What actresses played the witches in 'The Wizard of Oz'? Billie Burke and Margaret Hamilton played the witches in The Wizard of Oz.. Specifically, Billie Burke (August 7, 1884 - May 14, 1970) played Glinda the Good Witch. Margare…t Hamilton (December 9, 1902 - May 16, 1985) played the Wicked Witch of the West. No one played the Wicked Witch of the East, of whom only the feet were shown sticking out from under Dorothy Gale's house.