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Margaret Hamilton (actress)

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 96.244.244.244 (talk) at 01:49, 7 August 2012 (add "best" known (Ms. Hamilton had a significant film career - WoO was not the only production she was in.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Margaret Hamilton
Hamilton in Nothing Sacred (1937)
Born
Margaret Brainard Hamilton

(1902-12-09)December 9, 1902
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
DiedMay 16, 1985(1985-05-16) (aged 82)
Salisbury, Connecticut, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
EducationHathaway Brown School
Alma materWheelock College
Occupation(s)Actress
Schoolteacher
Years active1933-1976
Known forWicked Witch of the West
SpousePaul Meserve (m.1931-1938; divorced)
ChildrenHamilton Wadsworth Meserve (b. 1936)
Parent(s)Walter J. Hamilton,
Jennie (nèe Adams) Hamilton
RelativesNeil Hamilton (cousin)

Margaret Brainard Hamilton (December 9, 1902 – May 16, 1985) was an American film actress best known for her portrayal of Kansas curmudgeon Miss Almira Gulch and the Wicked Witch of the West in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.[1] A former schoolteacher, she worked as a character actor in films for seven years before she was offered the role that defined her public image.

In later years, Hamilton made frequent cameo appearances on television sitcoms and commercials. She also gained recognition for her work as an advocate of causes designed to benefit children and animals, and retained a lifelong commitment to public education.

Early life

Hamilton was born to Walter J. Hamilton and his wife, Jennie (née Adams), in Cleveland, Ohio and was the youngest of four children. She later attended Hathaway Brown School in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Drawn to the theater at an early age, Hamilton made her stage debut in 1923. Hamilton also practiced her craft doing children's theater while she was a Junior League of Cleveland member. She later moved to Painesville, Ohio. Before she turned to acting exclusively, her parents insisted that she attend Wheelock College in Boston, which she did, later becoming a kindergarten teacher. [citation needed]

Film career

Hamilton's unlikely career as a film actress was driven by the very qualities that placed her in stark contrast to the stereotypical Hollywood glamour girl. Her image was that of a New England spinster, extremely pragmatic and impatient with all manner of "tomfoolery". Hamilton's plain looks helped to bring steady work as a character actor. She made her screen debut in 1933 in Another Language. She went on to appear in These Three (1936), Saratoga, You Only Live Once, When's Your Birthday?, Nothing Sacred (all 1937), The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938), and My Little Chickadee (1940). She strove to work as much as possible to support herself and her son; she never put herself under contract to any one studio and priced her services at $1000 a week.[2]

Hamilton co-starred opposite Buster Keaton and Richard Cromwell, in a 1940s spoof of the long-running local melodrama The Drunkard, entitled The Villain Still Pursued Her. Later in the decade, she was in a now-forgotten film noir, entitled Bungalow 13 (1948), in which she again co-starred opposite Cromwell. Her crisp voice with rapid but clear enunciation was another trademark. She appeared regularly in supporting roles in films until the early 1950s, and sporadically thereafter. She appeared, uncredited, in Joseph L. Mankiewicz's People Will Talk (1951), playing the part of Sarah Pickett opposite Hume Cronyn's Dr. Elwell. [citation needed]

In 1960, producer/director William Castle cast Hamilton as a maid named Elaine Zacharides in his 13 Ghosts spookfest. Throughout the film she plays it straight when 12-year-old lead Charles Herbert's taunts her about being a witch, including one scene when she has a broom in her hand. [citation needed]

The Wizard of Oz

File:MargaretHamiltoninTheWizardOfOz.jpg
Hamilton as The Wicked Witch of the West

In 1939, Hamilton played the role of the Wicked Witch of the West, opposite Judy Garland's Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz, creating not only her most famous role, but one of the screen's most memorable villains. Hamilton was cast after Gale Sondergaard, who was first considered for the role, albeit as a sexier witch with a musical scene, refused to wear makeup to make her appear ugly.

Hamilton suffered a second-degree burn on her face and a third-degree burn on her hand during a second take of her fiery exit from Munchkinland, in which the trap door's drop was delayed to eliminate the brief glimpse of it seen in the final edit. Hamilton had to recuperate in a hospital and at home for six weeks after the accident before returning to the set to complete her work on the now-classic film, and she refused to have anything to do with fire for the rest of the filming. 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 she recuperated at home.[3] Studio executives cut some of Hamilton's more frightening scenes, worrying they would frighten children overmuch. Later on in life, she would comment on the role of the witch in a light-hearted fashion. For an interview, she joked:

"I was in a 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?'" (Hamilton presented this as the punchline to the joke.) [DVD commentary track]

Hamilton, often asked about her experiences on the set of The Wizard of Oz, said she sometimes worried about the effect that her monstrous film role had on children. In real life, Hamilton deeply loved children and gave to charitable organizations. She often remarked about children coming up to her and asking her why she had been so mean to poor Dorothy. She appeared on an episode of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, where she explained to children that she was only playing a role and showed how make-up 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, 'Ohhhhhhhhhh!...' 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."[4]

