MUNCHKIN OBITUARIES

Annie Schneider Actress

Elly Annie Schneider, 90, an actress who played one of the Munchkin villagers in the "The Wizard of Oz," died September 6, 2004. Ms. Schneider, who used the screen names Tiny Earles and Tiny Doll, died of a heart ailment.

Born in Stolpen, Germany, she moved to the United States in 1925 to join three siblings who were also midgets. She was 39 inches tall and weighed 46 pounds.

The four traveled to California to appear in the "Wizard of Oz" and were among the little people who welcomed Judy Garland's Dorothy to Munchkinland in a memorable 10-minute scene. They also appeared in "Sailors, Beware," a 1927 Laurel and Hardy short, and the cult classic "Freaks" in 1932.

As recently as two months ago, Ms. Schneider entertained friends by singing songs from "The Wizard of Oz" and her circus shows, despite being legally blind and frail from a heart attack and stroke. Her death leaves nine of the original 124 Munchkins surviving.