Lewis Allen Croft (May 2, 1919 – April 29, 2008) was an American actor with dwarfism, best known for his role as a Munchkin soldier in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.
Delores Rodriguez (1948–1978) Eva Arwin (1984–2008)
Biographyedit
Lewis Croft was born in Shelley, Idaho in 1919 to Samuel and Roseland Crofts. Growing up in a large family, he was the fourth of 14 children. He left home when he turned 16 to work in circuses and sideshows under the stage name "Idaho Lewis" in order to support himself and his other siblings. Shortly after, he was offered a role in The Wizard of Oz as one of the Munchkin soldiers, which he accepted.
After his work as a Munchkin on The Wizard of Oz, he continued to tour at fairs, before working in a "midget" bar.[1]
Croft married his first wife Delores Del Rio in 1948[2] and returned to his hometown of Shelley, Idaho in 1953 to raise a family. Delores died in 1978, and five years later Croft married his second wife, Eva Arwin.
In his later life he appeared at many Wizard of Oz events along with several of the other surviving actors who portrayed Munchkins in the film. Ill health later prevented Croft from attending such events such as the laying of the Munchkins' star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in November 2007 after needing to use a wheelchair full-time. His last public appearance was at the 2006 Wizard of Oz Festival in Chesterton.[2]
Croft died on April 29, 2008, just three days before his 89th birthday. He was preceded in death by his parents, two wives, one son, and nine of his brothers and sisters, and survived by another son, four grandsons and seven great-grandchildren.[2][3] He was buried in Shelley's Hillcrest Cemetery.
lewis, croft, lewis, allen, croft, 1919, april, 2008, american, actor, with, dwarfism, best, known, role, munchkin, soldier, 1939, film, wizard, born, 1919, 1919shelley, idaho, diedapril, 2008, 2008, aged, shelley, idaho, other, namesidaho, lewisspouse, delore. Lewis Allen Croft May 2 1919 April 29 2008 was an American actor with dwarfism best known for his role as a Munchkin soldier in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz Lewis CroftBorn 1919 05 02 May 2 1919Shelley Idaho U S DiedApril 29 2008 2008 04 29 aged 88 Shelley Idaho U S Other namesIdaho LewisSpouse s Delores Rodriguez 1948 1978 Eva Arwin 1984 2008 Biography editLewis Croft was born in Shelley Idaho in 1919 to Samuel and Roseland Crofts Growing up in a large family he was the fourth of 14 children He left home when he turned 16 to work in circuses and sideshows under the stage name Idaho Lewis in order to support himself and his other siblings Shortly after he was offered a role in The Wizard of Oz as one of the Munchkin soldiers which he accepted After his work as a Munchkin on The Wizard of Oz he continued to tour at fairs before working in a midget bar 1 Croft married his first wife Delores Del Rio in 1948 2 and returned to his hometown of Shelley Idaho in 1953 to raise a family Delores died in 1978 and five years later Croft married his second wife Eva Arwin In his later life he appeared at many Wizard of Oz events along with several of the other surviving actors who portrayed Munchkins in the film Ill health later prevented Croft from attending such events such as the laying of the Munchkins star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in November 2007 after needing to use a wheelchair full time His last public appearance was at the 2006 Wizard of Oz Festival in Chesterton 2 Croft died on April 29 2008 just three days before his 89th birthday He was preceded in death by his parents two wives one son and nine of his brothers and sisters and survived by another son four grandsons and seven great grandchildren 2 3 He was buried in Shelley s Hillcrest Cemetery References edit Lewis Croft IMDb a b c Wizard of Oz Munchkin soldier Lewis Croft dead at age 88 10 May 2008 Broadway Message Board External links editLewis Croft at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lewis Croft amp oldid 1163266640, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