Hamilton played three roles in the famous film: Almira Gulch, the Wicked Witch of the West, and the Wicked Witch of the East. (Although Hamilton was never officially credited for this third role, the Witch that she played in the tornado sequence is undoubtedly the Witch of the East: she is wearing the Ruby Slippers.) Only co-star Frank Morgan played more roles in the film (five roles). Hamilton and Morgan never appear on screen together in this film; however, her earlier appearance in the 1937 film Saratoga is a colloquy with Morgan regarding her use of a cosmetic product he invented (with side glances and eye rolls by Morgan as to its effect on her "beauty"). [citation needed]

Radio and television career

In the 1940s and 1950s, Hamilton had a long-running role on the radio series Ethel and Albert (a.k.a. "The Couple Next Door") in which she played the lovable, scattered Aunt Eva (name later changed to Aunt Effie). During the 1960s and 1970s, Hamilton appeared regularly on television. She did a stint as one of the What's My Line? Mystery Guests on the popular Sunday Night CBS-TV program. She played Morticia Addams' mother, "Hester Frump", in three episodes of The Addams Family (1965–1966). (Hamilton had been offered the role of Grandmama but turned it down.)

During the 1960s she was a regular on the CBS soap opera, The Secret Storm, playing the role of Grace Tyrell's housekeeper, "Katie". In the early 1970s, she joined the cast of another CBS soap, As the World Turns, playing "Miss Peterson". She had a small role in the made-for-TV film, The Night Strangler (1973), and appeared as a befuddled neighbor on Sigmund and the Sea Monsters. In the Paul Lynde Halloween Special (1976), she portrayed Lynde's housekeeper, reprising the Wicked Witch role as well as introducing Lynde to the rock group KISS. She reprised her role as the Wicked Witch in an episode of Sesame Street, but after complaints from parents of terrified children, it has not been seen since 1976. She appeared as herself in an episode of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and continued acting regularly until 1982. Her last roles were two guest appearances as a veteran journalist named Thea Taft (in 1979 and 1982, respectively) on Lou Grant.

File:MargaretHamilton3.jpg
Margaret Hamilton as Cora, spokesperson for Maxwell House coffee.

Throughout the 1970s, Hamilton lived in New York City's Gramercy Park neighborhood and appeared on local (and some national) public service announcements (PSAs) for organizations promoting the welfare of pets. Her most visible appearances during this period were as general store owner Cora, in a national series of television commercials for Maxwell House coffee.

Personal life

Hamilton married Paul Boynton Meserve on June 13, 1931, and made her debut on the New York stage the following year. While her acting career developed, her marriage became troubled, and the couple divorced in 1938. She would not marry again.[5] They had one son, Hamilton Wadsworth Meserve (born 1936), whom she raised on her own. She had three grandchildren: Christopher, Scott, and Margaret.

Later years

Hamilton's early experience as a teacher fueled a lifelong interest in educational issues. Hamilton served on the Beverly Hills Board of Education between 1948 to 1951, long after her success in films. She also taught Sunday school in the 1950s. She lived in New York City for most of her adult life. Her Gramercy Park apartment building also boasted James Cagney and Jonathan Frid as tenants. She later moved to Millbrook, New York. [citation needed]

Death

She died in her sleep following a heart attack on May 16, 1985, aged 82, in Salisbury, Connecticut.[1] She was cremated at Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery and her ashes were scattered in Amenia, New York.

Overview of stage career

  • Stage debut, 1923; New York debut, 1932; 39 total principal stage appearances, including:
    • Appeared at The Muny Theater in Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri, in several roles including reprising her role as the Wicked Witch of the West, and appeared in productions of Oklahoma! (as Aunt Eller) and Show Boat (as Parthy Ann Hawks). Hamilton was also featured in the short-lived musical Goldilocks, which starred Elaine Stritch and Don Ameche.
    • Reprised the role of Parthy Ann in Show Boat in the 1966 Lincoln Center revival.
  • Appeared in 3 major tours, including Annie Get Your Gun, Light Up the Sky, and A Little Night Music.
  • Produced An Evening with the Bourgeoisie, The Three Sisters, and House Party.[6]

Quote

Hamilton's line 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.

Film appearances

Selected television appearances

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Notes

  1. ^ a b "Margaret Hamilton, 82, Dies; Played Wicked Witch In 'Oz'". New York Times. May 17, 1985. Retrieved 2007-07-21. Margaret Hamilton, the actress whose role as the cackling Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz unnerved generations of children, died yesterday, apparently of a heart attack, at a nursing home in Salisbury, Connecticut. She was 82 years old. Miss Hamilton was a gentle, lively woman who taught kindergarten for years before she began a career of 50 years in the theater, movies, radio and television. But she seared a fearsome image on the public consciousness in 1939 when, at the age of 36, she played the Wicked Witch, the terror of Judy Garland's long dream in the classic film of L. Frank Baum's story.
  2. ^ Harmetz, A. (1998). The Making of the Wizard of Oz: Movie Magic and Studio Power in the Prime of MGM. New York: Hyperion Books. p. 123
  3. ^ Harmetz, A. (1998). The Making of the Wizard of Oz: Movie Magic and Studio Power in the Prime of MGM. New York: Hyperion Books.
  4. ^ Harmetz, Aljean; The Making of the Wizard of Oz, p. 297
  5. ^ Juran, Robert A. (1995). Old Familiar Faces: The Great Character Actors and Actresses of Hollywood's Golden Era. Movie Memories Publishing. p. 109
  6. ^ Margaret Hamilton profile at FilmReference.com
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