Ruth Duccini

Ruth Leone Duccini was an American actress.

Life and career

Duccini was born on July 23, 1918. She is best known as the penultimate surviving Munchkin from the 1939 film The [Wizard of Oz (1939 film)|The Wizard of Oz]. Her role in the film as a Munchkin villager was not credited. Her most recent appearances were when she and the other surviving Munchkins were presented with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 21, 2007, and attending the premiere of the film's 75th anniversary at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre. She also was seen in Under the Rainbow and Memories of Oz.
While Duccini could not recall in 2013 what she earned filming Oz, the Munchkin village actors were paid $50 a week during filming, plus room/board. She said of her World War II work:
Duccini made the news again when Margaret Thatcher died, and critics of the former British premier tried to propel "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead" onto the chart to celebrate her death. Duccini and Jerry Maren said the song was never to be used in such a way, stating:
Duccini died in Las Vegas on January 16, 2014, at the age of 95. She outlived every major cast member of The Wizard of Oz.