Wizard of Oz Munchkin Margaret Pellegrini Dies

A 2007 photo of some of the Munchkins including Margaret Pellegrini (far right) at the Culver Hotel. Credit: Julie Lugo Cera

Pellegrini and the other Munchkins are part of Culver City lore, having stayed at the Culver Hotel when the 1939 musical was being filmed down the road at what was then MGM studios.

Margaret Pellegrini, who played the flowerpot Munchkin in the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz, died on Monday at the age of 89.
Spokesman Ted Bulthaup told CNN Pellegrini suffered a stroke at her Phoenix, AZ area home on Monday.
Pellegrini was the flowerpot Munchkin and was just 15 when she landed one of the 124 coveted roles in the movie.

With her passing, only three original Munchkins are still alive.
The Munchkins are considered a much beloved part of Culver City lore. The entire Munchkin cast stayed at the Culver Hotel while filming at MGM Studios (now Sony) down the road. Today, the hotel still pays homage to the Wizard of Oz and the Munchkins with display windows from the film, and of course the famous Lion statue  next to the hotel at the Culver City Plaza, representing the Cowardly Lion from the movie.
In an interview with the Arizona Republic in 2009, Pellegrini said she made more money doing appearances now than she made while on the set of Oz.
In 2007 the Munchkins received a star on the Hollywood Walk of fame. As people learned of Pellegrini’s death, Wednesday, they came and placed flowers on her star.
On hearing of the news, the Culver City Historical Society tweeted, “RIP Margaret Pellegrini.”
Culver City Historian Julie Lugo Cera told Patch, "Culver City, the Heart of Screenland, has enjoyed many returns of former 'munchkins' like Margaret Pellegrini, who always reminded us of our rich heritage, which includes the movie industry. She was a delightful lady and every time we saw her, she made us smile!"