Leo Gorcey
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- June 3, 1917
- Died
- June 2, 1969 (aged 51)
- Birthplace
- New York City, New York, USA
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. 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
Photos
Filmography
The Bowery Boys: Legends of Laughter
Movie · as (archive footage)
Terror in the Pharaoh's Tomb
Movie · as Muggs McGinnis (archive footage)
Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook
Movie · as Muggs (archive footage)
Classic Comedy Teams
Movie · as The East Side Kids (archive footage)
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Movie · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Phynx
Movie · as Leo Gorcey
Second Fiddle to a Steel Guitar
Movie · as Leo
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Movie · as First Cab Driver
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Crashing Las Vegas
Movie · as Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
Bowery to Bagdad
Movie · as Slip Mahoney
Dig That Uranium
Movie · as Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
High Society
Movie · as Slip Mahoney
Spy Chasers
Movie · as Slip Mahoney
Jail Busters
Movie · as Slip Mahoney
The Bowery Boys Meet the Monsters
Movie · as Slip Mahoney
Paris Playboys
Movie · as Slip Mahoney
Jungle Gents
Movie · as 'Slip' Mahoney
Loose in London
Movie · as Terence Aloysius "Slip" Mahoney
Jalopy
Movie · as Terrence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
Clipped Wings
Movie · as Slip Mahoney
Private Eyes
Movie · as Slip Mahoney
Hold That Line
Movie · as Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
Feudin' Fools
Movie · as Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
No Holds Barred
Movie · as Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
Here Come the Marines
Movie · as Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
Ghost Chasers
Movie · as Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
Let's Go Navy!
Movie · as Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
Bowery Battalion
Movie · as Slip Mahoney
Crazy Over Horses
Movie · as Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
Triple Trouble
Movie · as Slip Mahoney
Blues Busters
Movie · as Slip Mahoney
Blonde Dynamite
Movie · as Slip Mahoney
Lucky Losers
Movie · as Slip Mahoney
Master Minds
Movie · as Slip Mahoney
Angels in Disguise
Movie · as Slip Mahoney
Hold That Baby!
Movie · as Slip Mahoney
Fighting Fools
Movie · as Slip Mahoney
Jinx Money
Movie · as Terrence 'Slip' Mahoney
So This Is New York
Movie · as Sid Mercer
Angels' Alley
Movie · as Terence 'Slip' Mahoney
Trouble Makers
Movie · as Slip Mahoney
Smuggler's Cove
Movie · as Slip Mahoney
Bowery Buckaroos
Movie · as Slip Mahoney
Hard Boiled Mahoney
Movie · as Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
News Hounds
Movie · as Terence J. Montgomery 'Slip' Mahoney
Spook Busters
Movie · as Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
Bowery Bombshell
Movie · as Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
In Fast Company
Movie · as Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
Mr. Hex
Movie · as Slip Mahoney
Live Wires
Movie · as Terrence 'Slip' Mahoney
Midnight Manhunt
Movie · as Clutch Tracy
Mr. Muggs Rides Again
Movie · as Muggs McGinnis
Docks of New York
Movie · as Muggs McGinnis
Come Out Fighting
Movie · as Muggs McGinnis
Million Dollar Kid
Movie · as Muggs McGinnis
Follow the Leader
Movie · as Muggs McGinnis
Block Busters
Movie · as Muggs McGinnis
Bowery Champs
Movie · as Muggs McGinnis
Kid Dynamite
Movie · as Muggs McGinnis
Ghosts on the Loose
Movie · as Muggs McGinnis
Destroyer
Movie · as Seaman Sarecky
Clancy Street Boys
Movie · as Muggs McGinnis
Mr. Muggs Steps Out
Movie · as Muggs McGinnis
Let's Get Tough
Movie · as Muggs McGinnis
Mr. Wise Guy
Movie · as Muggs McGinnis
Born to Sing
Movie · as 'Snap' Collins
Maisie Gets Her Man
Movie · as Cecil
Smart Alecks
Movie · as Muggs McGinnis
'Neath Brooklyn Bridge
Movie · as Muggs McGinnis
Sunday Punch
Movie · as 'Biff'
Out of the Fog
Movie · as Eddie
Spooks Run Wild
Movie · as Muggs McGinnis
Bowery Blitzkrieg
Movie · as Muggs McGinnis
Flying Wild
Movie · as Muggs McGinnis
Angels with Broken Wings
Movie · as Punchy Dorsey
Down in San Diego
Movie · as 'Snap' Collins
Pride of the Bowery
Movie · as Muggs Maloney
Boys of the City
Movie · as Muggs McGinnis
Gallant Sons
Movie · as Doc Reardon
That Gang of Mine
Movie · as Muggs Maloney
Hullabaloo
Movie · as Apartment House Bellhop
They Made Me a Criminal
Movie · as Spit
Angels Wash Their Faces
Movie · as Leo Finnegan
Hell's Kitchen
Movie · as Gyp Haller
On Dress Parade
Movie · as Slip Duncan
Private Detective
Movie · as Newsboy (uncredited)
Invisible Stripes
Movie · as Jimmy
Mannequin
Movie · as Clifford Cassidy
Angels with Dirty Faces
Movie · as Bim
Crime School
Movie · as Charles 'Spike' Hawkins
Swingtime in the Movies
Movie · as Crime School Kid (uncredited)
The Beloved Brat
Movie · as Spike Matz
Dead End
Movie · as Spit
Portia on Trial
Movie · as Joe Gannow
Headin' East
Movie · as Boy Boxer in Gym (uncredited)