Gummo Marx

Milton Marx ( born October 23, 1892 in New York City; † April 21, 1977 ibid ), known as Gummo Marx, was an American actor and owner of an artists' agency. He was at times a member of the later very successful comedy troupe Marx Brothers.

Life

Gummo Marx was the fifth son of Minnie and Sam Marx and grew up in the Upper East Side of New York. Their successful brother Al Shean inspired Minnie early to invest in an acting career of her sons. 1901 should Gummo, who had grown very small for his age, for her brother Henry ( or Harry) in the ventriloquist number ( hidden in a large doll ) be the " voice from the belly". The number but failed after two weeks at the hearing Henrys and a speech impediment Gummos, the slightly stuttered at that time.

His name Milton found the older brothers so silly that they named him because of his fondness for shoes with thick rubber soles Gummo. As he ended his career as an actor before the Marx Brothers movie screen changed to the theater, he remained until today the least known of the five brothers. " They owe me only your success. I have left the group. "

1907 succeeded Minnie Marx to get a commitment of the Three Nightingales in New York. This group was at the beginning of Groucho, Gummo and the sixteen year old Mabel O'Donnell. As Harpo came to be called The Four Nightingales. Gummo commented at the time: "We could not sing, we could not dance. We were comedians, because we had no other choice. " Gummo played at this time of vaudeville the role, which was later adopted in the films of Zeppo. When the Marx Brothers ( Chico had in 1912 the troops connected) had finally made it to Broadway in 1915, Gummo decided from the troops to get out, because " I realized that I was a lousy actor ."

Gummo reported in 1916 to the army. His mother dismissed him with the words: " We do not need you anyway. "

He returned again in 1920 in the play tray back. In the first silent film of the Marx Brothers, he appeared along with the three older brothers and the youngest brother Zeppo. The film Humorisk was never listed regularly.

On March 16, 1929 Gummo married the then 22 -year-old Helen von Tilzer. On March 15, 1930 their son Robert was born.

After Gummo was gone bankrupt during the Great Depression with a clothing company, he founded an artists' agency, which flourished after a few teething problems and later Zeppo joined. With a few exceptions, the agency took the rare Marx Brothers, because they were too demanding and too uncooperative, Zeppo said.

January 20, 1976 Helen von Tilzer died at the age of 68 years. Gummo died on April 21, 1977 at the age of 84 years. Since Groucho at this time was very sick, his message of Gummos death has not been charged, and his funeral was therefore only Zeppo.