Behind The Scenes Secrets: The Wizard Of Oz

Ray Bulger: The Scarecrow

Ray Bolger was an actor who first got his start in the theater Vaudeville circuit. Ultimately, his dancing got him noticed and he was able to get quite a few roles on Broadway before he ultimately signed a contract with MGM. While filming The Wizard of Oz, the scarecrow face makeup and prosthetics was so intense that it actually left line marks on his face that took over a whole year to disappear. He continued acting in MGM films, including several with the Wizard Frank Morgan. In 1985, he co-starred along Judy Garland’s daughter Liza Minnelli in the film That’s Dancing! He continued acting (and dancing) until his death at age eighty three in 1987.