Frank Morgan(1890-1949)
- Actor
- Soundtrack
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.
