23 Fascinating Facts About Ray Bolger, the Scarecrow Who Danced Into ‘Wizard of Oz’ History

For millions of moviegoers—and with all due respect to Jonathan Bailey in Wicked and its forthcoming sequel, Wicked for Good—Ray Bolger will always be the floppy-limbed, warmhearted Scarecrow who dreamed of having a brain in The Wizard of Oz. Yet behind the straw hat and patchwork costume was a seasoned vaudevillian, Broadway star and tireless entertainer whose career stretched across more than half a century. Bolger danced his way from the stages of Boston to the bright lights of New York and then into Hollywood immortality with a performance that continues to enchant new generations every time Oz plays on television or plays at Vegas’ The Sphere. Along the way, Ray Bolger collected stories, accolades and a legacy that proved his true gifts went far beyond a single role. Here are 23 fascinating facts about the man who brought the Scarecrow to life.

1. Ray Bolger was born and raised in Boston

Ray Bolger was born Raymond Wallace Bolger on January 10, 1904, in Dorchester, Massachusetts. His family was of Irish descent and he grew up in a working-class neighborhood before chasing his Broadway dreams.

2. He got his start in vaudeville

Bolger’s showbiz career began on the vaudeville stage, where his rubber-limbed dancing style made him stand out. He often joked that he could twist his body into “impossible knots” and still keep time with the music.

3. Ray Bolger was one-half of a comedy duo

Before striking out solo, Bolger toured as part of a vaudeville act called Sanford and Bolger. He did eccentric dances while his partner provided straight-man comedy.

4. Broadway star before Hollywood

 

By the early 1930s, Bolger was already a Broadway name, appearing in productions like Life Begins at 8:40 (1934) alongside Bert Lahr (who would later play the Cowardly Lion).

5. Initially cast as the Tin Man

Originally, Bolger was set to play the Tin Man, but he lobbied MGM to let him switch to the Scarecrow—a role that better showcased his loose-limbed dance style. Buddy Ebsen, cast as the Scarecrow, took over the Tin Man before falling ill from the makeup.

6. Rubber-legged dance style

Bolger’s choreography as the Scarecrow remains iconic. He made it look as if his legs were made of straw, wobbling and buckling while still landing perfectly on beat.

7. “If I Only Had a Brain” was his showcase

The number was extended to highlight Bolger’s talent. MGM actually cut some of his dance solo for pacing, but the sequence remains one of the most memorable in the film.

8. Lifelong pride in the role

Bolger often said he was proudest of playing the Scarecrow. He considered the character timeless because “everyone feels a little unsure of their brain at some point.”

9. No residuals, just immortality

When asked if he received payments from Oz’s endless TV reruns, Bolger famously replied, “No, just immortality. I’ll settle for that.”

10. Returned to Broadway

After Oz, Bolger continued his Broadway career, starring in hit musicals like By Jupiter (1942) and later Where’s Charley? (1948), which earned him a Tony Award.

11. His Tony-winning performance

Where’s Charley? included the song “Once in Love with Amy.” Bolger’s audience-pleasing habit was to sing the song once, then coax the crowd into singing it back to him—a tradition that became legendary.

12. Films beyond ‘Oz’

Although best known for the Scarecrow, Bolger appeared in films like The Harvey Girls (1946) opposite Judy Garland, proving their chemistry went beyond Oz; Babes in Toyland (1961), Just You and Me, Kid (1979) and as host of the That’s Dancing (1985) documentary.

13. Starred in two television series

 

Bolger led not one but two sitcoms in the 1950s. The first was Where’s Raymond? (1953–54), a light comedy about a stage performer constantly getting into predicaments. It was retooled in its second season as The Ray Bolger Show (1954–55), with Bolger essentially playing himself. Neither series lasted long, but they gave audiences a weekly dose of his vaudeville-honed humor and dancing and they’re remembered today as early examples of Broadway talent transitioning into the new medium of television.

14. Guest appearances galore

Bolger popped up on numerous variety programs through the ’50s and ’60s, including The Red Skelton Show and Donny and Marie, where his eccentric dance style always delighted. In the ’70s, he guest-starred as Shirley Partridge’s (Shirley Jones) father on The Partridge Family.

15. A “triple threat”

Bolger was proud of being not just a dancer, but also a singer and actor. He once said, “When I act, I dance in my mind. When I dance, I act in my body.”

16. A serious dancer’s dancer

Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire both admired Bolger’s singular style. While he lacked their polish, his comedic looseness made him unforgettable.

17. A link to Judy Garland

 

Bolger maintained his friendship with Garland after Oz. He appeared on The Judy Garland Show in 1964, where they reminisced warmly about making the movie and performed together (including “If I Only Had a Brain”).

18. His final years

Bolger continued to perform into his later life. One of his last stage appearances was in the 1970s Broadway revue All Over Town, directed by Dustin Hoffman.

19. A legacy of joy

Ray Bolger passed away on January 15, 1987, just days after his 83rd birthday. While his career spanned vaudeville, Broadway, film and television, he’ll forever be remembered as the lovable Scarecrow who has touched one generation after another.

20. Inspired future performers

Bolger’s Scarecrow inspired generations of dancers and actors. Many later performers—ranging from Dick Van Dyke to Michael Jackson—cited him as an influence. Jackson even studied Bolger’s movements when preparing to play the Scarecrow in The Wiz (1978).

21. Honored in his hometown

Dorchester’s Uphams Corner branch library features a mural of Bolger as the Scarecrow, ensuring that future generations of Bostonians know that a neighborhood kid danced his way into movie history.

22. Resting place fit for a legend

Bolger is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California, just a few miles from the MGM lot where The Wizard of Oz was filmed. Fans still visit his grave to leave flowers and notes of thanks for the joy he brought to the screen.

23. A man of simple philosophy

Bolger often explained the enduring power of Oz with this comment: “I was brought up on the books of The Wizard of Oz and my mother told me that these were great philosophies. It was a very simple philosophy that everybody had a heart, that everybody had a brain, that everybody had courage. These were the gifts that are given to you when you come on this Earth, and if you use them properly, you reach the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. And that pot of gold was a home. And home isn’t just a house or an abode; it’s people, people who love you and that you love. That’s a home.”