Margaret Hamilton

Film career Hamilton made her screen debut as Helen Hallam in the MGM film adaptation Another Language (1933) starring Helen Hayes and Robert Montgomery, having previously originated the role of Helen Hallam on Broadway.

Hamilton co-starred opposite Buster Keaton and Richard Cromwell in a 1940s spoof of the long-running local melodrama The Drunkard, titled The Villain Still Pursued Her.

Later in the decade, she played the part of Mrs. Theresa Appleby, co-starring with Tom Conway and Richard Cromwell in a little-known and now partially lost film noir, titled Bungalow 13 (1948). She continued appearing in supporting film roles until the early 1950s and sporadically thereafter.

Hamilton played a heavily made-up witch opposite Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Comin' Round the Mountain. Hamilton's character goes toe-to-toe with Costello's; each with voodoo dolls representing each other. She appeared uncredited in Joseph L. Mankiewicz's People Will Talk (1951) as Sarah Pickett. In 1960, producer/director William Castle cast Hamilton as a housekeeper in his 13 Ghosts horror film, in which 12-year-old lead Charles Herbert's character taunts her about being a witch, including the final scene, in which she is holding a broom in her hand.

On stage and screen, she was known for her rapid fire deadpan delivery, Midwestern accent, and her dark contralto singing voice. Despite standing at only five feet tall, Hamilton's commanding stage presence led to a successful career playing villains, with fans often being surprised by her slight stature.

The Wizard of Oz Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West with Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz, 1939In 1939, Hamilton played the role of the Wicked Witch of the West, her most famous role. Hamilton was cast after Gale Sondergaard, who was first considered for the role, albeit as a more glamorous witch with a musical scene, declined the role when the decision was made that the witch should appear ugly.

On December 23, 1938, Hamilton suffered an on-set accident. During a second take of her fiery exit from Munchkinland, the trap door's drop was delayed to eliminate the brief glimpse of it seen in the final edit, causing her to receive a second-degree burn on her face and a third-degree burn on her hand. She had to recuperate for six weeks after the accident, before returning to the set to complete her work on the film. After she recuperated, she said, "I won't sue, because I know how this business works, and I would never work again. I will return to work on one condition—no more fireworks!" Garland visited Hamilton while the latter recuperated at home, looking after Hamilton's son.

Studio executives cut some of Hamilton's more frightening scenes, worrying they would scare children too much. Later in life, she would comment on the role of the witch in a light-hearted fashion. During one interview, she joked:

I was in need of money at the time, I had done about six pictures for MGM at the time, and my agent called. I said, 'Yes?' and he said 'Maggie, they want you to play a part on the Wizard.' I said to myself, 'Oh, boy, The Wizard of Oz! That has been my favorite book since I was four.' And I asked him what part, and he said, 'The Witch', and I said, 'The Witch?!' and he said, 'What else?'

On February 11, 1939, Hamilton's stand-in and stunt double, Betty Danko, also suffered an on-set accident. Instead of Hamilton, Danko made the fiery entrance to Munchkinland. During the "Surrender Dorothy!" skywriting sequence at the Emerald City, Danko sat on a smoking pipe configured to look like the Witch's broomstick. The pipe exploded on the third take of the scene. She spent 11 days in the hospital and her legs were permanently scarred. The studio hired a replacement stunt double, Aline Goodwin, to finish the scene.

When asked about her experiences with her role in The Wizard of Oz, Hamilton said she was afraid that it would give children a wrong idea of who she really was, since she actually cared deeply about children, frequently giving to charitable organizations. She often remarked about children coming up to her and asking her why she had been so mean to Dorothy. She appeared on an episode of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood in 1975 where she explained to children she was only playing a role and showed how putting on a costume "transformed" her into the witch. She also made personal appearances, and Hamilton described the children's usual reaction to her portrayal of the Witch:

Almost always they want me to laugh like the Witch. And sometimes when I go to schools, if we're in an auditorium, I'll do it. And there's always a funny reaction, like 'Ye gods, they wish they hadn't asked.' They're scared. They're really scared for a second. Even adolescents. I guess for a minute they get the feeling they got when they watched the picture. They like to hear it but they 'don't' like to hear it. And then they go, 'Ooooooh ... !' The picture made a terrible impression of some kind on them, sometimes a ghastly impression, but most of them got over it, I guess ... because when I talk like the Witch, and when I laugh, there is a hesitation and then they clap. They're clapping at hearing the sound again.

