Leonard Joseph "Chico" Marx (March 22, 1887 â€" October 11, 1961) was
an American comedian, musician, actor and film star. He was a member
of the Marx Brothers (with Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, and Zeppo Marx).
His persona in the act was that of a charming, uneducated but crafty
con artist, seemingly of rural Italian origin, who wore shabby clothes
and sported a curly-haired wig and Tyrolean hat. On screen, Chico is
often in alliance with Harpo, usually as partners in crime, and is
also frequently seen trying to con or outfox Groucho. Leonard was the
oldest of the Marx Brothers to live past early childhood (first-born
Manfred Marx had died in infancy). In addition to his work as a
performer, he played an important role in the management and
development of the act in its early years.Chico was born in Manhattan,
New York City, on March 22, 1887. His parents were Sam Marx (called
"Frenchie" throughout his life), and his wife, Minnie Schoenberg Marx.
Minnie's brother was Al Shean. The Marx family was Franco-German
Jewish. His father was a native of Alsace who worked as a tailor and
his mother was from East Frisia in Germany.Billing himself as Chico,
he used an Italian persona for his onstage character; stereotyped
ethnic characters were common with vaudevillians. His non-Italian-ness
was specifically referred to twice on film. In their second feature,
Animal Crackers, he recognizes someone he knows to be a fish peddler
impersonating a respected art collector:In A Night at the Opera, which
begins in Italy, his character, Fiorello, claims not to be Italian,
eliciting a surprised look from Groucho:
an American comedian, musician, actor and film star. He was a member
of the Marx Brothers (with Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, and Zeppo Marx).
His persona in the act was that of a charming, uneducated but crafty
con artist, seemingly of rural Italian origin, who wore shabby clothes
and sported a curly-haired wig and Tyrolean hat. On screen, Chico is
often in alliance with Harpo, usually as partners in crime, and is
also frequently seen trying to con or outfox Groucho. Leonard was the
oldest of the Marx Brothers to live past early childhood (first-born
Manfred Marx had died in infancy). In addition to his work as a
performer, he played an important role in the management and
development of the act in its early years.Chico was born in Manhattan,
New York City, on March 22, 1887. His parents were Sam Marx (called
"Frenchie" throughout his life), and his wife, Minnie Schoenberg Marx.
Minnie's brother was Al Shean. The Marx family was Franco-German
Jewish. His father was a native of Alsace who worked as a tailor and
his mother was from East Frisia in Germany.Billing himself as Chico,
he used an Italian persona for his onstage character; stereotyped
ethnic characters were common with vaudevillians. His non-Italian-ness
was specifically referred to twice on film. In their second feature,
Animal Crackers, he recognizes someone he knows to be a fish peddler
impersonating a respected art collector:In A Night at the Opera, which
begins in Italy, his character, Fiorello, claims not to be Italian,
eliciting a surprised look from Groucho:
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