Celebrity Biographies
Meinhardt Rabe
Meinhardt Raabe was the colonel of the Munchkin, the unforgettable dwarfs from The Wizard of Oz . Raabe died at the age of 94 at a Florida hospital of heart failure on April 9, 2010.
Born on September 2, 1915, in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, Meinhardt Raabe graduated from the University of Wisconsin. He was 24 years old when he was recruited by Victor Fleming to be in The Wizard of Oz .
Although 124 ‘munchkin’ appeared in the film, Raabe was one of the few who had dialogue. At the beginning of the film, he certifies the death of the wicked witch of the East. “She’s not only dead, but she’s truly dead,” said her character, before the munchkin sang the upbeat song “Ding! Dong! The witch is dead!
In 2007, the seven ‘munchkin’ who were still alive came to lay flowers at the star that reminds them of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Raabe was the oldest of all.