Biography

Frank Morgan

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Born
June 1, 1890 · New York City, New York, USA
Died
September 18, 1949 · Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA (heart attack)
Birth name
Francis Philip Wuppermann
Height
5′ 8″ (1.73 m)

Jovial, somewhat flamboyant Frank Morgan (born Francis Wuppermann) will forever be remembered as the title character in The Wizard of Oz (1939), but he was a veteran and respected actor long before he played that part, and turned in outstanding performances both before and after that film. One of 11 children of a wealthy manufacturer, Morgan followed his older brother, Ralph Morgan (born Raphael Wuppermann) into the acting profession, making his Broadway debut in 1914 and his film debut two years later. Morgan specialized in playing courtly, sometimes eccentric or befuddled but ultimately sympathetic characters, such as the alcoholic telegraph operator in The Human Comedy (1943) or the shop owner in The Shop Around the Corner (1940). He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for The Affairs of Cellini (1934). Frank Morgan died at age 59 of a heart attack on September 18, 1949 in Beverly Hills, California.
- IMDb mini biography by: frankfob2@yahoo.com

Margaret Hamilton, who played the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz (1939), said that whenever she saw the scene where Frank Morgan, as the Wizard, is giving Dorothy's friends gifts from his "black bag" (a diploma for the Scarecrow, a ticking heart for the Tin Man, and a medal for the Cowardly Lion), she got teary eyed, because "Frank Morgan was just like that in real life - very generous".
Of his ten brothers and sisters, he was closest to brother Carlos Domaso Siegert Wuppermann (aka Carlyle Morgan) (1887-1919) whose death while serving in the United States Army's Corps of Intelligence Police in Germany was initially deemed a suicide. It was later learned he was murdered by a fellow soldier. Carlyle was a writer, poet, playwright and actor. Frank appeared in his deceased brother's play "The Triumph of X" in 1921 on Broadway.
W.C. Fields was originally considered for Morgan's role in The Wizard of Oz (1939). However, Fields haggled endlessly over salary, and the role was given to Morgan.
Was cast in the role of Buffalo Bill Cody in the MGM film Annie Get Your Gun (1950) but died in his sleep of a heart attack after shooting only the opening scene. He was replaced by MGM contract player Louis Calhern.
A boy soprano in church, some of his early pre-acting jobs included selling toothbrushes, soliciting advertisements, and bronco busting.

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