An award-winning reporter and child actress who appeared in The Wizard of Oz has passed away at the age of 91.

Betty Ann Bruno was a renowned reporter who began her professional journey with an appearance in the 1937 film The Hurricane before playing a Munchkin in Victor Fleming’s classic The Wizard Of Oz two years later.

Despite the success of the movie, Bruno never pursued her career in acting and instead went on to work for the CIA as a secretary when she got older.

Eventually, the woman transitioned to reporting and went on to have a successful career in TV reporting for two decades.

According to The Press Democrat, the beloved reporter was dancing on Sunday when she suddenly experienced a “splitting headache.” After being driven to the hospital by her husband, Craig Scheiner, she also suffered “a massive heart attack” from which she never recovered.

“She had no major health issues. Her heart just wore out. She died of old age,” Scheiner confirmed.

Bruno was best known for her work with the KTVU station which hired her for the 10 O’clock News program back in 1971.

Before retiring in 1991, Bruno won three Emmys for her work. At her workplace, she also met her second husband, Scheiner, who at that time worked as a producer and editor for the station.

Following her retirement from reporting, Bruno moved to Sonoma, California, where she opened Hula Mai and began teaching hula dancing to its patrons.

Later, in 2020, she also published a memoir titled The Munchkin Diary: My Personal Yellow Brick Road.

Our thoughts remain with Betty’s loved ones, especially her husband and her three sons, during this challenging time.

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