Title supplied by cataloger. Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx (1890-1977) was an actor and comedian involved with film, television, stage, radio and music. The third of five Marx brothers, he was known for his rapid-fire delivery of innuendo-ladden talk and was easily recognizable by his distinctive appearance of glasses, cigars, and a thick greasepaint mustache and eyebrows. He made 13 feature films with his brothers, but made 26 films in total. He also had a successful solo career, most notably for "You Bet Your Life" which ran for eleven years on television. Groucho Marx married three times: first to 19-year-old chorus girl Ruth Johnson (he was 29), producing two children, a boy and a girl; the second was to 21-year-old Kay Marvis (he was 54), they had a daughter; and third wife was 24-year-old actress Eden Hartford (he was 63). All marriages ended in divorce. Despite his lack of formal education, Marx wrote several books, and his writings were declared to be culturally important. He kept busy throughout his career, but by October 1971, Groucho had become increasingly frail both physically and mentally as a result of several minor strokes he had suffered. He was hospitalized for pneumonia on June 22, 1977 and passed away on August 19 in Los Angeles. Pictured is Erin Fleming, long-time companion and onetime conservator of famed comedian Groucho Marx. Ms. Fleming and Marx's son, Arthur, are in a court battle to determine who will become the permanent conservator of the elder Marx's affairs. Arthur Marx believes his father's life may be in danger and fears for his safety while under the care of Fleming. Ms. Fleming, in turn, denies she has ever struck or verbally abused the ailing 86-year-old, and denies accusations that she controls the elderly comedian by fear. Photograph dated April 24, 1977.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;15 x 9 cm. on sheet 19 x 9 cm. Photographic prints
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