| Harry Monty | |
| Birth Name: | Hymie Lichtenstein |
| Birth Date: | 15 April 1904 |
| Birth Place: | Dallas, Texas |
| Death Place: | Beverly Hills, California |
Hymie Lichtenstein (April 15, 1904 – December 28, 1999), better known as Harry Monty, was a Polish-American actor, dwarf actor and stuntman, whose most notable role was as a Munchkin and a winged monkey in the Wizard of Oz.
Monty was born April 15, 1904 in Dallas, Texas to Frank and Lydia Lichtenstein, who had immigrated from Poland in the 1890s. He had three brothers.[1]
Monty began his career in vaudeville, and appeared in various films from the 1930s to the 1970s, often uncredited. He appeared in Wizard of Oz in 1939 as a Munchkin, and also as one of the Winged Monkeys. He later said he considered his role as a Munchkin to be the most important of all his roles on stage and film in his 50-year career.[2] His other film roles were in movies including Hellzapoppin', The Court Jester, Planet of the Apes, Papillon, a production of Swiss Family Robinson, Three Ring Circus, Hello, Dolly!, and as a rotoscope reference actor in the 1978 animated film The Lord of the Rings.
He worked as a stunt double for many child actors, and did all of Margaret O'Brien's stunt work.[3] In addition, Monty served as a stuntperson in the films Tarzan Finds a Son!, Bad Bascomb, River of No Return, and Earthquake.[4]
Monty also appeared in the television series Lost in Space, Bonanza, Bewitched,[5] and H.R. Pufnstuf.
Monty died on December 28, 1999, at age of 95. After a private funeral service he was buried at Shearith Israel Memorial Park in Dallas.[1]