Groucho Marx

Julius Henry Marx, known as Groucho Marx (October 2, 1890 – August 19, 1977), was an American comedian, working both with his siblings, the Marx Brothers, and on his own.

Later years

Off-stage he was bookish and stated late in life that he lamented the fact he had never finished school or gone to college. Despite his lack of formal education he wrote several books, including the autobiographical Groucho and Me (1959) (Da Capo Press, 1995, ISBN 0306806665).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In later years he grew a real moustache, the lack of which had earlier been an effective means of hiding himself from fans.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His stage name was said to have been bestowed on him because while in vaudeville he kept his money in a bag around his neck known as a "grouch" bag. An alternate story is that he was grouchy. The comedian himself wrote that he did not know the nickname's origin. In any case, he was a master at improvising clever insults and became well known for this. One of his frustrations in later years was that when he insulted people who annoyed him they tended to laugh, thinking it was just part of the famous comedian's act.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the early 1970s, Groucho made a comeback of sorts doing a live one-man show, including one recorded at Carnegie Hall and released as a double album, An Evening with Groucho, on A&M Records. His previous works once again became popular and were accompanied by new books of interviews and other transcribed conversations by Richard J. Anobile and Charlotte Chandler. He had become quite frail by this time, and possibly senile, and his last few years were accompanied by controversy over a companionship he had developed with Erin Fleming and consequent disputes over his estate.

Related Topics:
1970s - Carnegie Hall - A&M Records - Charlotte Chandler - Senile - Erin Fleming

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Groucho Marx died on August 19, 1977. He was cremated, and the ashes were interred in the Eden Memorial Park Cemetery in Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California. Aged 86 at death, Groucho was the longest-lived of all the Marx brothers, though younger brother Zeppo survived him by two years. His death undoubtedly would have received more attention at the time had it not occurred three days after that of Elvis Presley.

Related Topics:
August 19 - 1977 - Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California - Zeppo - Elvis Presley

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~