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Margaret Hamilton: Biography, Facts and Career

Who is Margaret Hamilton? An evergreen, sourced profile: biography, key facts and career.

By the Pop Culture Files editorial team4 min read✓ Fact-checked
Margaret Hamilton
Press-materials are presumed to have been authored by the producers of the Broad via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

Margaret Brainard Hamilton (December 9, 1902 – May 16, 1985) was an American character actress, vaudevillian and educator, whose fifty-year career in entertainment spanned theater, film, radio and television. She often played villains and is best known to modern audiences for her portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West and her Kansas counterpart Almira Gulch in the 1939 MGM film The Wizard of Oz. A former kindergarten teacher, she worked as a character actress in films for seven years before she was offered the role that defined her public image. In later years, Hamilton appeared in films and made frequent cameo appearances on television sitcoms and commercials. She also gained recognition for her work as an animal rights activist and her lifelong commitment to public education. Her role as the Wicked Witch of the West is ranked by the American Film Institute as Hollywood's fourth-greatest villain of all time and the all-time greatest female villain.

Quick facts about Margaret Hamilton

  • Full name: Margaret Hamilton
  • Born: 1902-12-09
  • Nationality: United States
  • Known as: Actor
  • Wikidata ID: Q257756

Profile compiled from public Wikipedia and Wikidata data. Details can change over time.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Margaret Hamilton?

Margaret Brainard Hamilton (December 9, 1902 – May 16, 1985) was an American character actress, vaudevillian and educator, whose fifty-year career in entertainment spanned theater, film, radio and television.

What nationality is Margaret Hamilton?

Margaret Hamilton is United States.

When was Margaret Hamilton born?

Margaret Hamilton was born on 1902-12-09.

Sources

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