Mary William Ethelbert Appleton "Billie" Burke (August 7, 1884 – May 14, 1970) was an American actress, famous on Broadway and in early silent film, but is primarily known to modern audiences as
Glinda the Good Witch of the North in the movie musical
The Wizard of Oz. She was nominated for the
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1938 for her performance as Emily Kilbourne in
Merrily We Live and is also remembered for her appearances in the
Topper series. Billie Burke was the wife of Broadway producer
Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr., of
Ziegfeld Follies fame, from 1914 until his death in 1932. Her voice was unique in intonation, which she accentuated in her later character roles as dim-witted, spoiled society types.