Acting · Boston, Massachusetts, USA · Born January 10, 1904
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.
MovieThe Wizard of Oz at Sphere
2025
as Hunk (archive footage)
To Oz! The Making of a Classic
2009
as Self
MovieHollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression
2009
as Self (archive footage)
MovieJudy Garland: By Myself
2004
as Self - Actor (archive sound)
MovieThe Dark Side of the Rainbow
2000
as 'Hunk' (archive footage)
MovieVaudeville
1997
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThat's Entertainment! III
1994
as (archive footage)
MovieThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic
1990
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThat's Dancing!
1985
as Self - Host
The Whimsical World of Oz
1985
as Self
MoviePeter and the Magic Egg
1983
as Uncle Amos (voice)
MovieAnnie
1982
as Sound Effects Man at Radio Station (uncredited)
MovieThe Runner Stumbles
1979
as Monsignor Nicholson
MovieJust You and Me, Kid
1979
as Tom
MovieThe Making of the Wizard of Oz
1979
as Self
MovieHeaven Only Knows
1979
as Simon
TVDiff'rent Strokes
1978
TVBattlestar Galactica
1978
as Vector
MovieThree on a Date
1978
as Andrew
TVFantasy Island
1978
as Spencer Randolph
TVThe Love Boat
1977
as Horace McDonald
TVCaptains and the Kings
1976
as R.J. Squibbs
MovieThe Entertainer
1976
as Billy Rice
TVDonny & Marie
1976
as Self
TVBaretta
1975
TVLittle House on the Prairie
1974
as Toby Noe
MovieThat's Entertainment!
1974
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
TVThe Partridge Family
1970
as Grandpa Fred Renfrew
TVNanny and the Professor
1970
as Uncle Horace
TVOmnibus
1967
as Self
MovieThe Daydreamer
1966
as The Pieman
TVThe Hollywood Palace
1964
as Self - Host
TVThe Judy Garland Show
1963
as Self
TVThe Merv Griffin Show
1962
as Self
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
MovieBackstage Party
1961
as Self
MovieBabes in Toyland
1961
as Barnaby
TVThe Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self
TVThe Bell Telephone Hour
1959
as Self
MovieThe All-Star Christmas Show
1958
as Self
TVWashington Square
1956
as Self - HOst
TVThe Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1956
as Self
TVTony Awards
1956
as Self - Presenter
TVMGM Parade
1955
TVThe Wonderful World of Disney
1954
as Self
The George Gobel Show
1954
as Self
MovieA Star Is Born World Premiere
1954
as Self
TVWhere's Raymond?
1953
as Raymond Wallace
TVGeneral Electric Theater
1953
as Alfred Boggs
MovieApril in Paris
1952
as Sam Winthrop Putnam
MovieWhere's Charley?
1952
as Charley Wykeham
TVThe Red Skelton Show
1951
as 'Mayor' Threadbare III
TVThe Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
as Self - Host
TVThe Bob Hope Show
1950
as Self
TVWhat's My Line?
1950
as Self
MovieMake Mine Laughs
1949
as (archive footage)
MovieLook for the Silver Lining
1949
as Jack Donahue
MovieThe Harvey Girls
1946
as Chris Maule
MovieStage Door Canteen
1943
as Ray Bolger
MovieFour Jacks and a Jill
1942
as Nifty Sullivan, a Jack
MovieSunny
1941
as Bunny Billings
MovieThe Wizard of Oz
1939
as "Hunk" / Scarecrow
MovieAnother Romance of Celluloid: Electrical Power
1938
as Self (uncredited)
MovieSweethearts
1938
as Hans
MovieRosalie
1937
as Bill Delroy
MovieThe Great Ziegfeld
1936
as Ray Bolger
Oz
as Self / Scarecrow (archive footage)
