Ray Bolger
Known for: Acting
Born: January 10, 1904
Died: January 15, 1987
Place of birth: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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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Filmography
38 movies · 29 TV shows, newest first
NR
The Wizard of Oz at Sphere
2025NR
To Oz! The Making of a Classic
2009
NR
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression
2009
8.3
Judy Garland: By Myself
2004
8.7
The Dark Side of the Rainbow
2000
8.0
Vaudeville
1997
7.1
That's Entertainment! III
1994
8.3
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic
1990
6.9
That's Dancing!
198510.0
The Whimsical World of Oz
1985
3.0
Peter and the Magic Egg
1983
6.5
Annie
1982
6.7
The Runner Stumbles
1979
5.5
Just You and Me, Kid
1979
7.5
The Making of the Wizard of Oz
1979
7.0
Heaven Only Knows
1979
7.1
Diff'rent Strokes
1978
7.1
Battlestar Galactica
1978
3.3
Three on a Date
1978
6.5
Fantasy Island
1978
6.3
The Love Boat
1977
8.8
Captains and the Kings
1976
5.8
The Entertainer
1976
6.8
Donny & Marie
1976
6.5
Baretta
1975
8.0
Little House on the Prairie
1974
7.4
That's Entertainment!
1974
6.8
The Partridge Family
1970
6.7
Nanny and the Professor
1970
7.2
Omnibus
1967
5.1
The Daydreamer
1966
5.0
The Hollywood Palace
1964
8.2
The Judy Garland Show
1963
6.8
The Merv Griffin Show
1962
7.5
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
7.0
Backstage Party
1961
5.9
Babes in Toyland
1961
5.8
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
8.0
The Bell Telephone Hour
1959
6.0
The All-Star Christmas Show
1958
NR
Washington Square
1956
6.4
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1956
NR
Tony Awards
1956
7.5
MGM Parade
1955
7.9
The Wonderful World of Disney
19547.8
The George Gobel Show
1954
8.0
A Star Is Born World Premiere
1954
7.7
Where's Raymond?
1953
6.8
General Electric Theater
1953
4.9
April in Paris
1952
9.5
Where's Charley?
1952
7.4
The Red Skelton Show
1951
6.9
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
7.0
The Bob Hope Show
1950
7.0
What's My Line?
1950
5.5
Make Mine Laughs
1949
6.1
Look for the Silver Lining
1949
6.6
The Harvey Girls
1946
6.3
Stage Door Canteen
1943
6.5
Four Jacks and a Jill
1942
5.9
Sunny
1941
7.6
The Wizard of Oz
1939
5.1
Another Romance of Celluloid: Electrical Power
1938
5.8
Sweethearts
1938
6.0
Rosalie
1937
6.3
The Great Ziegfeld
1936NR
Oz
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