In By Your Leave (1934), she played the housekeeper of one of her castmates from The Wizard of Oz, Frank Morgan, and in Saratoga (1937), she has a colloquy with Morgan regarding a cosmetic product he invented, with side glances and eye rolls by Morgan as to its effect on her "beauty". One of Hamilton's lines from The Wizard of Oz—"I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too!"—was ranked 99th in the 2005 American Film Institute survey of the most memorable movie quotes. Her son, interviewed for the 2005 DVD edition of the film, commented that Hamilton enjoyed the line so much, she sometimes used it in her real life.

A few months after filming Oz, she appeared in Babes in Arms (1939) as Jeff Steele's aunt, Martha, a society do-gooder who made it her goal to send the gang of child actors, led by Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, to a work farm. In 1945, she played the psychotic sister of Oz co-star Jack Haley in George White's Scandals, trying to prevent him from marrying his fiancé, played by Joan Davis, even going so far as attempting to kill her with an axe. Hamilton and Ray Bolger were cast members in the 1966 fantasy film The Daydreamer, a collection of stories by Hans Christian Andersen. A few years later, they were reunited on Broadway for the short-lived musical Come Summer.

Radio, television, and stage career

Hamilton made her Broadway debut in 1932, as Helen Hallam in Rose Franken's play Another Language, to immensely positive reviews, praised for her dry wit and comedic timing. In 1943, she played Gertrude Goldsmith in another Franken play, Outrageous Fortune, which was notable for openly tackling antisemitism and homosexuality in the early 1940s. Critics were divided on the play's themes, but Hamilton's performance was praised.

In the 1940s and 1950s, Hamilton had a long-running role on the radio series Ethel and Albert, or The Couple Next Door, in which she played the lovable, scattered Aunt Eva, with her name later changed to Aunt Effie. In 1957, she appeared in two episodes of The Phil Silvers Show. During the 1960s and 1970s, Hamilton appeared regularly on television. She did a stint as a What's My Line? mystery guest on the popular Sunday night CBS-TV program. She played Morticia Addams's mother, Esther Frump, in three episodes of The Addams Family (1965–66). Hamilton had been offered the role of Grandmama, but turned it down.

In 1962, Hamilton played Leora Scofield, a suffragist who arrives in Laramie, Wyoming, to bolster feminist causes in a territory where women had already obtained the right to vote, in the episode "Beyond Justice" of NBC's Laramie.

Having started on the stage in the early 1930s, Hamilton began to work extensively in the theater after leaving Los Angeles. She appeared on Broadway in the musical Goldilocks opposite Don Ameche and Elaine Stritch, and played the domineering Parthy Anne Hawks in the 1966 revival of Show Boat, dancing with David Wayne. In 1968, she played Aunt Eller in the Lincoln Center revival of Oklahoma!. Hamilton toured in many plays and musicals across the United States, starring in The Rivals at Seattle Repertory Theatre and later repeating her role of the Wicked Witch in specially written stage productions of The Wizard of Oz. For her last stage role, she was cast as Madame Armfeldt in the national tour of Stephen Sondheim musical A Little Night Music, costarring with Jean Simmons as her daughter Desiree.

Even with her extensive film career, Hamilton took roles in whatever medium she could get if she was free, making her soap opera debut as the nasty Mrs. Sayre on Valiant Lady, who schemed to prevent her daughter from marrying the heroine's son. In the 1960s, Hamilton was a regular on another CBS soap opera, The Secret Storm, playing the role of Grace Tyrell's housekeeper, Katie. For ABC's short-lived radio anthology Theatre-Five, she played a manipulative, ailing Aunt Lettie to Joan Lorring as the unhappy niece Maude in "Noose of Pearls". When Hamilton reprised her role as the Wicked Witch in a 1976 episode of Sesame Street, "the show's producers were flooded with letters from parents saying it was too frightening for children."

She appeared as herself in three episodes of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, between 1975 and 1976, because Fred Rogers wanted his viewers to recognize the Wicked Witch was just a character and not something to be afraid of. Hamilton continued acting regularly until 1982. Her last roles were two guest appearances as veteran journalist Thea Taft in 1979 and 1982, on Lou Grant. She was originally cast as Marie Thornwell in The Facts of Life episode "The Oldest Living Graduate" (Season 4, Episode 4). Due to ill health, she had to drop out last minute, and the role was taken over by actress Amzie Strickland.

Throughout the 1970s, Hamilton lived in New York City's Gramercy Park neighborhood and appeared on local (and some national) public-service announcements for organizations promoting animal welfare. Her most visible appearances during this period were as general store owner, Cora, in a national series of television commercials for Maxwell House coffee. On October 30, 1975, she guest-starred on the radio revival series CBS Radio Mystery Theater. In the episode, entitled "Triptych for a Witch", Hamilton played the title role.

