Jovial, somewhat flamboyant Frank Morgan (born Francis Wuppermann) will forever be remembered as the title character in The Wizard of Oz, but he was a veteran and respected actor long before he played that part, and turned in outstanding performances both before and after that film. One of 11 children of a wealthy manufacturer, Morgan followed his older brother, Ralph Morgan (born Raphael Wuppermann) into the acting profession, making his Broadway debut in 1914 and his film debut two years later. Morgan specialized in playing courtly, sometimes eccentric or befuddled but ultimately sympathetic characters, such as the alcoholic telegraph operator in The Human Comedy or the shop owner in The Shop Around the Corner. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for The Affairs of Cellini. He died in 1949 in Beverly Hills, California.
Born, with his elder brother, the actor Ralph Morgan, into a well-to-do family that formerly distributed in the US the universally-known condiment "Angostura Aromatic Bitters." Character actor best remembered as Prof. Marvel/The Wizard in The Wizard of Oz. Interred at Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York, USA, in section #168, plot #14447. Member of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. Uncle of actress Claudia Morgan. Youngest of eleven children (six boys and five girls) of the co-founder of the Angostura-Wuppermann Corporation which marketed bitters used in drinks and cocktails. Hobby -- boat enthusiast who participated in yacht races. A boy soprano in church, some of his early pre-acting jobs included selling toothbrushes, soliciting advertisements, and bronco busting Son, George Morgan W.C. Fields was originally considered for Mogan's role in The Wizard of Oz. Was a member of the famous "Irish mafia"--even though he wasn't Irish--which also included fellow Hollywood actors James Cagney, Spencer Tracy, Frank McHugh and Pat O'Brien. Brother-in-law of Grace Arnold.