As a kid trying to negotiate his way through various gang territories to a floating crap game or a new pool hall where he was not yet known as a hustler, Leonard (Chico) Marx learned to fake several accents. Because he later employed an Italian accent in the Marx Brothers' act, people assumed his name was pronounced "Cheeko." Instead, Leonard was dubbed "Chicko" for his other consuming passion, women (or "chicks"), at which he was more successful than gambling, but when a typesetter dropped the "k" out of his name, the brothers let it stay as Chico. Chico was the brother who guided the Marxes to stardom. He took over the act's managment (amicably) from their mother, Minnie, and through audacity and charm, Chico secured the Brothers their first international (London) booking, their first Broadway show and their MGM contract with Irving Thalberg, among other successes.
A Day at the Races (1937): $175,000 + 15% of gross
A Night at the Opera (1935): $175,000 + 15% of gross

Brother of Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Zeppo Marx, and Gummo Marx. Interred at Forest Lawn, Glendale, California, USA, in the Freedom Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Worship. Brother-in-law of Barbara Marx, Ruth Johnson, Eden Hartford, Susan Fleming and Kay Marvis Nephew of actor Al Shean. Was an avid poker player and is rumored to have had a photographic memory so good, he could memorize the positions of cards in a deck. When a check written by Chico was found in mobster Bugsy Siegel's wallet at the time of his death, Chico was interrogated by police. He insisted the check was payment of a gambling debt from a poker game. When asked about his knowledge of Siegel's criminal activities, Chico stated, "We never discussed business." Groucho Marx later said of this incident, "Chico was lucky that Bugsy was shot. If Bugsy had tried to cash that check, it would have bounced. Then Bugsy would have shot Chico." Father of Maxine Marx, from his marriage to Betty Carp Son of Sam Marx. "What's the shape of the world?" was a question brother Groucho Marx (playing a teacher, with Chico as a student) asked in one of their early routines; years later, the two used the question to cheer each other up. Father-in-law of Shamus Culhane. The oldest of the Marx Brothers, he was a gambling addict and initially joined his brothers' act to pay off debts. However, he became the unofficial manager of the group once he joined (taking over from his mother), using the hustling charms he attained as a gambler to further the Marx Brothers fortunes. Unmade-up and out of costume, the resemblance between Chico and his brother Harpo Marx was extraordinary. On the TV game show I've Got a Secret, Chico once appeared in Harpo's wig and costume, with the "secret" "I'm Pretending To Be Harpo Marx (I'm Chico)" and fooled all the panelists - including Groucho Marx. He was voted as one of the Marx Brothers the 62nd Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly. He was portrayed by actor Irwin Pearl in the Broadway show "Minnie's Boys," which ran an at the Imperial Theatre for 80 Performances from Mar 26 to May 30, 1970. The famous phrase "Well, who you gonna believe, me or your own eyes?" is often referred to as a Groucho Marx quote, but it was actually delivered by Chico, in his characteristic Italian accent, in Duck Soup , playing the character Chicolini while impersonating Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho). Great-uncle of Jade Marx-Berti, Gregg Marx, Laura Guzik and Brett Marx Uncle of Arthur Marx, Melinda Marx, Bill Marx and Bob Marx