Margaret Hamilton
Biography
Margaret Hamilton was an American film actress born on December 9, 1902, in Cleveland, Ohio, and she died on May 16, 1985, at the age of 82. Also known as Margaret Brain, she was a former schoolteacher who worked as a character actor in films for seven years before being offered the role of the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, which defined her public image. In her later years, she made frequent cameo appearances on television sitcoms and commercials. Hamilton was also recognized for her advocacy of causes designed to benefit children and animals, maintaining a lifelong commitment to public education. Her known credits include work in television and film, with associations including productions such as the Phil Silvers Show, The Addamsova rodina, and Playhouse 90.
Career overview
Margaret Hamilton was an American film actress and former schoolteacher born in Cleveland, Ohio on December 9, 1902. She worked as a character actor in films for seven years before being offered the role that defined her public image, which was her portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. Throughout her career, she amassed 104 known acting credits. Also known as Margaret Brain, her filmography includes work on projects such as Playhouse 90, The Phil Silvers Show, and The Addams Family.
In later years, Hamilton made frequent cameo appearances on television sitcoms and commercials. Outside of her acting career, she gained recognition for her work as an advocate of causes designed to benefit children and animals, and she retained a lifelong commitment to public education. She passed away on May 16, 1985, at the age of 82.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
107 titles- The Wizard of Oz at Sphere (2025) as Miss Gulch (archive footage)
- Remembering Gene Wilder (2024) as Self (archive photo)
- To Oz! The Making of a Classic (2009) as Self
- The Dark Side of the Rainbow (2000) as Miss Gulch (archive footage)
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic (1990) as Self (archive footage)
- Night of 100 Stars (1982) as Self
- Nurse (1981) as Mrs. Evers
- Here's Boomer (1981) as Miss Heston
- Letters from Frank (1979) as Grandma Miller
- The Making of the Wizard of Oz (1979) as Self
- Lou Grant (1977)
- The Paul Lynde Halloween Special (1976) as Wicked Witch
- Sigmund and the Sea Monsters (1973) as Mrs. Eddels
- The Night Strangler (1973) as Prof. Crabwell
- Journey Back to Oz (1972) as Aunt Em (voice)
- Hollywood: The Dream Factory (1972) as Self (archive footage)
- The Anderson Tapes (1971) as Miss Kaler
- Brewster McCloud (1971) as Daphne Heap
- The Partridge Family (1970) as Clara Kincaid
- Sesame Street (1969) as The Wicked Witch
- Angel in My Pocket (1969) as Rhoda
- Ghostbreakers (1967) as Ivy Rumson
- Rosie! (1967) as Mae
- The Daydreamer (1966) as Mrs. Klopplebobbler
- The World of Abbott and Costello (1965) as Aunt Huddy in Comin' Round The Mountain (archive footage)
- The Addams Family (1964) as Granny Frump
- The Patty Duke Show (1963)
- Paradise Alley (1962) as Mrs. Nicholson
- Ichabod and Me (1961)
- The Dow Hour of Great Mysteries (1960) as Lizzie Allen
- 13 Ghosts (1960) as Elaine Zacharides
- The Bat (1960) as Lizzie Allen
- Startime (1959) as Self
- The Christmas Tree (1958) as Miss Finch
- On Borrowed Time (1957) as Demetria Riffle
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Edsel Pry
- A String of Blue Beads (1953) as Mrs. Loomis
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Mrs. Dudgeon
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Demetria Riffle
- People Will Talk (1951) as Sarah Pickett (uncredited)
- Comin' Round the Mountain (1951) as Aunt Huddy
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Charity Ames
- Riding High (1950) as Edna
- The Great Plane Robbery (1950) as Mrs. Judd
