Chico Marx

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1931
Three of the Marx Brothers: Chico (above), Groucho (below) and Harpo Marx (right) in 1948.
Marx's grave in Glendale, California

Leonard Marx (born March 22, 1887 in New York - † October 11, 1961 ), known as Chico Marx , was an American comedian and (family) member of the Marx Brothers .

Life

With his piano playing in his famous “pistol finger technique”, he always provided a musical and acrobatic interlude in each of the thirteen Marx Brothers films . The pistol finger technique was a result of the fact that Chico's piano teacher basically only played one hand, while he largely faked musical effects with the other hand. So Chico became a largely one-handed pianist who couldn't do much with his second hand when making music and so began to have fun.

Chico was the second child of the Marx family, but his older brother Manfred died in childhood, so that he grew up as the oldest of the Marx Brothers. Chico performed almost exclusively with a Tyrolean hat and checked trousers. The young Leonard learned his (false) Italian accent, which he also uses on stage and in films, in order to be left alone by rowdies from the Italian quarter. He also spoke a few other immigrant dialects.

The stage name "Chico" goes back to one of his two great passions: the hunt for pretty girls ( chicks ). The spelling “Chico” used instead of “Chicko” was originally due to a typographical error, but it quickly became the final pseudonym .

While filming Blooming Nonsense in 1932, Chico Marx had a serious car accident in Los Angeles. His kneecap was smashed in the process, in some scenes of the film you can see Chico hobbling. He is said to have been drunk while driving.

He was a passionate poker player and is said to have had a photographic memory . In addition, one of his checks was found in the wallet of the dead gangster Bugsy Siegel , which is why he was interrogated by the police. He testified that the check was intended to pay off his gambling debts from a game of poker. When asked if he was aware of Siegel's criminal activities, Chico said: "We never discussed."

On March 22, 1917, Chico Marx married Betty Carp. After the death of his mother Minnie, Chico took over the management of the troupe. As an old man, he worked as an actor and musician to finance his passion for gaming. When asked how much he had gambled away, he once replied, “Ask Harpo how much he's made and that's how much I've lost.” (Ask Harpo how much he has taken - that is the amount I have lost. ).

Betty and Chico divorced a year before their silver wedding anniversary. In August 1958, Chico married Mary De Vithas, then 42. He was married to her for three years until his death in 1961. Chico Marx died at the age of 74 on October 11, 1961 after a long illness of arteriosclerosis . Chico Marx was embalmed and buried in the mausoleum of the Forest Lawn Memorial Park . He has been acted out and portrayed by a number of actors, including David Zimmering . Mary De Vithas died on December 22, 2002 at the age of 86. Chico's daughter Maxine Marx died on September 14, 2009 at the age of 91.

History of the Chico Marx Orchestra

For the band history see Chico Marx Orchestra .

Filmography

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ knerger.de: The grave of Chico Marx
personal data
SURNAME Marx, Chico
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Marx, Leonard
BRIEF DESCRIPTION american comedian
DATE OF BIRTH March 22, 1887
PLACE OF BIRTH new York
DATE OF DEATH October 11, 1961