WIZARD OF OZ 'Munchkin' Margaret Pellegrini Passes Away at 89

Margaret Pellegrini, one of the last living WIZARD OF OZ 'munchkins,' passed away in her Phoenix, AZ home this morning. Pellegrini died of a stroke, Colleen Zimmer, Chittenango's Oz-Stravaganza Festival organizer confirmed to The Madison Courier. She was 89.

Pellegrini played multiple 'munchkin' roles in the 1939 classic. She also appeared in 1971's JOHNNY GOT A GUN, which starred Donald Sutherland.

"It's like an end of era," Zimmer told the publication. "Munchkins have been coming to Chittenango for over 20 years. Recently it got down to just [Pellegrini] coming. She was more than somebody who came to Chittenango every year. She was my friend. My kids grew up with her. Everybody loved her. I'm going to miss her, dearly."

Following Pellegrini's death, Jerry Maren, 93, and Ruth Duccini, 95, are the only remaining members of the 'munchkin' clan.

Photo of Jerry Maren and Margaret Pellegrini by Adam Nemser/PHOTOlink

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