In 1973, Hamilton produced the stage production of An Evening with the Bourgeoisie. Her other mid-1970s stage productions, as the producer, were The Three Sisters and House Party.

Personal life Hamilton married Paul Boynton Meserve on June 13, 1931, and made her debut on the New York City stage in 1932. While her acting career developed, her marriage began to fail; the couple divorced in 1938. Their separation was publicized, with Hamilton accusing Meserve of physical abuse, including him hitting her and punching her in the face. These allegations were corroborated by the couple's housekeeper, who sued Meserve after alleging he physically attacked her. , who portrayed Hamilton in a one-woman show about the character actress called "My Witch: The Margaret Hamilton Stories," said Hamilton "had boyfriends" but also that "it doesn't seem that she had too many long term romantic relationships, though she had many friends." (Tafler and her husband John Ahlin, who wrote the show, did extensive research over many years to tell Hamilton's story. Their research included interviewing Hamilton "Tony" Meserve and his wife, Helen; Hamilton's grandson, Scott; Hamilton's agent, Michael Thomas; Hamilton's niece Sylvia ; and actors who worked with Hamilton, among others.) Writer and actor Bruce Vilanch, who worked with Hamilton later in her career, stated that it was well-known in Hollywood that Hamilton was a lesbian.

Her Gramercy Park neighbor Sybil Daneman reported that Hamilton loved children, but they were often afraid to meet her because of her portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz. Daneman's nephew refused to meet Hamilton, because even though he understood she was an actress, he thought it was still possible she really was like the character in the movie.

Margaret Hamilton, Ray Bolger and Jack Haley reunited in 1970, a year after the death of co-star Judy Garland.

Hamilton became close friends with The Wizard of Oz castmate Judy Garland, acting as a mentor and confidant. While filming Babes in Arms the same year with Garland, Garland would ask Hamilton to spend time in her dressing room with her, as her mother wouldn't berate her in the presence of another adult. Garland affectionately referred to Hamilton as "my witch". She was a guest speaker at a University of Connecticut children's literature class.

Hamilton later moved to Millbrook, New York. She was admitted to a nursing home in Salisbury, Connecticut, six months before her death from a suspected heart attack on May 16, 1985, at the age of 82.

Filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes 1933 Zoo in Budapest Assistant Matron for orphans Uncredited Another Language Helen Hallam 1934 Hat, Coat, and Glove Madame Du Barry There's Always Tomorrow Ella By Your Leave Whiffen Broadway Bill Edna 1935 The Farmer Takes a Wife Lucy Gurget Way Down East Martha Perkins 1936 Chatterbox Emily 'Tippie' Tipton These Three Agatha The Moon's Our Home Mitty Simpson The Witness Chair Grace Franklin Laughing at Trouble Lizzie Beadle 1937 You Only Live Once Hester When's Your Birthday? Mossy The Good Old Soak Minnie Mountain Justice Phoebe Lamb Saratoga Maizie Uncredited I'll Take Romance Margot Nothing Sacred Vermont Drugstore Lady 1938 The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Mrs. Harper A Slight Case of Murder Mrs. Cagle Mother Carey's Chickens Mrs. Pauline Fuller Four's a Crowd Amy Breaking the Ice Mrs. Small Stablemates Beulah Flanders 1939 The Wizard of Oz Almira Gulch / The Wicked Witch of the West The Angels Wash Their Faces Miss Hannaberry Babes in Arms Martha Steele Main Street Lawyer Lucy, Boggs' Housekeeper 1940 My Little Chickadee Mrs. Gideon The Villain Still Pursued Her Mrs. Wilson I'm Nobody's Sweetheart Now Mrs. Thriffie The Invisible Woman Mrs. Jackson 1941 Play Girl Josie The Gay Vagabond Agatha Badger 1942 Twin Beds Norah Meet the Stewarts Willametta The Affairs of Martha Guinevere1943 City Without Men Dora The Ox-Bow Incident Mrs. Larch Uncredited Johnny Come Lately Myrtle Ferguson 1944 Guest in the House Hilda – the Maid 1945 George White's Scandals Clarabelle Evans 1946 Janie Gets Married Mrs. Angles Faithful in My Fashion Miss Applegate 1947 The Sin of Harold Diddlebock Flora Dishonored Lady Mrs. Geiger Pet Peeves Haughty Woman Short film, uncredited Driftwood Essie Keenan 1948 Reaching from Heaven Sophie Manley State of the Union Norah Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven Ruby Cheever Bungalow 13 Mrs. Theresa ApplebyPartially lost film 1949 The Sun Comes Up Mrs. Golightly The Red Pony Teacher The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend Mrs. Elvira O'Toole Uncredited 1950 The Great Plane Robbery Mrs. JuddLost film Wabash Avenue Tillie Hutch Riding High Edna 1951 Comin' Round the Mountain Aunt Huddy People Will Talk Miss Sarah Pickett – Housekeeper Uncredited 1960 13 Ghosts Elaine Zacharides 1962 The Good Years Narrator Paradise Alley Mrs. Nicholson1964Charlie WeaverJohn Deere film 1966 The Daydreamer Mrs. Klopplebobbler 1967 Rosie! Mae 1969 Angel in My Pocket Rhoda 1970 Brewster McCloud Daphne Heap 1971 The Anderson Tapes Miss Kaler 1972 Journey Back to OzAunt Em Voice

