My Genealogy Hound

Ray Bolger, grave or crypt, tombstone, Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California, photo

The crypt or grave site of Ray Bolger. Bolger was born January 10, 1904 in Dorchester, Massachusetts. His performing career began as a tap dancer in vaudeville shows during the 1920's. His film career began in 1936 and continued into the 1980's but the single role he is most known for is as the Scarecrow in the 1939 movie, The Wizard of OZ. Originally, Bolger was cast as the Tin Man while Buddy Ebsen was cast as the Scarecrow but the two eventually switched roles. Ebsen became seriously ill from the aluminum powder makeup worn by the Tin Man character and was replaced by Jack Haley.

Beyond motion pictures, Bolger also had his own variety television show from 1953 to 1955. He also appeared in episodes of a wide variety of television shows including (partial listing): The Red Skelton Show (1962); The Partridge Family (1970-72); The Love Boat (1977, 1979); Baretta (1977); Fantasy Island (1978, 1982); Little House On The Prairie (1978-79); and Battlestar Galactica (1979). His final TV appearance was on Diff'rent Strokes (1984).

Ray Bolger died of bladder cancer on January 15, 1987 at Los Angeles, California; Bolger was 83 years old. He had been married to his wife, Gwendolyn Rickard Bolger, for 57 years. The couple had no children. The remains of Ray and Gwendolyn Bolger are in a crypt within the mausoleum in Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California.