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Ray Bolger

Acting Born Jan 10, 1904 Boston, Massachusetts, USA 24 credits

Biography

Ray Bolger began his career in vaudeville. He was half of a team called "Sanford and Bolger" and also did numerous Broadway shows on his own. He, like Gene Kelly, was a song-and-dance man as well as an actor. He was signed to a contract with MGM in 1936 and his first role was as himself in The Great Ziegfeld (1936). This was soon followed by a role opposite Eleanor Powell in Rosalie (1937). His first dancing and singing role was in Sweethearts (1938), where he did the "wooden shoes" number with red-headed soprano/actress Jeanette MacDonald. This got him noticed by MGM producers and resulted in his being cast in his most famous role, that of the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz (1939). Surprisingly, even though the film was a success, Bolger's contract with MGM ended. He went to RKO to make Four Jacks and a Jill (1942). After this, Bolger went to Broadway, where he received his greatest satisfaction. In 1953 he turned to television and got his own sitcom, Where's Raymond? (1953), later changed to "The Ray Bolger Show". After his series ended, Bolger made frequent guest appearances on TV and had some small roles in movies. In 1985 he co-hosted That's Dancing! (1985) with Liza Minnelli. Bolger died in 1987 at the age of 83. Interred at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California, USA, in the Mausoleum, Crypt F2, Block 35.

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Known for

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

as Self

The Mike Douglas Show

as Self

The Mike Douglas Show

as Self - Co-Host

Little House on the Prairie

as Toby Noe

The Merv Griffin Show

as Self
Film

The Wizard of Oz

as "Hunk" / Scarecrow
Film

1900

as Self

Full filmography

  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
  • The Love Boat (1977) as Horace McDonald
  • The Love Boat (1977) as Andy Hopkins
  • The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
  • The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self - Co-Host
  • Little House on the Prairie (1974) as Toby Noe
  • Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Presenter
  • The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
  • Fantasy Island (1978) as Spencer Randolph
  • Fantasy Island (1978) as Gaylord Nelson
  • Baretta (1975)
  • The Red Skelton Show (1951) as 'Mayor' Threadbare III
  • What's My Line? (1950) as Self
  • Omnibus (1967) as Self
  • Omnibus (1967)
  • Battlestar Galactica (1978) as Vector
  • The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950) as Self - Host
  • MGM Parade (1955)
  • The Bob Hope Show (1950) as Self
  • The Wizard of Oz (1939) as "Hunk" / Scarecrow
  • The Partridge Family (1970) as Grandpa Fred Renfrew
  • The Partridge Family (1970) as Grandpa Walter Renfrew
  • The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (1956) as Self
  • Donny & Marie (1976) as Self