Betty Ann Bruno

Betty Ann Bruno
Born	Betty Ann Cain (1931-10-01)October 1, 1931 Wahiawa, Hawaii, U.S.
Died	July 30, 2023(2023-07-30) (aged 91) Sonoma, California, U.S.
Education	Stanford University
Occupation(s)	Child actress, television producer and host, reporter
Spouse	Craig Scheiner
Children	3
Awards	3 Emmy Awards

Betty Ann Bruno (née Cain; October 1, 1931 – July 30, 2023) was an American child actress and journalist. She started her journalist career as a political talk show television producer and host and was an investigative reporter who worked for KTVU-Channel 2 in San Francisco for over 20 years, retiring in 1992.[1]

Early life and education

Betty Ann Cain was born on October 1, 1931,[2][3] in Wahiawa, Hawaii,[4] but grew up in Hollywood, California. She was the daughter of a Hawaiian–Chinese mother and a Dutch–Irish father.[5]

She was a Stanford University graduate.[2]

Career

As a child, she appeared in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz as one of the Munchkins.[6] Before that she had a bit role in John Ford's 1937 film The Hurricane. Her work in television won her three Emmy Awards.[7][2] After retiring from television in 1992, she became a hula dance instructor.[5] In 2020, she published her autobiography, The Munchkin Diary: My Personal Yellow Brick Road.[8] She appeared on television once again in an episode of To Tell the Truth which was broadcast in May 2022.[2]

Personal life and death

Bruno lived in California, was married to Craig Scheiner, a former KTVU photographer, and had three sons. She was reported in media as one of the few surviving cast members from The Wizard of Oz.[9]

Bruno died from a heart attack on July 30, 2023, in Sonoma, California, at the age of 91.[1][10]

Filmography

Title	Year	Role	Director
The Hurricane	1937		John Ford
The Wizard of Oz	1939	Munchkin	Victor Fleming
To Tell the Truth	2022	Herself

References

1. Okorie, O. Gloria (30 July 2023). "Former KTVU reporter Betty Ann Bruno dead at 91". KTVU.com. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
2. Pedersen, Erik (July 31, 2023). "Betty Ann Bruno Dies: 'Wizard Of Oz' Munchkin Who Became Longtime Local TV Reporter Was 91". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
3. "Betty Ann Bruno named Sonoma's 2020 'Treasure Artist'". Sonoma Index-Tribune. 27 November 2019.
4. Bruno, Betty Ann (December 15, 2020). The Munchkin Diary: My Personal Yellow Brick Road. Craig Scheiner. ISBN 9781736205600. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
5. Quan, Rick (October 29, 2021). "Former Munchkin Turns Aloha Ambassador". KITV – via bettyannbruno.com.
6. Scarfone, Jay; Stillman, William (2004). The Wizardry of Oz. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 239. ISBN 9781617748431.
7. "'The Munchkin Diary': Sonoma author recalls her 'Oz' days, TV career". The Mercury News. April 14, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
8. "Former Veteran KTVU Channel 2 Reporter Betty Ann Bruno Now a Best-Selling Author". norcalmediamuseum.org. Media Museum of Northern California. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
9. "One of last living Munchkins reflects from her home in Sonoma". Sonoma News. October 24, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
10. "Wizard of Oz star Betty Ann Bruno dies after suffering a 'sudden' heart attack". The Mirror. 1 August 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.

External links

• Betty Ann Bruno at IMDb