CLARENCE SWENSEN, 91
Played Munchkin in "Wizard of Oz"
Died Feb. 25th in Texas. Regularly attended "Wizard of Oz" festivals after playing a Munchkin soldier. Seven Munchkins now survive. They received a collective star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007. Not allowed to attend public school until he was 9 because of his height; eventually reaching 4 feet six inches.
In the late 1930s, he joined the Stanley R. Graham All Midget Circus which led to a MGM offer to play a Munchkin for a salary of $700. He said they worked them hard-- 7 am to 7 pm.
I always liked how the soldiers marched with that exaggerated arm swing.
ALAN LANDERS 1940-2009
The 'Winston Man' Activist battled cancer, sued tobacco companies.
Died Feb. 27th at age 68, a former cigarette pitchman who had a 14-year battle with R.J. Reynolds and other tobacco companies, claiming smoking caused his health problems.
In the late 60s and early 70s he appeared in Winston ads on billboards and magazines.
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