Mickey Carroll ✝

Born Michael Finocchiaro in St. Louis, Missouri, Carroll was the son of Italian immigrants. He was born along with a twin sister, who, unlike Carroll, was of average size.\n', ' As a child Carroll began dance lessons at the Fox Theater in St. Louis. At 17 he was one of six bellhops in the \'Call for Phillip Morris\' live radio ads, and at 18 was appearing in shows with Mae West.\n', ' While under contract to MGM, he went to school with Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney. It was Garland herself who offered him a part in The Wizard of Oz.[citation needed] Carroll was cast as Munchkinland\'s "Town Crier". His costume consisted of a purple cloak with a yellow flower sticking out of his striped vest. He also marched as a "Munchkin Soldier", and as one of the candy-striped "Fiddlers" who escorted Dorothy down the yellow brick road towards the Emerald City.\n', '