One of the last remaining Munchkin characters from the 1939 MGM classic “Wizard of Oz” has died.
Elaine Merk Binder, who performed as one of the film’s merry little people when she was 8 years old, was 94, according to Variety. Binder’s IMDB page states the Colorado native died Sunday in Los Angeles, but lists no cause of death.
In addition to her uncredited big screen role alongside Judy Garland and Ray Bolger, she reportedly had experience on stage and radio.
Binder reportedly made the cut as one of eight children picked to sing and dance with the Munchkin ensemble when she auditioned for the role in 1938. She once described the process of landing the role as “scary” for a kid.
According to Variety, she’s seen in the “Wizard of Oz” wearing a dark green dress and hat as the cast sings “Off to See the Wizard.”
Rather than pursuing a career in show business, Binder reportedly attended Occidental College, where she graduated in 1951 before getting a master’s degree from Cal State Los Angeles. That was said to have led her to find work as computer consultant for the University of Southern California.
Binder is reportedly survived by her son, George Binder, daughter Annette Phillips and six grandchildren.