--- name: "Ray Bolger" canonical: "https://film.one/person/ray-bolger" fi1m_id: "ray-bolger" imdb_id: "nm0001961" tmdb_id: 9068 wikidata_id: "Q240886" roles: ["Actor"] born: "10 January 1904" died: "15 January 1987" reviewed_on_fi1m: 3 average_fi1m_score: 78 average_as: "actor" average_over: 2 updated: "2026-09-24T02:17:03.950378+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Ray Bolger ## Identity Ray Bolger - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/ray-bolger - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** ray-bolger - **IMDb ID:** nm0001961 - **TMDB ID:** 9068 - **Wikidata ID:** Q240886 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Bolger, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q240886, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001961/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/9068 Actor. Born 10 January 1904 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Died 15 January 1987. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 10 January 1904, Boston, Massachusetts, USA - **Died:** 15 January 1987 - **Active:** 1936–1939 - **Also known as:** Raymond Wallace Bulcao, Рэй Болджер, Raymond Wallace Bolger - **Titles on Fi1m:** 3: 2 acting, 1 other - **Frequently works with:** [Frank Morgan](https://film.one/person/frank-morgan.md) - **Average Fi1m score:** 78, as actor, over 2 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1930s 78 (2), 1980s 58 (1) - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Bolger, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q240886, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001961/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/9068 ## Streaming the US now - **HBO Max:** [*The Wizard of Oz*](https://film.one/film/the-wizard-of-oz.md) (91) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Ray Bolger > Ray Bolger makes loose-limbed comedy feel friendly. His Scarecrow is funny company, and we rate the way he puts an eccentric dancer's skill at the service of a character who is pleased to have companions. The Scarecrow's loose limbs are funny, but Bolger does not let the dancing become his only quality. In *The Wizard of Oz* (1939), he gives the character an easy amiability that makes the physical comedy feel unforced. We warmed to him because he seems so pleased to belong to the travelling group. That pleasure gives us a reason to care about him beyond waiting for the next bit of comic business. His dance style combined comedy, improvisation and loose-limbed movement, with gestures made to serve the character. His Broadway breakthrough, *On Your Toes* (1936), included George Balanchine's “Slaughter on Tenth Avenue” ballet, and he signed with MGM that year. That background matters when watching *Oz*: we can appreciate the comic timing without treating the performance as a succession of clever steps. There is considerable control in making movement look this loose. Victor Fleming's film also gives him partners who make the friendliness credible. Jack Haley's gentle Tin Man complements Bolger, while Judy Garland listens to both with enough interest to make the friendship count. Bolger's pleasure in being part of that group is something we value as much as the physical dexterity. The film's comic business does occasionally go on too long, particularly around Bert Lahr's broader, fussier Cowardly Lion, but Bolger helps keep the journey from becoming a string of separate turns. His subsequent screen work included Chris Maule in *The Harvey Girls* (1946) and the villain Barnaby in *Babes in Toyland* (1961). Between those films, he returned to Broadway for *Where's Charley?* (1948), bringing song, speech, gesture and dance together in a comic performance. Hollywood's routine material did not always use those abilities fully, so the filmography is an imperfect guide to what he could do. For a first encounter, choose *Oz* and give the comic footwork as much attention as the songs. ## Biography Ray Bolger (born Raymond Wallace Bolger) was an American actor, dancer and singer. He began his career in vaudeville as half of the act Sanford and Bolger, and appeared in numerous Broadway shows. He made his film debut in *The Great Ziegfeld* (1936) and was under contract with MGM. Bolger is best known for his performance as the Scarecrow (and his Kansas counterpart Hunk) in *The Wizard of Oz* (1939). He had originally been cast as the Tin Man but swapped roles. His other notable film roles include appearances in *Babes in Toyland* (1961) and *Annie* (1982). On stage he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for *Where's Charley?* (1948). Bolger hosted his own television series, *Where's Raymond?* (later *The Ray Bolger Show*), in the 1950s and made guest appearances on various programmes. He died in Los Angeles in 1987. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, masterworksbroadway.com.