Acting
Ray Bolger
Born Jan 10, 1904 · Boston, Massachusetts, USA · Died Jan 15, 1987
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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Acting
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression
2009
Documentary
Judy Garland: By Myself
2004
Documentary
The Dark Side of the Rainbow
2000
Adventure · Fantasy · Family
Vaudeville
1997
Documentary
That's Entertainment! III
1994
Documentary · Music
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic
1990
Documentary · TV Movie
That's Dancing!
1985
Documentary · Music
Peter and the Magic Egg
1983
Animation · Family
Annie
1982
Comedy · Drama · Family
The Runner Stumbles
1979
Drama
Just You and Me, Kid
1979
Comedy
The Making of the Wizard of Oz
1979
Documentary
Heaven Only Knows
1979
TV Movie
Diff'rent Strokes
1978
Comedy · Family · Drama
Battlestar Galactica
1978
Sci-Fi & Fantasy · Drama
Three on a Date
1978
Comedy · TV Movie
Fantasy Island
1978
Sci-Fi & Fantasy · Drama · Comedy
The Love Boat
1977
Drama · Comedy
Captains and the Kings
1976
Drama
The Entertainer
1976
TV Movie · Drama · Comedy
Baretta
1975
Crime · Drama · Mystery
Little House on the Prairie
1974
Western · Drama · Family
That's Entertainment!
1974
Documentary · Family · Music
The Partridge Family
1970
Comedy · Family
Nanny and the Professor
1970
Sci-Fi & Fantasy · Comedy
Omnibus
1967
Documentary
The Daydreamer
1966
Animation · Adventure · Family
Backstage Party
1961
Documentary
Babes in Toyland
1961
Comedy · Fantasy · Family
The All-Star Christmas Show
1958
TV Movie · Comedy · Documentary
MGM Parade
1955
A Star Is Born World Premiere
1954
Documentary
Where's Raymond?
1953
Comedy
General Electric Theater
1953
Comedy · Drama
April in Paris
1952
Comedy · Music · Romance
Where's Charley?
1952
Comedy · Music
The Red Skelton Show
1951
Comedy · Talk · Family
Make Mine Laughs
1949
Comedy · Music
Look for the Silver Lining
1949
Drama · Romance
The Harvey Girls
1946
Music · Western · Romance
Stage Door Canteen
1943
Comedy · Romance · War
Four Jacks and a Jill
1942
Comedy · Music · Romance
Sunny
1941
Music
The Wizard of Oz
1939
Adventure · Fantasy · Family
Another Romance of Celluloid: Electrical Power
1938
Documentary
Sweethearts
1938
Music · Comedy
Rosalie
1937
Music · Drama
The Great Ziegfeld
1936
Music · Drama · Romance