Dalyn, Elizabeth, Heaven, Kaylee, and Shayla, and four great-great-grandchildren Sejla, Amel, Raegan and Vanya.

Death

Pellegrini died on August 7, 2013, in Glendale, Arizona, due to complications from a stroke she had two days earlier.[3] She was 89.[4] Her interment is at Holy Cross Cemetery in Avondale, Arizona.[5]

Filmography

References

External links

• Margaret Pellegrini at IMDb
• Margaret Pellegrini at Find a Grave