​​Michael Finocchiaro 

 July 8, 1919 - May 7, 2009

The son of immigrants, he grew up in an Italian St. Louis neighborhood on the city's north side with a twin sister and four older siblings. A pituitary condition caused Mickey’s short stature, who was 4-foot-3 when he stopped growing in his 40s. 
​Mickey:
​ ·       Danced at the Muny Theater in St. Louis when he was in grade school.
​ ·        Worked in Chicago clubs in the 1920’s and on the Orpheum Theater vaudeville circuit.
·        Warmed up crowds for President Franklin Roosevelt while campaigning in New York City.
​ ·        Served as a crowd-getter in President Harry Truman's whistlestop campaign.
·        Did Phillip Morris live radio ads and appeared in shows with Mae West. He later did radio shows with George Burns, Gracie Allen, Jack Benny and Al Jolson.
·        Played the part of the Munchkinland "Town Crier," marched as a "Munchkin Soldier" and was the candy-striped "Fiddler" who escorted Dorothy Gale, played by Judy Garland, down the yellow brick road toward Emerald City.
​ ·       Returned to St. Louis in the 1940’s to run the family business making cemetery monuments.
·        Gave generously to many charities and never turned down a fan’s request for an autographed picture.
​ ·        November 2007, Carroll and six other surviving Munchkins received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
​ ·        Has 8 nieces and nephews (and 5 great nieces/nephews) who live all over the country and Stephen Cox who was a good friend of Mickey's, is the author of a book “The Munchkins of Oz”. Mickey's nephew, Frank has been living in his own apartment with 24 hour care since 2009 and is doing good.



 

Wizard of Oz Munchkin

Munchkin Mickey Carroll's Original Site