Chico Marx

Biography

Chico Marx was an American comedian, actor and pianist who was the oldest of the Marx Brothers and the one who managed the comedy troupe in its early years. Born in Manhattan in 1887, he grew up with a mother from a performing family who arranged piano lessons for him, and by his teens he was earning money playing in nickelodeons. He moved into vaudeville, adopting an Italian accent for the act, and helped turn his brothers' stage show into the Marx Brothers. On screen he played a charming, crafty con artist, often scheming against Groucho or teaming with Harpo, in films including The Cocoanuts (1929), Animal Crackers (1930), Monkey Business (1931), Duck Soup (1933), A Night at the Opera (1935), Go West (1940), The Big Store (1941), A Night in Casablanca (1946) and Love Happy (1949). He also led a big band and appeared on television, starring in the musical comedy series The College Bowl.

74years old at death

Born March 22, 1887Manhattan
Died October 11, 1961Hollywood
Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19
Leonard Marx (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 14
Career span: 28 years1929 to 1957

Genres

Comedy93%, 13 films
Musical43%, 6 films
Music36%, 5 films
Crime7%, 1 film
Drama7%, 1 film

First and latest

Did you know?!

Big break
Chico Marx knew Irving Thalberg, the head of production at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. That connection led Thalberg to sign the Brothers during a career slump after Duck Soup, their last Paramount film.
Beyond film
Chico Marx led a big band at times during the 1930s and 1940s. Mel Torme, a crooner, launched his professional career by singing with the Chico Marx Orchestra.
Early training
Chico Marx was a largely self-taught pianist who started out playing with only his right hand and faking with his left, because his teacher did so herself.

Chico Marx movies on Netflix

The Story of Mankind1957IMDb rating 4.8as Monk
Love Happy1949IMDb rating 5.8as Faustino
A Night in Casablanca1946IMDb rating 6.9as Corbaccio
The Big Store1941IMDb rating 6.5as Ravelli
Go West1940IMDb rating 6.8as Joe Panello
At the Circus1939IMDb rating 6.8as Antonio Pirelli
Room Service1938IMDb rating 6.6as Harry Binelli
A Day at the Races1937IMDb rating 7.5as Tony
A Night at the Opera1935IMDb rating 7.8as Fiorello
Duck Soup1933IMDb rating 7.7as Chicolini
Horse Feathers1932IMDb rating 7.5as Baravelli
Monkey Business1931IMDb rating 7.4as Chico
Animal Crackers1930IMDb rating 7.4as Signor Emanuel Ravelli
The Cocoanuts1929IMDb rating 6.8as Pastrami

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Duck Soup1933 Comedy, Musical, Waras Chicolini
IMDb rating 7.764K votes
A Night at the Opera1935 Comedy, Music, Musicalas Fiorello
IMDb rating 7.837K votes
A Day at the Races1937as Tony
IMDb rating 7.516K votes
Animal Crackers1930as Signor Emanuel Ravelli
IMDb rating 7.416K votes
Horse Feathers1932as Baravelli
IMDb rating 7.514K votes
Monkey Business1931as Chico
IMDb rating 7.414K votes
At the Circus1939as Antonio Pirelli
IMDb rating 6.86.9K votes
The Cocoanuts1929as Pastrami
IMDb rating 6.89.0K votes

Most often with

Sam Wood directed two of these films, Norman Z. McLeod two and Edward Buzzell two. Two actors appear in fourteen of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Groucho Marx

Harpo Marx

Margaret Dumont

Zeppo Marx

Sig Ruman

Bess FlowersSam WoodDirector, 2 films Norman Z. McLeodDirector, 2 films Edward BuzzellDirector, 2 films

