Margaret Hamilton

American film character actress (1902–1985)

Person · Open Library

Born: 1902-12-09
Died: 1985-05-16
Works: 18

Top works

Six Scattered Stories
Airy Fairy Lilian
B Is for Bedtime
Complexity Theory for Social Work Practice
April's Lady

via Open Library + Wikidata

Film & TV

Acting · Cleveland, Ohio, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Margaret Hamilton (December 9, 1902 – May 16, 1985) was an American film actress known for her portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. 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…

Known for

To Oz! The Making of a Classic — Self2009
The Dark Side of the Rainbow — Miss Gulch (archive footage)2000
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Making of a Movie Classic — Self (archive footage)1990
Night of 100 Stars — Self1982
Nurse — Mrs. Evers1981

Article

Margaret Brainard Hamilton (December 9, 1902 – May 16, 1985) was an American character actress, vaudevillian and educator, whose fifty-year career in entertainment spanned theater, film, radio and television. She often played villains and is best known to modern audiences for her portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West and her Kansas counterpart Almira Gulch in the 1939 MGM film The Wizard of Oz.

A former kindergarten teacher, she worked as a character actress in films for seven years before she was offered the role that defined her public image. In later years, Hamilton appeared in films and made frequent cameo appearances on television sitcoms and commercials. She also gained recognition for her work as an animal rights activist and her lifelong commitment to public education.