Elaine Merk Binder, 94, Wizard of Oz Star, Passes Away Amid Tributes

Elaine Merk Binder, one of the last surviving actors who played a Munchkin in The Wizard of Oz has died.

The childstar was 94, with her daughter Annette Phillips confirming her death.

Elaine was just eight-years-old when she filmed the beloved 1939 movie. She was one of the eight children who danced and sang as part of the Munchkin ensemble. 

She can be seen during the performance of Come Out, Come Out as one of eight dancers in a pavilion. 

Speaking about her 1938 audition for MGM, Elaine recalled: ‘For me it was scary. It was my first big call for girls from a major studio.’

‘I was relieved when Bud told the dance director, ‘She’s O.K.’ I did not have to perform like the others did. And they selected me as one of the eight who would both dance and sing.’

‘We learned later that they had added girls to the Little People because they had the mistaken impression that the Little People were not athletic.’

Elaine Merk Binder, one of the last surviving actors who played a Munchkin in The Wizard of Oz has died

The childstar was 94, with her daughter Annette Phillips confirming her death

Elaine was later offered a contract from Paramount studios as a teen but she declined and went on to study at college, graduating with degrees in music and education. 

She went on to study computer science and theology, and worked as a computer consultant for USC and First Interstate Bank.