- Wabash Avenue (1950) as Tillie Hutch
- Man Against Crime (1949) as Mrs. Barker
- The Red Pony (1949) as Teacher
- The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend (1949) as Mrs. Elvira O'Toole (uncredited)
- The Sun Comes Up (1949) as Mrs. Golightly
- Studio One (1948)
- Studio One (1948) as Irma Davis
- Studio One (1948) as Mrs. McIntosh
- Studio One (1948) as Laura Lawson
- State of the Union (1948) as Norah
- Reaching from Heaven (1948) as Sophie Manley
- Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven (1948) as Ruby Cheever
- Bungalow 13 (1948) as Mrs. Theresa Appleby
- Driftwood (1947) as Essie
- Dishonored Lady (1947) as Mrs. Geiger
- The Sin of Harold Diddlebock (1947) as Flora
- Faithful in My Fashion (1946) as Miss Applegate
- Janie Gets Married (1946) as Mrs. Angles
- George White's Scandals (1945) as Clarabelle Evans
- Guest in the House (1944) as Hilda
- The Ox-Bow Incident (1943) as Mrs. Larch (uncredited)
- Johnny Come Lately (1943) as Myrtle Ferguso
- City Without Men (1943) as Dora
- Twin Beds (1942) as Norah
- The Affairs of Martha (1942) as Guinevere
- Meet the Stewarts (1942) as Willametta
- The Gay Vagabond (1941) as Agatha Badger
- Play Girl (1941) as Josie
- The Villain Still Pursued Her (1940) as Mrs. Wilson
- The Invisible Woman (1940) as Mrs. Jackson
- My Little Chickadee (1940) as Mrs. Gideon
- I'm Nobody's Sweetheart Now (1940) as Mrs. Triffle
- The Wizard of Oz (1939) as Miss Gulch / Wicked Witch of the West
- Babes in Arms (1939) as Martha Steele
- Angels Wash Their Faces (1939) as Miss Hannaberry
- Main Street Lawyer (1939) as Lucy, Boggs' Housekeeper
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938) as Mrs. Harper
- A Slight Case of Murder (1938) as Mrs. Cagle
- Four's a Crowd (1938) as Amy
- Mother Carey's Chickens (1938) as Pauline Fuller
- Breaking the Ice (1938) as Mrs. Small
- Stablemates (1938) as Beulah Flanders
- You Only Live Once (1937) as Hester
- Nothing Sacred (1937) as Warsaw, Vermont Drugstore Lady
- I'll Take Romance (1937) as Margot
- Saratoga (1937) as Lady at Kiffmeyer's table in train dining car
- Mountain Justice (1937) as Phoebe Lamb
- When's Your Birthday? (1937) as Mossy
- The Good Old Soak (1937) as Minnie
- These Three (1936) as Agatha
- The Witness Chair (1936) as Grace Franklin
- The Moon's Our Home (1936) as Mitty Simpson
- Laughing at Trouble (1936) as Lizzie Beadle
- Chatterbox (1936) as Emily 'Tippie' Tipton
- Way Down East (1935) as Martha Perkins
- The Farmer Takes a Wife (1935) as Lucy Gurget
- Broadway Bill (1934) as Edna
- By Your Leave (1934) as Whiffen
- There's Always Tomorrow (1934) as Ella
- Hat, Coat and Glove (1934) as Madame Du Barry
- Zoo in Budapest (1933) as Assistant Matron for Orphans (uncredited)
- Another Language (1933) as Helen Hallam
- Oz as Self / The Wicked Witch of the West (archive footage)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Margaret Hamilton best known for?
Margaret Hamilton is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Sweet Home Alabama (2002), Lou Grant (1977), Before Sunrise (1995), The Night Strangler (1973).
When and where was Margaret Hamilton born?
Margaret Hamilton was born on December 9, 1902 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. They passed away on May 16, 1985.
How many credits does Margaret Hamilton have?
Margaret Hamilton has accumulated over 107 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1933 to 2025.
What is Margaret Hamilton's background in cinema and television?
Margaret Hamilton was an American film actress born on December 9, 1902, in Cleveland, Ohio, and she died on May 16, 1985, at the age of 82. Also known as Margaret Brain, she was a former schoolteacher who worked as a character actor in films for seven years before being offered the role of the Wicked Witch of the West...