Acting
Leo Gorcey
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. 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.
Filmography
The Bowery Boys: Legends of Laughter
Film · 2020
Terror in the Pharaoh's Tomb
Film · 2007
Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook
Film · 1991
Classic Comedy Teams
Film · 1986
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Film · 1983
The Phynx
Film · 1970
Second Fiddle to a Steel Guitar
Film · 1966
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Film · 1963
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Series · 1962
Crashing Las Vegas
Film · 1956
Bowery to Bagdad
Film · 1955
Dig That Uranium
Film · 1955
High Society
Film · 1955
Spy Chasers
Film · 1955
Jail Busters
Film · 1955
The Bowery Boys Meet the Monsters
Film · 1954
Paris Playboys
Film · 1954
Jungle Gents
Film · 1954
Loose in London
Film · 1953
Jalopy
Film · 1953
Clipped Wings
Film · 1953
Private Eyes
Film · 1953
Hold That Line
Film · 1952
Feudin' Fools
Film · 1952
No Holds Barred
Film · 1952
Here Come the Marines
Film · 1952
Ghost Chasers
Film · 1951
Let's Go Navy!
Film · 1951
Bowery Battalion
Film · 1951
Crazy Over Horses
Film · 1951
Triple Trouble
Film · 1950
Blues Busters
Film · 1950
Blonde Dynamite
Film · 1950
Lucky Losers
Film · 1950
Master Minds
Film · 1949
Angels in Disguise
Film · 1949
Hold That Baby!
Film · 1949
Fighting Fools
Film · 1949
Jinx Money
Film · 1948
So This Is New York
Film · 1948
Angels' Alley
Film · 1948
Trouble Makers
Film · 1948
Smuggler's Cove
Film · 1948
Bowery Buckaroos
Film · 1947
Hard Boiled Mahoney
Film · 1947
News Hounds
Film · 1947
Spook Busters
Film · 1946
Bowery Bombshell
Film · 1946
In Fast Company
Film · 1946
Mr. Hex
Film · 1946
Live Wires
Film · 1946
Midnight Manhunt
Film · 1945
Mr. Muggs Rides Again
Film · 1945
Docks of New York
Film · 1945
Come Out Fighting
Film · 1945
Million Dollar Kid
Film · 1944
Follow the Leader
Film · 1944
Block Busters
Film · 1944
Bowery Champs
Film · 1944
Kid Dynamite
Film · 1943
Ghosts on the Loose
Film · 1943
Destroyer
Film · 1943
Clancy Street Boys
Film · 1943
Mr. Muggs Steps Out
Film · 1943
Let's Get Tough
Film · 1942
Mr. Wise Guy
Film · 1942
Born to Sing
Film · 1942
Maisie Gets Her Man
Film · 1942
Smart Alecks
Film · 1942
'Neath Brooklyn Bridge
Film · 1942
Sunday Punch
Film · 1942
Out of the Fog
Film · 1941
Spooks Run Wild
Film · 1941
Bowery Blitzkrieg
Film · 1941
Flying Wild
Film · 1941
Angels with Broken Wings
Film · 1941
Down in San Diego
Film · 1941
Pride of the Bowery
Film · 1940
Boys of the City
Film · 1940
Gallant Sons
Film · 1940
That Gang of Mine
Film · 1940
Hullabaloo
Film · 1940
They Made Me a Criminal
Film · 1939
Angels Wash Their Faces
Film · 1939
Hell's Kitchen
Film · 1939
On Dress Parade
Film · 1939
Private Detective
Film · 1939
Invisible Stripes
Film · 1939
Mannequin
Film · 1938
Angels with Dirty Faces
Film · 1938
Crime School
Film · 1938
Swingtime in the Movies
Film · 1938
The Beloved Brat
Film · 1938
Dead End
Film · 1937
Portia on Trial
Film · 1937
Headin' East
Film · 1937