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.