Person
Ray Bolger
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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-d…
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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.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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2009
To Oz! The Making of a Classic
Movie Self
-
2009
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression
Movie Self (archive footage)
-
2004
Judy Garland: By Myself
Movie Self - Actor (archive sound)
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2000
The Dark Side of the Rainbow
Movie 'Hunk' (archive footage)
-
1997
Vaudeville
Movie Self (archive footage)
-
1994
That's Entertainment! III
Movie (archive footage) (uncredited)
-
1990
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic
Movie Self (archive footage)
-
1985
That's Dancing!
Movie Self - Host
-
1985
The Whimsical World of Oz
Movie Self
-
1983
Peter and the Magic Egg
Movie Uncle Amos (voice)
-
1982
Annie
Movie Sound Effects Man at Radio Station (uncredited)
-
1979
The Runner Stumbles
Movie Monsignor Nicholson
-
1979
Just You and Me, Kid
Movie Tom
-
1979
The Making of the Wizard of Oz
Movie Self
-
1979
Heaven Only Knows
Movie Simon
-
1978
Diff'rent Strokes
TV show
More credits
-
1978
Battlestar Galactica
TV show Vector
-
1978
Three on a Date
Movie Andrew
-
1978
Fantasy Island
TV show Spencer Randolph
-
1977
The Love Boat
TV show Horace McDonald
-
1976
Captains and the Kings
TV show R.J. Squibbs
-
1976
The Entertainer
Movie Billy Rice
-
1976
Donny & Marie
TV show Self
-
1975
Baretta
TV show
-
1974
Little House on the Prairie
TV show Toby Noe
-
1974
That's Entertainment!
Movie (archive footage) (uncredited)
-
1970
The Partridge Family
TV show Grandpa Fred Renfrew
-
1970
Nanny and the Professor
TV show Uncle Horace
-
1967
Omnibus
TV show Self
-
1966
The Daydreamer
Movie The Pieman
-
1964
The Hollywood Palace
TV show Self - Host
-
1963
The Judy Garland Show
TV show Self
-
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV show Self
-
1962
The Merv Griffin Show
TV show Self
-
1961
Backstage Party
Movie Self
-
1961
Babes in Toyland
Movie Barnaby
-
1961
The Mike Douglas Show
TV show Self
-
1959
The Bell Telephone Hour
TV show Self
-
1958
The All-Star Christmas Show
Movie Self
-
1956
Washington Square
TV show Self - HOst
