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Betty Ann Bruno, munchkin star from The Wizard of Oz and award-winning reporter, dies aged 91-Tori Brazier-Entertainment – Metro

She was one of the last remaining cast members.

Betty Ann Bruno, munchkin star from The Wizard of Oz and award-winning reporter, dies aged 91-Tori Brazier-Entertainment – Metro

Betty Ann Bruno has died (Picture: Getty/Rex)

Betty Ann Bruno, who appeared as a munchkin in The Wizard of Oz as a child star before embarking on a career in local TV reporting, has died at the age of 91.

The actress and journalist died on Sunday in Sonoma, California, her family confirmed.

Bruno, who was born in Wahiawa, Hawai’i and also enjoyed a job as a hula instructor, had been performing at the Sonoma Women’s Club before she developed a sudden splitting headache.

Her husband Craig Scheiner drove her to hospital where she suffered a heart attack and died, according to local publication The Press Democrat.

Scheiner, who attributed his wife’s long and active life to good genes and regular activity, added: ‘She had no major health issues. Her heart just wore out.

‘She died of old age.’

The former actress was born in Hawai’i, and later taught hula (Picture: Rick Quan/YouTube/ABC)

Bruno with fellow munchkin child stars Priscilla Clark and Ardith Todd in 2008 (Picture: Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

One of the last-surviving members of the cast of the 1939 MGM musical starring Judy Garland, Bruno was one of around a dozen children of regular height cast to play munchkins alongside more than 100 adults of shorter stature.

Prior to her role in The Wizard of Oz aged seven, she had enjoyed a bit part in John ford’s 1937 film The Hurricane.

Following her early first career, she headed to Stanford University before embarking on a long and successful second career in local TV reporting.

Judy Garland as Dorothy in a scene with munchkins from The Wizard of Oz (Picture: Getty)

In 1971, she moved to local station KTVU in the Bay Area, where she worked for more than 20 years as a reporter and was a familiar and welcome face to its viewers.

During her time there she covered the 1991 Oakland Hills firestorm that killed 25 people and destroyed over 3,200 homes – including her own.

According to her family, she won three News Emmys from the San Francisco/Northern California Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Following her retirement from the station, she devoted her time to hula andwas founder of the dance troupe Hula Mai, which means ‘come and dance’ in Hawai’ian.

Bruno is survived by her husband, a former KTVU photographer, and their three sons.

This is a breaking news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.

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