Prince Denis
Prince Denis | |
---|---|
Born | Bidache, France | January 26, 1900
Died | June 20, 1984 | (aged 84)
Other names | Prince Dennison |
Spouse(s) | Ethel W. Denis (m.1939-1968) |
Prince Denis (January 26, 1900 – June 20, 1984) was a French-born American actor of sideshows and film with dwarfism, best known for his role as the Munchkin Sergeant-at-Arms in the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz".
Early life[]
Originally from France, Denis moved to the United States and changed his name to Dennison before eventually legally changing it to Prince Denis.
Career[]
Denis toured various circuses, including the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey, with his two sisters, Princess Marguerite and Lady Little.[1] Denis would later go on to appear in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz at the age of 25. His wife Ethel also had a minor role as a Munchkin in the film.[2] He stated that he himself had played the role of the mayor of Munchkinland and that Charlie Becker, who had played the mayor, was selected for playing the sergeant-in-arms. It was later learned that Denis had lied for more publicity.[3]
He later went on to appear in films such as The Greatest Show on Earth and Three Wise Fools.
Death[]
Denis died in 1984 at the age of 84, at the Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona.[4]
References[]
- ^ "Prince Denis, 84, Performer Who Played Munchkin Mayor". The New York Times. 24 June 1984.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-06-20. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Stephen Cox. The Munchkins of Oz. Cumberland House Publishing. 2002. 173-174.
- ^ "The Evening Independent - Google News Archive Search".
- 1900 births
- 1984 deaths
- Actors with dwarfism
- 20th-century American male actors
- French emigrants to the United States