When Jane Lahr thinks about her dad, Bert Lahr, and how his legacy as the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz still resonates with fans today, she’s reminded of a special moment. It was the day she and her brother, John, visited their father’s gravesite at Union Field Cemetery in Ridgewood, New York, for the first time since his passing in 1967. This visit wasn’t just any trip—it was deeply personal and touching.
A Moment That Speaks Volumes
In an exclusive conversation, Jane shares, “His gravesite is supposed to have perpetual care. Now, I don’t know exactly what that means, but when we got there, it didn’t look like much care had been given. But here’s the thing: on his stone, a child had left a little toy lion. And let me tell you, that says so much about Dad. We cleaned up the gravesite, planted a little plant, and moved the toy lion right up front. We left everything in good shape. But honestly, that’s when I truly feel connected to Dad—the thought of some child leaving that lion. I can picture a mom with her little boy saying, ‘This is the lion from The Wizard of Oz!’ It’s such a sweet tribute, you know?”
More Than Just a Movie Star
“You know, my father wasn’t one to watch his own movies,” Jane explains. “He didn’t really like them, except for Zaza. When The Wizard of Oz started airing on TV, he wouldn’t watch it until very close to the end of his life. I was home from college one time, and it came on television, and he actually watched it. He thought, ‘Hmm, that’s okay. That was good.’ Now, here’s the thing: Dad was an incredible stage performer. His energy, physicality, and those sounds he made—oh man, they were unforgettable. He was absolutely perfect as the Lion because even in vaudeville, he made these animal noises. He had all the body movements, the power, the physicality, but he also had this sweetness, this pathos, this vulnerability that we can all relate to as human beings. We love that, and that’s why, at the end of the movie, when Judy Garland kisses Ray Bolger, the Scarecrow, and says, ‘I’m going to miss you most of all,’ I always think to myself, ‘No, you’re not. You’re going to miss the Lion most of all, because he was the most adorable.’”
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And let’s be real, folks, if he heard all this praise, he’d probably just blush and say, “Shucks, I didn’t do much.”
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