Margaret Hamilton (December 9, 1902 - May 16, 1985) was an American film actress.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Hamilton was a school teacher who turned to acting, making her screen debut in 1933 in Zoo in Budapest. She appeared in such films as These Three (1936), Saratoga and Nothing Sacred (both 1937) and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938).

In 1939, she played in the role of the Wicked Witch opposite Judy Garland 's Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and created not only her most famous role, but one of the screen's most memorable villains. Hamilton's effective and frightening portrayal eventually secured her the role over the originally cast, but more glamorous, Gale Sondergaard. During the shoot, Hamilton suffered severe burns when the trap-door elevator she was riding on the soundstage malfunctioned during her "fiery disappearance" from Munchkin Land. Hamilton had to recuperate in a hospital and at home for six weeks time after the accident before returning to the set to complete her work on the now-classic film.

She appeared regularly in supporting roles in films until the early 1950s, and sporadically thereafter. For example, Hamilton starred in a now-forgotten noir flick of 1948 from one of the "poverty row" studios, entitled Bungalow 13, which co-starred Richard Cromwell. During the 1960s and 1970s she appeared in television, and had a substantial role in the made for television film The Night Strangler (1973). She continued acting regularly until her final role in 1979.

Hamilton was married briefly in the 30s and had one son, whom she raised on her own.

She died in Salisbury, Connecticut from a heart attack.

Trivia: While Hamilton was a teacher back in Cleveland, one of her students was young Jim Backus.