Frank Morgan

Frank Morgan (June 1, 1890 - September 18, 1949) was an American actor. Born Francis Phillip Wuppermann in New York City to the wealthy family which distributed Angostura bitters, he followed his older brother Ralph Morgan into show business, first on the Broadway stage and then into movies. His first film was The Suspect in 1916. His career actually took off when talkies began, his most stereotypical role that of a befuddled but good-hearted middle-aged man. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1934's The Affairs of Cellini, where he played the cuckolded Duke of Florence and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1942's Tortilla Flat, where he played a simple Hispanic man.

But Morgan's most famous role was the title role in The Wizard of Oz, where he played both the wizard and the carnival huckster. He was so popular that MGM gave him a lifetime contract. Other movies of note include The Shop Around the Corner, The Human Comedy, The White Cliffs of Dover and his last movie, Key to the City, which was released after his death, in Beverly Hills, California.

He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1708 Vine Street.