Frank Morgan
A beloved character actor whose gentle, flustered charm found its ultimate expression as the magnificent humbug wizard in The Wizard of Oz.
1890–1949 (age 59)·American actor·Birthday: June 1·The Lost Generation
Biography
Frank Morgan embodied a very specific and cherished kind of Hollywood magic: that of the lovable, slightly bewildered everyman. With a round face, expressive eyes, and a voice that could convey pompous indignation or warm befuddlement, he became one of MGM's most reliable contract players for decades. He drifted through over a hundred films, often as the kind-hearted uncle, the bumbling aristocrat, or the fussy professional. Then, in 1939, he was handed the role that would immortalize him. As the Wizard of Oz, Morgan performed a sublime trick, playing both the terrifying giant head and the meek, humbug man behind the curtain with equal conviction, creating a character of profound vulnerability and warmth. His career was not defined by leading roles, but by the depth and humanity he brought to the margins of a story, making the world of classic cinema feel richer, funnier, and more real.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Frank was born in 1890, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Frank Was Born
The biggest hits of 1890
Frank's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1890Born
Wounded Knee massacre marks the end of the Indian Wars
President: Benjamin Harrison
1895Started school
First public film screening by the Lumiere brothers
President: Grover Cleveland
1903Became a teenager
Wright brothers achieve first powered flight
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1906Could drive
San Francisco earthquake devastates the city
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1908Could vote
Ford Model T goes into production
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1911Turned 21
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire kills 146 in New York
President: William Howard Taft
1920Turned 30
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1930Turned 40
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1940Turned 50
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1949Died at 59
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
Key Achievements
- Portrayed five distinct roles in 'The Wizard of Oz,' including Professor Marvel and the Wizard himself.
- Received two Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor, for 'The Affairs of Cellini' (1934) and 'Tortilla Flat' (1942).
- Appeared in over 100 films during a career that spanned from the silent era to the late 1940s.
- Was a mainstay of the prestigious MGM studio system, working under contract for the majority of his career.
Did You Know?
The ornate jacket worn by the Wizard in the film was reportedly found in a second-hand shop and was believed to have once belonged to L. Frank Baum, author of the Oz books.
He was the narrator in the original 1949 film version of 'The Great Sinner.'
He served in the U.S. Army during World War I.
His brother, Ralph Morgan, was also a successful actor.
“Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!”
