Leonard Marx Video | Stand-up Comedian

Leonard "Chico" Marx (March 22, 1887 – October 11, 1961) was an American comedian and film star as part of the Marx Brothers. His persona in the act was that of a dim-witted albeit crafty con artist, seemingly of rural Italian origin, who wore shabby clothes, and sported a curly-haired wig and Tyrolean hat. As the first-born of the five Marx Brothers, he also played an important role in the management and development of the act, at least in its early years. Marx used a Italian persona for his on-stage character; stereotyped ethnic characters were common with vaudevillians. The obvious... MORE

Leonard "Chico" Marx (March 22, 1887 – October 11, 1961) was an American comedian and film star as part of the Marx Brothers. His persona in the act was that of a dim-witted albeit crafty con artist, seemingly of rural Italian origin, who wore shabby clothes, and sported a curly-haired wig and Tyrolean hat. As the first-born of the five Marx Brothers, he also played an important role in the management and development of the act, at least in its early years. Marx used a Italian persona for his on-stage character; stereotyped ethnic characters were common with vaudevillians. The obvious fact that he was not really Italian was referenced 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 did you get to be Roscoe W. Chandler?" Chandler: "How did you get to be 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 voice. Chico replies, "Well, maybe sometime I go to Italy and I'm practicing the language." To which Dumont replies, "Your dialect is LESS