'Wizard of Oz' Munchkin Coroner, Raabe, Dies at 94

Meinhardt Raabe, the actor who played the Coroner of the Munchkin's in the 1939 film, "The Wizard of Oz," passed away at the age of 94 earlier this week. Raabe died at his home in Orange Park, Florida. He was one of the few surviving Munchkins from the film.

Raabe played the Coroner of Munchkin Land, singing the words, "As coroner I must aver, I thoroughly examined her, And she's not only merely dead, she's really most sincerely dead."

In a 1956 interview with the Associated Press, Raabe discussed the success of the film. He noted that much of the cast doubted the success the film would have due to "Gone With the Wind" coming out at the same time. "It was only after CBS got the film in 1956 and used it for their promotions that it became as well known."

Raabe said he enjoyed the success after the film. He enjoyed attending Wizard of Oz related events and receiving fan mail. "It's an ego trip. This is our reward, the nostalgia."