Erin Fleming

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Erin Fleming (born August 13, 1941 in Canada , † April 15, 2003 in Los Angeles , California ; born Marilyn Fleming ) was a Canadian actress who became famous as Groucho Marx's partner during his last years.

Life

Fleming played minor roles in five films between 1965 and 1976. During this time she met Groucho Marx and eventually moved in with him. Her influence on Groucho was a frequent point of contention among his friends and relatives. Many admitted that she did a lot of work for him to refresh his fame, which eventually led to the award of an honorary Oscar . Others, including Groucho's son Arthur , saw it as a rather negative influence on Marx. During his final years up to his death in 1977, several of his heirs filed lawsuits against Fleming. One accusation she was made related to her intention to sell Groucho's favorite car, a Cadillac , against his wishes. When Groucho protested, she is said to have said literally: "I'll beat you from here to Pittsburgh !"

The lawsuits dragged on into the early 1980s when Fleming was eventually sentenced to pay $ 472,000 into Groucho Marx's inheritance.

Fleming's mental health deteriorated in the 1990s. She was arrested for violating the gun law and spent most of her time in various psychiatric facilities. In 2003 she committed suicide.

Filmography

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  • Stefan Kanfer, Groucho: The Life and Times of Julius Henry Marx , 2000
  • Miriam Marx Allen, Love, Groucho: Letters from Groucho Marx to his Daughter Miriam , 1992
  • Arthur Marx, My Life with Groucho , revised 1992
  • Steve Stoliar, Raised Eyebrows: My Years Inside Groucho's House , 1996

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Fleming, Erin
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Fleming, Marilyn (maiden name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Canadian actress
DATE OF BIRTH August 13, 1941
PLACE OF BIRTH Canada
DATE OF DEATH April 15, 2003
Place of death Los Angeles , California , United States