An engaging light comedian whose showbiz roots extended to vaudeville, Jack Haley was not the first choice for what is perhaps his best-known role, the Tin Man seeking a heart in the 1939 MGM classic "The Wizard of Oz".

Born in Boston, Haley began as a song-and-dance man and appeared on Broadway in the hits "Good News" and "Gay Paree". He made his first foray into movies in the silent "Broadway Madness" (1927) and returned three years later as a Paramount player in "Follow Thru" (1930). It wasn't until he was signed by Fox, though that he came into his own as a genial second lead in such