# Mickey Carroll > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mickey_Carroll > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mickey_Carroll.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Carroll > Source revision: 1307560790 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) For the lottery winner, see [Michael Carroll (lottery winner)](/source/Michael_Carroll_(lottery_winner)). **Mickey Carroll** (born **Michael Finocchiaro**; July 8, 1919 – May 7, 2009) was an American actor who worked in radio and film, and was one of the last surviving actors who portrayed a [Munchkin](/source/Munchkin) in the 1939 film *[The Wizard of Oz](/source/The_Wizard_of_Oz_(1939_film))*. ## Early life and career Born Michael Finocchiaro in [St. Louis](/source/St._Louis), [Missouri](/source/Missouri), Carroll was the son of Italian immigrants.[1] He was born along with a twin sister, who, unlike Carroll, was of average size.[2] As a child Carroll began dance lessons at the [Fox Theater](/source/Fox_Theatre_(St._Louis,_Missouri)) in St. Louis.[3] At 17 he was one of six bellhops in the "Call for Phillip Morris" live radio ads, and at 18 was appearing in shows with [Mae West](/source/Mae_West). While under contract to MGM, he went to school with [Judy Garland](/source/Judy_Garland)[3] and [Mickey Rooney](/source/Mickey_Rooney). It was Garland herself who offered him a part in *[The Wizard of Oz](/source/The_Wizard_of_Oz_(1939_film))*. [citation needed] Carroll was cast as Munchkinland's "Town Crier". His costume consisted of a purple cloak with a yellow flower sticking out of his striped vest. He also marched as a "Munchkin Soldier", and as one of the candy-striped "Fiddlers" who escorted Dorothy down the yellow brick road towards the Emerald City.[4] Soon after the success of the film, Carroll left show business. In the mid-1940s, he returned to St. Louis to run the family business making cemetery monuments, known as Standard Monument Company (founded 1911), which operated a shop and showroom on St. Charles Rock Road in Wellston. After Carroll sold it in 1996, he filled his time with charity work.[5] In November 2007, Carroll, along with six of the other remaining Munchkins, received a star on the [Hollywood Walk of Fame](/source/Hollywood_Walk_of_Fame).[6] Thanks to the popularity of *[The Wizard of Oz](/source/The_Wizard_of_Oz_(1939_film))*, Carroll made many appearances that year, serving as a [grand marshal](/source/Grand_Marshal) in parades, appearing on nationwide radio and TV shows, and signing thousands of autographs for fans. He helped raise money for several different charities. ## Death On May 7, 2009, Carroll died in his sleep at the home of his caretaker in [Crestwood, Missouri](/source/Crestwood,_Missouri). He had a heart ailment and complications from [Alzheimer's disease](/source/Alzheimer's_disease). After his death, his family sued his caretaker, to whom Carroll had transferred all assets four months before his death.[7] After a funeral Mass at the [New Cathedral Basilica](/source/Cathedral_Basilica_of_Saint_Louis_(St._Louis)) of St. Louis on Lindell Blvd., he was entombed at [Calvary Cemetery](/source/Calvary_Cemetery_(St._Louis)) Shrine Mausoleum in St. Louis.[8] ## Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1938 Gold Diggers in Paris Actor Uncredited 1939 The Wizard of Oz Munchkin Fiddler Uncredited, final film role ## References 1. ["Mickey Carroll, an 'Oz' Munchkin, Dies at 89"](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/08/arts/08carroll.html). *New York Times*. May 8, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2014. 1. Cox, Stephen (1989). [*The Munchkins remember: "The Wizard of Oz" and beyond*](https://archive.org/details/munchkinsremembe0000coxs/page/56). E.P. Dutton. p. [56](https://archive.org/details/munchkinsremembe0000coxs/page/56). ISBN 9780525484868. 1. ["Mickey Carroll"](http://explorestlouis.com/visit-explore/discover/st-louis-celebrities/mickey-carroll/). Explore St. Louis. Retrieved April 23, 2014. 1. ["One of Last Surviving 'Wizard of Oz' Munchkins Mickey Carroll Dies"](https://www.foxnews.com/story/one-of-last-surviving-wizard-of-oz-munchkins-mickey-carroll-dies/). *Fox News*. Retrieved April 23, 2014. 1. ["'Wizard of Oz' Munchkin Mickey Carroll dies at 89"](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/08/arts/08carroll.html). *The New York Times*. May 8, 2013. Retrieved August 13, 2013. 1. "Munchkins of 'Oz' get a star on Walk of Fame". USA Today. November 21, 2007. Retrieved August 8, 2013. 1. Jones, Stephen (2010). *The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror 21*. Running Press. p. 447. ISBN 9780762439973. 1. ["Calvary Cemetery in Zip Code 63115"](http://63115.com/local/historic/calvary-cemetery). 63115. Retrieved April 23, 2014. ## External links - [AP Obituary](http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/stltoday/obituary.aspx?n=mickey-carroll&pid=127041935) in the [St. Louis Post-Dispatch](/source/St._Louis_Post-Dispatch) - [Mickey Carroll](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0140937/) at IMDb - [Official Mickey Carroll web site](http://www.munchkinmickeycarroll.com/) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mickey Carroll](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Carroll) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Carroll?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.