Ruth Duccini
Ruth Duccini | |
---|---|
Born |
Ruth L. Robinson July 23, 1918 Rush City, Minnesota, U.S. |
Died |
January 16, 2014 95) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | (aged
Cause of death | Natural causes |
Resting place | Mountain View Cemetery in Prescott, Arizona, U.S.[1] |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1939, 1981 |
Known for | Last surviving female Munchkin; penultimate surviving Munchkin; last surviving female cast member; penultimate surviving cast member (The Wizard of Oz) |
Spouse(s) | Fred Duccini (1943–1994; his death); 2 children |
Ruth Duccini (July 23, 1918 – January 16, 2014) was an American actress and the penultimate surviving Munchkin from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. Duccini was the last surviving female performer from the film. Her role in the film as a Munchkin villager was not credited. Her most recent appearances were when she and the other surviving Munchkins were presented with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 21, 2007,[2] and attending the premiere of the film's 75th anniversary at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre.[3] She also was seen in Under the Rainbow (1981) and Memories of Oz (2001).
While Duccini could not recall in 2013 what she earned filming Oz,[4] the Munchkin village actors were paid $125 a week during filming ($2094 adjusted for inflation).[5]
She said of her World War II work: "The one thing that I'm most proud of, during the Second World War, I worked on airplanes in a defense plant. I was a Rosie the Riveter. I'm really proud of that."[4]
When Margaret Thatcher died, those who had disliked the former British Prime Minister for so many years tried to propel "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead" on the radio charts to celebrate her death. Duccini and Jerry Maren both opposed the campaign, labeling it "terrible", insisting the song was not to be used in such a way. Duccini stated that those involved "should feel ashamed".[6]
Death
Duccini died of natural causes in Las Vegas, aged 95, on January 16, 2014.[7] At the time of Duccini's death, only one munchkin actor remained alive from Oz: Jerry Maren.
References
- ↑ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=134210844
- ↑ "Duccini and other surviving Munchkins receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame". USA Today. November 21, 2007. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
- ↑ "She's off to see the wizard... again! Original Munchkin Ruth Duccini, 95, is guest of honour at Wizard Of Oz 3D premiere". Daily Mail. September 16, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ramin, Setoodeh (August 3, 2013). "Meet Ruth Duccini, a Munchkin From ‘The Wizard of Oz’". The Daily Beast. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
- ↑ "Mickey Carroll, A Munchkin From The 1939 Classic Film ‘The Wizard Of Oz’, Dies At 89". Access Hollywood. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
- ↑ McDermott, Kerry (April 13, 2013). "Wizard of Oz munchkins slam protesters for using film song Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead to mock Thatcher's death". Mail Online. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
- ↑ Potempa, Philip (January 16, 2014). "Final female 'Oz' Munchkin Ruth Duccini dead at 95". Chesterton News. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
External links
- Ruth Duccini at the Internet Movie Database
- The Wizard of Oz Special Screening Honoring the Munchkins Photo Gallery