Groucho MarxJulius 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. An early photo of the brothers with their parents. Groucho is the first on the left.The Marx family grew up on the Upper East Side of New York City, in a small Jewish neighborhood sandwiched between Irish/German and Italian neighborhoods. Leonard Marx, the oldest Marx brother, developed the "Italian" accent he used as "Chico" to convince some roving bullies that he was Italian, not Jewish. For a time in vaudeville, all the brothers performed in ethnic accents; Groucho did a German accent. However, after the sinking of the RMS Lusitania in 1915 public anti-German sentiment was widespread, and Groucho's "German" character was booed. He quickly dropped the accent and developed the fast-talking wise guy character he would make famous. Groucho developed a routine as a wise-cracking hustler with a distinctive chicken-walking lope and an exaggerated greasepaint moustache, improvising insults to stuffy dowagers (often played by Margaret Dumont) who stood in his way. He and his brothers starred in a series of extraordinarily popular movies and stage shows, often departing from the scripts they were using. (See: Marx Brothers) Groucho also worked as a radio comedian and show host in the 1930s and 1940s. In the 1950s, he hosted the popular television program You Bet Your Life. The show consisted of Groucho interviewing the contestants and ad libbing jokes. Then they would play a brief quiz. The show was responsible for the phrases "Say the secret word and win a prize" and "Who is buried in Grant's Tomb?" Throughout his career he introduced a number of memorable songs in films, including "Hooray for Captain Spaulding", "I'm Against It", "Hello I Must be Going", "Everyone Says I Love You" and "Lydia the Tattooed Lady". Crooner Frank Sinatra once quipped that the only thing he could do better than Marx was sing. Off-stage he was bookish and stated late in life that he lamented the fact he had never finished school or gone to college. Some of the letters displaying his wit were incorporated into a book. In later years he grew a real mustache. His stage name, "Groucho," 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. Groucho 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. Groucho Marx died on August 19, 1977. He was cremated, and the ashes were entombed in the Eden Memorial Park Cemetery in Mission Hills, California. Various Groucho-like characters have lived on since Marx's death, a testament to the character's lasting appeal. Alan Alda often vamped as Groucho on M*A*S*H. Gabe Kaplan personated him in the biographical Groucho (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084031/). Dave Sim, in his controversial comic book Cerebus the Aardvark, cast Groucho as the slippery, wisecracking but indomitable Lord Julius, Grandlord of the bureaucrat-ridden City-state of Palnu. Bugs Bunny befuddles Elmer Fudd memorably in "Wideo Wabbit" by imitating the mustachioed comedian in a "You Bet Your Life" parody called "You Beat Your Wife". Later he imitates Art Carney and slaps comical glasses on Elmer, admonishing "don't be such a Groucho". In Tiziano Sclavi's comic book series Dylan Dog, the hero's sidekick and assistant is called and looks like Groucho Marx. His moustache was removed in the US version of the series. Quotations about Groucho Marx
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Dave Sim, in his controversial comic book Cerebus the Aardvark, cast Groucho as the slippery, wisecracking but indomitable Lord Julius, Grandlord of the bureaucrat-ridden City-state of Palnu. Doolitle, Shrek, Bowfinger). Gabe Kaplan personated him in the biographical Groucho (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084031/). His record since then has been hit and miss, with several big flops (Holy Man, Pluto Nash) and some hits (Dr. Alan Alda often vamped as Groucho on M*A*S*H. Murphy's career continued to slide until 1996, when he would make his comeback in comedies, starting with The Nutty Professor. Various Groucho-like characters have lived on since Marx's death, a testament to the character's lasting appeal. Richard Pryor had nothing good to say about the film or the star, which stunned Murphy, who had considered Pryor an idol. He was cremated, and the ashes were entombed in the Eden Memorial Park Cemetery in Mission Hills, California. Harlem Nights was savaged not only by the critics, but also by several of the actors in the film. Groucho Marx died on August 19, 1977. However, in the late 80's and early 90's, Murphy's fame was fading via a series of poor sequels, drab comedies, and ego-driven vehicles that the public avoided in droves. Groucho 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. He made vicious comments about gays and AIDS during his 80's standup routines, so vicious that some years later