Television YearTitleRoleNotes1950–51 The Bigelow Theatre Mrs. Greenstreet Episodes: 1952 Gulf Playhouse Episode: (S 1:Ep 3) My Hero Mrs. Morgan Episode: "Lady Mortician" (S 1:Ep 2) 1953 Lux Video Theatre Charity Ames Episode: "Wind on the Way" (S 3:Ep 42) Ethel and Albert Aunt Eva 2 episodes Man Against Crime Mrs. Barker Episode: "A Family Affair" (S 4:Ep 26) A String of Blue Beads Mrs. Loomis Television film Man Against Crime Mrs. Parmalee Episode: "Petite Larceny" (S 5:Ep 11) 1954 The Campbell Playhouse Episode: "An Eye for an Eye" (S 2:Ep 35) The Best of Broadway Sarah Episode: "The Man Who Came to Dinner" (S 1:Ep 2) Center Stage Episode: "Lucky Louie" (S 1:Ep 5) The Elgin Hour Gwen Episode: "Warm Clay" (S 1:Ep 4) 1955 The Best of Broadway Usher Episode: "The Guardsman" (S 1:Ep 7) Valiant Lady Mrs. Sayre Main cast member The Devil's Disciple Mrs. Dudgeon TV movie The Way of the World Short lived TV series 1957 On Borrowed Time Demetria Riffle Television film The Phil Silvers Show Miss Gloria Formby / Hermione Nightengale2 episodes 1958 The Christmas Tree Miss Finch Television film 1959 Once Upon a Christmas Time Miss Scugg Television film 1960 Dow Hour of Great Mysteries Lizzie Allen Episode: "The Bat" (S 1:Ep 1), based on the play of the same name by Mary Roberts Rinehart The Secret World of Eddie Hodges Mrs. Grundy Television film 1961 Ichabod and Me Mehitabel Hobbs Episode: "The Purple Cow (S 1:Ep 6) 1962 Laramie Leora Scofield Episode: "Beyond Justice" (S 4:Ep 9) The Danny Thomas Show Miss Fenwick Episode: "Bunny, the Brownie Leader" (S 10:Ep 13) Car 54, Where Are You? Spinster Episode: "Benny the Bookie's Last Chance" (S 2:Ep 17) The Patty Duke Show The Lane Family housekeeper Episode: "Double Date" (S 1:Ep 10) Car 54, Where Are You? Miss Pownthleroy Episode: "Here Comes Charlie" (S 2:Ep 23) The Patty Duke Show Mrs. Williams Episode: "Let 'Em Eat Cake" (S 1:Ep 21) 1964–67 The Secret Storm Katie 1965–66 The Addams Family Hester Frump 1967 Ghostbreakers Ivy Rumson Television film1968The Merv Griffin ShowGuestJudy Garland was guest hosting 2 shows 1970 As the World Turns Miss Peterson #2 1971 Is There a Doctor in the House Emma Proctor Television film 1973 Sigmund and the Sea Monsters Mrs. Eddels Gunsmoke Edsel Pry Episode: "A Quiet Day in Dodge" (S 18:Ep 19) The Night Strangler Professor Crabwell Television film The Partridge Family Clara Kincaid Episode: "Reuben Kincaid Lives" (S 4:Ep 5) 1975–76 Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Herself / Margaret H. Witch 4 episodes 1976 Sesame Street Herself / Wicked Witch of the West Episode: Episode #7.52 (S 7:Ep 52) The Paul Lynde Halloween Special The Wicked Witch of the West Reprisal for a Halloween Special 1979 Letters from Frank Grandma Miller Television film 1979–82 Lou Grant Thea Taft 2 episodes 1982 Pardon Me For Living Miss Holderness Television film