Chico Marx

Leonard Marx (March 22, 1887 – October 11, 1961), known professionally as Chico Marx, was an American comedian, musician, bandleader, actor and film star. He was a member of the Marx Brothers (Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, and Zeppo Marx). His persona in the act was that of a charming, dim-witted albeit crafty con artist, seemingly of rural Italian origin, who wore shabby clothes and sported a curly-haired wig and Tyrolean hat. In virtually every film that includes the main trio of the Marx Brothers, Chico is seen working with Harpo Marx, usually as partners in crime. 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. 2Early years He was born on March 22, 1887 in Manhattan, New York City. 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 three times on film. In their second feature, Animal Crackers, he recognizes someone he knows to be a shady character impersonating a respected art collector: Ravelli (Chico): "How is it you got to be Roscoe W. Chandler?"Chandler: "Say, how did you get to be an Italian?"Ravelli: "Never mind—whose confession is this?" In Duck Soup, when Chico impersonates Groucho but retains his accent, Margaret Dumont asks what happened to his voic