Films together

Groucho Marx14 films together, 1929 to 1957
Groucho Marx's page
- The Story of Mankind1957IMDb rating 4.8Marx as MonkMarx as Peter Minuit
- Love Happy1949IMDb rating 5.8Marx as FaustinoMarx as Sam Grunion
- A Night in Casablanca1946IMDb rating 6.9Marx as CorbaccioMarx as Kornblow
- The Big Store1941IMDb rating 6.5Marx as RavelliMarx as Wolf J. Flywheel
- Go West1940IMDb rating 6.8Marx as Joe PanelloMarx as S. Quentin Quale
- At the Circus1939IMDb rating 6.8Marx as Antonio PirelliMarx as Attorney J. Cheever Loophole
- Room Service1938IMDb rating 6.6Marx as Harry BinelliMarx as Gordon Miller
- A Day at the Races1937IMDb rating 7.5Marx as TonyMarx as Dr. Hackenbush
- A Night at the Opera1935IMDb rating 7.8Marx as FiorelloMarx as Otis B. Driftwood
- Duck Soup1933IMDb rating 7.7Marx as ChicoliniMarx as Rufus T. Firefly
- Horse Feathers1932IMDb rating 7.5Marx as BaravelliMarx as Professor Quincy Adams Wagstaff
- Monkey Business1931IMDb rating 7.4Marx as ChicoMarx as Groucho
- Animal Crackers1930IMDb rating 7.4Marx as Signor Emanuel RavelliMarx as Captain Geoffrey T. Spaulding
- The Cocoanuts1929IMDb rating 6.8Marx as PastramiMarx as Hammer
Harpo Marx14 films together, 1929 to 1957
Harpo Marx's page
- The Story of Mankind1957IMDb rating 4.8Marx as MonkMarx as Sir Isaac Newton
- Love Happy1949IMDb rating 5.8Marx as FaustinoMarx as Harpo
- A Night in Casablanca1946IMDb rating 6.9Marx as CorbaccioMarx as Rusty
- The Big Store1941IMDb rating 6.5Marx as RavelliMarx as Wacky
- Go West1940IMDb rating 6.8Marx as Joe PanelloMarx as 'Rusty' Panello
- At the Circus1939IMDb rating 6.8Marx as Antonio PirelliMarx as 'Punchy'
- Room Service1938IMDb rating 6.6Marx as Harry BinelliMarx as Faker Englund
- A Day at the Races1937IMDb rating 7.5Marx as TonyMarx as Stuffy
- A Night at the Opera1935IMDb rating 7.8Marx as FiorelloMarx as Tomasso
- Duck Soup1933IMDb rating 7.7Marx as ChicoliniMarx as Pinky
- Horse Feathers1932IMDb rating 7.5Marx as BaravelliMarx as Pinky
- Monkey Business1931IMDb rating 7.4Marx as ChicoMarx as Harpo
- Animal Crackers1930IMDb rating 7.4Marx as Signor Emanuel RavelliMarx as The Professor
- The Cocoanuts1929IMDb rating 6.8Marx as PastramiMarx as Red
Margaret Dumont7 films together, 1929 to 1941
Margaret Dumont's page
- The Big Store1941IMDb rating 6.5Marx as RavelliDumont as Martha Phelps
- At the Circus1939IMDb rating 6.8Marx as Antonio PirelliDumont as Mrs. Suzanna Dukesbury
- A Day at the Races1937IMDb rating 7.5Marx as TonyDumont as Mrs. Upjohn
- A Night at the Opera1935IMDb rating 7.8Marx as FiorelloDumont as Mrs. Claypool
- Duck Soup1933IMDb rating 7.7Marx as ChicoliniDumont as Gloria Teasdale
- Animal Crackers1930IMDb rating 7.4Marx as Signor Emanuel RavelliDumont as Mrs. Rittenhouse
- The Cocoanuts1929IMDb rating 6.8Marx as PastramiDumont as Mrs. Potter
Zeppo Marx5 films together, 1929 to 1933
Zeppo Marx's page
- Duck Soup1933IMDb rating 7.7Marx as ChicoliniMarx as Bob Roland
- Horse Feathers1932IMDb rating 7.5Marx as BaravelliMarx as Frank Wagstaff
- Monkey Business1931IMDb rating 7.4Marx as ChicoMarx as Zeppo
- Animal Crackers1930IMDb rating 7.4Marx as Signor Emanuel RavelliMarx as Horatio Jamison
- The Cocoanuts1929IMDb rating 6.8Marx as PastramiMarx as Jamison
Sig Ruman3 films together, 1935 to 1946
Sig Ruman's page
- A Night in Casablanca1946IMDb rating 6.9Marx as CorbaccioRuman as Pfferman
- A Day at the Races1937IMDb rating 7.5Marx as TonyRuman as Dr. Steinberg
- A Night at the Opera1935IMDb rating 7.8Marx as FiorelloRuman as Herman Gottlieb
Bess Flowers2 films together, 1931 to 1937
Bess Flowers's page
- A Day at the Races1937IMDb rating 7.5Marx as TonyFlowers as Racetrack Spectator
- Monkey Business1931IMDb rating 7.4Marx as ChicoFlowers as Indian's Wife at Party
Sam WoodDirector, 2 films, 1935 to 1937
All films by Sam Wood
- A Day at the Races1937IMDb rating 7.5Marx as Tony
- A Night at the Opera1935IMDb rating 7.8Marx as Fiorello
Norman Z. McLeodDirector, 2 films, 1931 to 1932
All films by Norman Z. McLeod
- Horse Feathers1932IMDb rating 7.5Marx as Baravelli
- Monkey Business1931IMDb rating 7.4Marx as Chico
Edward BuzzellDirector, 2 films, 1939 to 1940
All films by Edward Buzzell
- Go West1940IMDb rating 6.8Marx as Joe Panello
- At the Circus1939IMDb rating 6.8Marx as Antonio Pirelli
Also two films together10 more actors
- Douglass DumbrilleThe Big Store (1941) and A Day at the Races (1937)
- Donald MacBrideRoom Service (1938) and Animal Crackers (1930)
- Edgar DearingGo West (1940) and Horse Feathers (1932)
- Nat PendletonAt the Circus (1939) and Horse Feathers (1932)
- Robert GreigHorse Feathers (1932) and Animal Crackers (1930)
- Thelma ToddHorse Feathers (1932) and Monkey Business (1931)
- Cyril RingMonkey Business (1931) and The Cocoanuts (1929)
- E.H. CalvertDuck Soup (1933) and Horse Feathers (1932)
- Walter Woolf KingGo West (1940) and A Night at the Opera (1935)
- Allan JonesA Day at the Races (1937) and A Night at the Opera (1935)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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