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Leo Gorcey
Actor

Leo Gorcey

3 Jun 1917Born
2 Jun 1969Died
51Age at death
94Credits

Biography

Leo Gorcey's parents were actor Bernard Gorcey (born 1888) who stood 4' 10", and Josephine Condon (born 1901), who stood 4' 11" and weighed 95 pounds; they worked in vaudeville in New York. In 1915, 14-year-old Josephine gave birth to Fred. In 1917, Leo was born, a large baby at 12 lb. 3 oz.; as an adult he would be 5' 6". In 1921 his brother David Gorcey was born.

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In 1935, Leo and David appeared in the stage play "Dead End." In 1937, this was made into a movie, and Leo became one of the busiest actors for the next 20 years -- from 1937-1939 he starred in seven Dead End Kids movies, from 1940-1945 in 21 East Side Kids films, from 1946-1956 in 41 Bowery Boys movies.

In 1939, Leo married 17-year-old dancer Kay Marvis, who appeared in four of his movies. They divorced in 1944 after five years of marriage; she went on to marry Groucho Marx. In 1945, Leo married Evalene Bankston; they divorced in 1948. Leo was to have paid her $50,000 in a divorce settlement; however, when two detectives she hired broke into his home, he retaliated by firing his gun at them. They sued, and Leo countersued for illegal entry and won $35,000 back. In 1949, Leo married Amelita Ward, whom he met while filming Smugglers' Cove (1948). Their marriage produced Leo Gorcey Jr. in 1949, and a baby girl they named Jan (after Leo's producer and manager, Jan Grippo) in 1951. They divorced in 1956. That year Leo married his young nanny, Brandy, who was taking care of his two kids. They had a baby girl, Brandy Jo, in 1958. The couple divorced in 1962. Leo went to the altar one last time in February, 1968, marrying Mary Gannon. He stayed married to her until his death from liver failure on June 2, 1969, in Oakland, California.

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 94 credits.

  1. 2020The Bowery Boys: Legends of LaughterFilm: (archive footage)
  2. 2007Terror in the Pharaoh's TombFilm: Muggs McGinnis (archive footage)
  3. 1991Dracula: A Cinematic ScrapbookFilm: Muggs (archive footage)
  4. 1986Classic Comedy TeamsFilm: The East Side Kids (archive footage)
  5. 1970The PhynxFilm: Leo Gorcey
  6. 1966Second Fiddle to a Steel GuitarFilm: Leo
  7. 1963It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad WorldFilm: First Cab Driver
  8. 1956Crashing Las VegasFilm: Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
  9. 1955Dig That UraniumFilm: Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
  10. 1955Jail BustersFilm: Slip Mahoney
  11. 1955Spy ChasersFilm: Slip Mahoney
  12. 1955High SocietyFilm: Slip Mahoney
  13. 1955Bowery to BagdadFilm: Slip Mahoney
  14. 1954Jungle GentsFilm: 'Slip' Mahoney
  15. 1954The Bowery Boys Meet the MonstersFilm: Slip Mahoney
  16. 1954Paris PlayboysFilm: Slip Mahoney
  17. 1953Private EyesFilm: Slip Mahoney
  18. 1953Clipped WingsFilm: Slip Mahoney
  19. 1953Loose in LondonFilm: Terence Aloysius "Slip" Mahoney
  20. 1953JalopyFilm: Terrence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
  21. 1952No Holds BarredFilm: Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
  22. 1952Feudin' FoolsFilm: Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
  23. 1952Here Come the MarinesFilm: Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
  24. 1952Hold That LineFilm: Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
  25. 1951Crazy Over HorsesFilm: Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
  26. 1951Let's Go Navy!Film: Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
  27. 1951Ghost ChasersFilm: Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
  28. 1951Bowery BattalionFilm: Slip Mahoney
  29. 1950Blues BustersFilm: Slip Mahoney
  30. 1950Triple TroubleFilm: Slip Mahoney
  31. 1950Lucky LosersFilm: Slip Mahoney
  32. 1950Blonde DynamiteFilm: Slip Mahoney
  33. 1949Master MindsFilm: Slip Mahoney
  34. 1949Angels in DisguiseFilm: Slip Mahoney
  35. 1949Hold That Baby!Film: Slip Mahoney
  36. 1949Fighting FoolsFilm: Slip Mahoney
  37. 1948Trouble MakersFilm: Slip Mahoney
  38. 1948Smuggler's CoveFilm: Slip Mahoney
  39. 1948Jinx MoneyFilm: Terrence 'Slip' Mahoney
  40. 1948So This Is New YorkFilm: Sid Mercer
  41. 1948Angels' AlleyFilm: Terence 'Slip' Mahoney
  42. 1947Bowery BuckaroosFilm: Slip Mahoney
  43. 1947News HoundsFilm: Terence J. Montgomery 'Slip' Mahoney
  44. 1947Hard Boiled MahoneyFilm: Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
  45. 1946Mr. HexFilm: Slip Mahoney
  46. 1946Spook BustersFilm: Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
  47. 1946Bowery BombshellFilm: Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
  48. 1946In Fast CompanyFilm: Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
  49. 1946Live WiresFilm: Terrence 'Slip' Mahoney
  50. 1945Come Out FightingFilm: Muggs McGinnis
  51. 1945Midnight ManhuntFilm: Clutch Tracy
  52. 1945Mr. Muggs Rides AgainFilm: Muggs McGinnis
  53. 1945Docks of New YorkFilm: Muggs McGinnis
  54. 1944Bowery ChampsFilm: Muggs McGinnis
  55. 1944Block BustersFilm: Muggs McGinnis
  56. 1944Follow the LeaderFilm: Muggs McGinnis
  57. 1944Million Dollar KidFilm: Muggs McGinnis
  58. 1943Mr. Muggs Steps OutFilm: Muggs McGinnis
  59. 1943DestroyerFilm: Seaman Sarecky
  60. 1943Ghosts on the LooseFilm: Muggs McGinnis
  61. 1943Clancy Street BoysFilm: Muggs McGinnis
  62. 1943Kid DynamiteFilm: Muggs McGinnis
  63. 1942'Neath Brooklyn BridgeFilm: Muggs McGinnis
  64. 1942Smart AlecksFilm: Muggs McGinnis
  65. 1942Maisie Gets Her ManFilm: Cecil
  66. 1942Let's Get ToughFilm: Muggs McGinnis
  67. 1942Sunday PunchFilm: 'Biff'
  68. 1942Mr. Wise GuyFilm: Muggs McGinnis
  69. 1942Born to SingFilm: 'Snap' Collins
  70. 1941Spooks Run WildFilm: Muggs McGinnis
  71. 1941Bowery BlitzkriegFilm: Muggs McGinnis
  72. 1941Down in San DiegoFilm: 'Snap' Collins
  73. 1941Out of the FogFilm: Eddie
  74. 1941Angels with Broken WingsFilm: Punchy Dorsey
  75. 1941Flying WildFilm: Muggs McGinnis
  76. 1940Pride of the BoweryFilm: Muggs Maloney
  77. 1940Gallant SonsFilm: Doc Reardon
  78. 1940HullabalooFilm: Apartment House Bellhop
  79. 1940That Gang of MineFilm: Muggs Maloney
  80. 1940Boys of the CityFilm: Muggs McGinnis

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.