Ray Bolger
Acting
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.
Known for
Acting66
movieThe Wizard of Oz at Sphere
2025
Hunk (archive footage)
movieHollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression
2009
Self (archive footage)
movieJudy Garland: By Myself
2004
Self - Actor (archive sound)
movieThe Dark Side of the Rainbow
2000
'Hunk' (archive footage)
movieVaudeville
1997
Self (archive footage)
movieThat's Entertainment! III
1994
(archive footage)
movieThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic
1990
Self (archive footage)
movieThat's Dancing!
1985
Self - Host
moviePeter and the Magic Egg
1983
Uncle Amos (voice)
movieAnnie
1982
Sound Effects Man at Radio Station (uncredited)
movieThe Runner Stumbles
1979
Monsignor Nicholson
movieThree on a Date
1978
Andrew
tvFantasy Island
1978
Spencer Randolph / Gaylord Nelson
tvThe Love Boat
1977
Horace McDonald / Andy Hopkins
tvCaptains and the Kings
1976
R.J. Squibbs
movieThe Entertainer
1976
Billy Rice
movieThat's Entertainment!
1974
(archive footage) (uncredited)
tvThe Partridge Family
1970
Grandpa Fred Renfrew / Grandpa Walter Renfrew
tvNanny and the Professor
1970
Uncle Horace
tvOmnibus
1967
Self
movieThe Daydreamer
1966
The Pieman
tvThe Hollywood Palace
1964
Self - Host
movieBabes in Toyland
1961
Barnaby
tvThe Mike Douglas Show
1961
Self / Self - Co-Host
tvThe Bell Telephone Hour
1959
Self / Self - Host
tvTony Awards
1956
Self - Presenter
tvWhere's Raymond?
1953
Raymond Wallace
tvGeneral Electric Theater
1953
Alfred Boggs / Stan Maylor
movieApril in Paris
1952
Sam Winthrop Putnam
movieWhere's Charley?
1952
Charley Wykeham
tvThe Red Skelton Show
1951
'Mayor' Threadbare III
tvThe Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
Self - Host
movieMake Mine Laughs
1949
(archive footage)
movieLook for the Silver Lining
1949
Jack Donahue
movieThe Harvey Girls
1946
Chris Maule
movieStage Door Canteen
1943
Ray Bolger
movieFour Jacks and a Jill
1942
Nifty Sullivan, a Jack
movieSunny
1941
Bunny Billings
movieThe Wizard of Oz
1939
"Hunk" / Scarecrow
movieAnother Romance of Celluloid: Electrical Power
1938
Self (uncredited)
movieRosalie
1937
Bill Delroy
movieThe Great Ziegfeld
1936
Ray Bolger
Oz
Self / Scarecrow (archive footage)