he apologized for the remarks. His stage name, "Groucho," 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. His early comedy was racy, akin to Richard Pryor, whom Murphy says was the one "that wanted [him] to get into comedy." Characterized by excessive swearing and making fun of gays, singers, and others, Murphy became, in a sense, the Pryor of the 1980s. In later years he grew a real mustache. A perfect example of this is The Nutty Professor, a remake of the Jerry Lewis classic in which Murphy plays several members of the Klump family as well as Sherman Klump's arrogant alter ego, Buddy Love. Off-stage he was bookish and stated late in life that he lamented the fact he had never finished school or gone to college. Some of the letters displaying his wit were incorporated into a book. In many of his films, he plays multiple roles in addition to his main character. Throughout his career he introduced a number of memorable songs in films, including "Hooray for Captain Spaulding", "I'm Against It", "Hello I Must be Going", "Everyone Says I Love You" and "Lydia the Tattooed Lady". Crooner Frank Sinatra once quipped that the only thing he could do better than Marx was sing. He is a versatile voice actor and voiced the donkey in the Shrek series and the dragon in Disney's Mulan. The show was responsible for the phrases "Say the secret word and win a prize" and "Who is buried in Grant's Tomb?". Murphy later starred in many comedies including the Beverly Hills Cop series, Trading Places and Coming to America. Then they would play a brief quiz. His characters include a parody of Buckwheat from the Little Rascals and of Fred Rogers. The show consisted of Groucho interviewing the contestants and ad libbing jokes. Murphy began his comedy career at the young age of 19, as a performer on NBC's Saturday Night Live television show. In the 1950s, he hosted the popular television program You Bet Your Life. Eddie Murphy (born Easter Monday April 3, 1961, Brooklyn, New York) is an African-American comedian and actor. Groucho also worked as a radio comedian and show host in the 1930s and 1940s. Shrek 2, 2004, Donkey (voice). (See: Marx Brothers). The Haunted Mansion, 2003, Jim Evers. He and his brothers starred in a series of extraordinarily popular movies and stage shows, often departing from the scripts they were using. Daddy Day Care, 2003, Charlie Hinton. Groucho developed a routine as a wise-cracking hustler with a distinctive chicken-walking lope and an exaggerated greasepaint moustache, improvising insults to stuffy dowagers (often played by Margaret Dumont) who stood in his way. Showtime, 2002, Trey Sellars. He quickly dropped the accent and developed the fast-talking wise guy character he would make famous. I Spy, 2002, Kelly Robinson. However, after the sinking of the RMS Lusitania in 1915 public anti-German sentiment was widespread, and Groucho's "German" character was booed. The Adventures of Pluto Nash, 2002, Pluto Nash. For a time in vaudeville, all the brothers performed in ethnic accents; Groucho did a German accent. Shrek, 2001, Donkey (voice). Leonard Marx, the oldest Marx brother, developed the "Italian" accent he used as "Chico" to convince some roving bullies that he was Italian, not Jewish. Dolittle. The Marx family grew up on the Upper East Side of New York City, in a small Jewish neighborhood sandwiched between Irish/German and Italian neighborhoods. Dolittle 2, 2001, Dr. 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. Dr. This line spread to other nations as well in the 1960s and 1970s. The Klumps, 2000, Sherman Klump/Buddy Love/Grandma Klump/Mama Klump/Papa Klump/Young Papa Klump/Ernie Klump/Lance Perkins. A famous French witticism was "Je suis Marxiste, tendance Groucho."; "I'm a Marxist of the Groucho variety". Nutty Professor II. [...] He is simply unique in the same way that Picasso or Stravinsky are." — Woody Allen. Life, 1999, Ray Gibson. "Groucho Marx was the best comedian this country ever produced. Bowfinger, 1999, Kit Ramsey/Jeff Ramsey. Mulan, 1998, Mushu (voice). John Dolittle. Dolittle, 1998, Dr. Dr. Metro, 1997, Scott Roper. The Nutty Professor, 1996, Sherman Klump/Buddy Love/Lance Perkins/Papa Klump/Mama Klump/Grandma Klump/Ernie Klump. Vampire in Brooklyn, 1995, Maximillian/Father Pauley/Guido. Beverly Hills Cop III, 1994, Axel Foley. The Distinguished Gentleman, 1992, Thomas Jefferson Johnson. Boomerang, 1992, Marcus Graham. Another 48 Hrs., 1990, Reggie Hammond. Harlem Nights, 1989, Quick. Coming to America, 1988, Prince Akeem/Clarence/Saul/Randy Watson. Eddie Murphy Raw, 1987, Eddie Murphy. Beverly Hills Cop II, 1987, Axel Foley. The Golden Child, 1986, Chandler Jarrell. Beverly Hills Cop, 1984, Axel Foley. Best Defense, 1984, Landry. Eddie Murphy Delirious, 1983, Eddie Murphy. Trading Places, 1983, Billy Ray Valentine. 48 Hrs., 1982, Reggie Hammond. |