* ## On Fi1m (3) ### Performed in (2) — the average rests on these - *The Wizard of Oz* (1939), Fi1m 91, as Scarecrow / Hunk — [page](https://film.one/film/the-wizard-of-oz.md) - *The Great Ziegfeld* (1936), Fi1m 64, as Ray Bolger — [page](https://film.one/film/the-great-ziegfeld.md) ### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited - *Annie* (1982), Fi1m 58, as Sound Effects Man at Radio Station (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/annie.md) ## Complete filmography (37) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *The Dark Side of the Rainbow* (2000), as 'Hunk' (archive footage) - *That's Entertainment! III* (1994), as (archive footage) (uncredited) - *Peter and the Magic Egg* (1983), as Uncle Amos (voice) - *Annie* (1982), as Sound Effects Man at Radio Station (uncredited) — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/annie.md) - *The Runner Stumbles* (1979), as Monsignor Nicholson - *Just You and Me, Kid* (1979), as Tom - *Heaven Only Knows* (1979), as Simon - *Diff'rent Strokes* (1978), series, Actor - *Battlestar Galactica* (1978), series, as Vector - *Three on a Date* (1978), as Andrew - *Fantasy Island* (1978), series, as Spencer Randolph, Gaylord Nelson - *The Love Boat* (1977), series, as Horace McDonald, Andy Hopkins - *Captains and the Kings* (1976), series, as R.J. Squibbs - *The Entertainer* (1976), as Billy Rice - *Baretta* (1975), series, Actor - *Little House on the Prairie* (1974), series, as Toby Noe - *That's Entertainment!* (1974), as (archive footage) (uncredited) - *The Partridge Family* (1970), series, as Grandpa Fred Renfrew, Grandpa Walter Renfrew - *Nanny and the Professor* (1970), series, as Uncle Horace - *Omnibus* (1967), series, Actor - *The Daydreamer* (1966), as The Pieman - *Babes in Toyland* (1961), as Barnaby - *MGM Parade* (1955), series, Actor - *Where's Raymond?* (1953), series, as Raymond Wallace - *General Electric Theater* (1953), series, as Alfred Boggs, Stan Maylor - *April in Paris* (1952), as Sam Winthrop Putnam - *Where's Charley?* (1952), as Charley Wykeham - *Make Mine Laughs* (1949), as (archive footage) - *Look for the Silver Lining* (1949), as Jack Donahue - *The Harvey Girls* (1946), as Chris Maule - *Stage Door Canteen* (1943), as Ray Bolger - *Four Jacks and a Jill* (1942), as Nifty Sullivan, a Jack - *Sunny* (1941), as Bunny Billings - *The Wizard of Oz* (1939), as Scarecrow / Hunk — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/the-wizard-of-oz.md) - *Sweethearts* (1938), as Hans - *Rosalie* (1937), as Bill Delroy - *The Great Ziegfeld* (1936), as Ray Bolger — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/the-great-ziegfeld.md) ## Gallery - ![Ray Bolger](https://film.one/media/person/104612/gallery-66b238711b3c.jpg) Ray Bolger — Faded photographer's stamp appears to credit the photo to "Marcus Blechman"Publicity materials are presumed to have been distributed by the press-department representing the show's producers, Wiman & Rodgers in association with Richard Kollmar, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/Ray_Bolger_1942.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![127-GW-902-60243: Guadalcanal Campaign, August 1942-January 1943. Marine Model. Dancer Ray Bolger does his ablutions on a South Pacific island. The Broadway sta (2016)](https://film.one/media/person/104612/gallery-a4c3012beab8.jpg) 127-GW-902-60243: Guadalcanal Campaign, August 1942-January 1943. Marine Model. Dancer Ray Bolger does his ablutions on a South Pacific island. The Broadway sta (2016) — National Museum of the U.S. Navy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/127-GW-902-60243_%2829581750741%29.jpg/1280px-127-GW-902-60243_%2829581750741%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Annette Funicello Babes in Toyland (1961)](https://film.one/media/person/104612/gallery-2d627f1e103f.jpg) Annette Funicello Babes in Toyland (1961) — Disney?, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Annette_Funicello_Babes_in_Toyland_1961.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Ray Bolger circa 1928. Despeckled using GIMP.](https://film.one/media/person/104612/gallery-8b4f6765fe31.jpg) Ray Bolger circa 1928. Despeckled using GIMP. — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Bolger1928alt.jpeg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![A movie kiss planted on Maryland Senator. Washington, D.C., Jan. 27, 1938. Following a reception by the Senators at the Capitol today, Eleanor Powell, movie and](https://film.one/media/person/104612/gallery-65dc95d830f8.jpg) A movie kiss planted on Maryland Senator. Washington, D.C., Jan. 27, 1938. Following a reception by the Senators at the Capitol today, Eleanor Powell, movie and — Harris & Ewing, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/Eleanor_powell.jpg/1280px-Eleanor_powell.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Grave of actor Ray Bolger and his wife Gwendolyn at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California (mausoleum, block 35, crypt F2). Raymond Wallace "Ray" Bolger (2011)](https://film.one/media/person/104612/gallery-f1447323c8ef.jpg) Grave of actor Ray Bolger and his wife Gwendolyn at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California (mausoleum, block 35, crypt F2). Raymond Wallace "Ray" Bolger (2011) — IllaZilla, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Ray_%26_Gwendolyn_Bolger%27s_grave.JPG/1280px-Ray_%26_Gwendolyn_Bolger%27s_grave.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) ## Awards ### Other awards — 2 won, 1 nominated - Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical 1962: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical (nominated) - star on Hollywood Walk of Fame 1960: star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (won) - Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical 1949: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical (won) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/ray-bolger