By James  Nye The family of a late Wizard of Oz actor who played a Munchkin in the classic film appeared in St. Louis court on Monday to claim $500,000 back from his former caretaker. Mickey Carroll's family claim that the hypopituitary dwarf, who died in May 2009 aged 89, was exploited by carer Linda Dodge just before his death. His nieces and nephews first launched the civil suit in 2011 after discovering that their uncle, who never married or had children, had lost significant assets from his fortune. Iconic role: Mickey Carroll picture here in 2008 (left) one year before he died holding the famous ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz and (right) in 2007 when he received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame along with six other ex-Munchkins from the 1939 movie
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Family of Mickey Carroll claim the actor was extorted of $500,000 by his caretaker in the last days of his life
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Linda Dodge, her daughter and husband are accused of moving Carroll, 89, into their home
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The one-time actor suffered Alzheimer's later in life
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Carroll began to write checks to cash in the months before he passed away in his sleep in 2009
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Played one of the Munchkins in 1939's The Wizard of Oz opposite Judy Garland
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Built up a fortune through a tombstone business in St. Louis after leaving Hollywood
@placeholder in the 'Wizard of Oz' (captioned on the pictured) Carroll was 18 when he appeared in the 1939 movie