Acting
Leo Gorcey
EN cinema · 95 credits
Born
3 June 1917
Died
2 June 1969 (aged 51)
Birthplace
New York City, New York, USA
Also known as Leo Bernard 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.
Known for
Filmography
The Bowery Boys: Legends of Laughter
as (archive footage)
Terror in the Pharaoh's Tomb
as Muggs McGinnis (archive footage)
Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook
as Muggs (archive footage)
Classic Comedy Teams
as The East Side Kids (archive footage)
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Phynx
as Leo Gorcey
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
as First Cab Driver
Crashing Las Vegas
as Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
Bowery to Bagdad
as Slip Mahoney
Dig That Uranium
as Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
High Society
as Slip Mahoney
Spy Chasers
as Slip Mahoney
Jail Busters
as Slip Mahoney
The Bowery Boys Meet the Monsters
as Slip Mahoney
Paris Playboys
as Slip Mahoney
Jungle Gents
as 'Slip' Mahoney
Loose in London
as Terence Aloysius "Slip" Mahoney
Jalopy
as Terrence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
Clipped Wings
as Slip Mahoney
Private Eyes
as Slip Mahoney
Hold That Line
as Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
Feudin' Fools
as Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
No Holds Barred
as Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
Here Come the Marines
as Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
Ghost Chasers
as Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
Let's Go Navy!
as Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
Bowery Battalion
as Slip Mahoney
Crazy Over Horses
as Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
Triple Trouble
as Slip Mahoney
Blues Busters
as Slip Mahoney
Blonde Dynamite
as Slip Mahoney
Lucky Losers
as Slip Mahoney
Master Minds
as Slip Mahoney
Angels in Disguise
as Slip Mahoney
Hold That Baby!
as Slip Mahoney
Fighting Fools
as Slip Mahoney
Jinx Money
as Terrence 'Slip' Mahoney
So This Is New York
as Sid Mercer
Angels' Alley
as Terence 'Slip' Mahoney
Trouble Makers
as Slip Mahoney
Smuggler's Cove
as Slip Mahoney
Bowery Buckaroos
as Slip Mahoney
Hard Boiled Mahoney
as Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
News Hounds
as Terence J. Montgomery 'Slip' Mahoney
Spook Busters
as Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
Bowery Bombshell
as Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
In Fast Company
as Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
Mr. Hex
as Slip Mahoney
Live Wires
as Terrence 'Slip' Mahoney
Midnight Manhunt
as Clutch Tracy
Mr. Muggs Rides Again
as Muggs McGinnis
Docks of New York
as Muggs McGinnis
Come Out Fighting
as Muggs McGinnis
Million Dollar Kid
as Muggs McGinnis
Follow the Leader
as Muggs McGinnis
Block Busters
as Muggs McGinnis
Bowery Champs
as Muggs McGinnis
Kid Dynamite
as Muggs McGinnis
Ghosts on the Loose
as Muggs McGinnis
Destroyer
as Seaman Sarecky
Clancy Street Boys
as Muggs McGinnis
Mr. Muggs Steps Out
as Muggs McGinnis
Let's Get Tough
as Muggs McGinnis
Mr. Wise Guy
as Muggs McGinnis
Born to Sing
as 'Snap' Collins
Maisie Gets Her Man
as Cecil
Smart Alecks
as Muggs McGinnis
'Neath Brooklyn Bridge
as Muggs McGinnis
Sunday Punch
as 'Biff'
Out of the Fog
as Eddie
Spooks Run Wild
as Muggs McGinnis
Bowery Blitzkrieg
as Muggs McGinnis
Flying Wild
as Muggs McGinnis
Angels with Broken Wings
as Punchy Dorsey
Down in San Diego
as 'Snap' Collins
Pride of the Bowery
as Muggs Maloney
Boys of the City
as Muggs McGinnis
Gallant Sons
as Doc Reardon
That Gang of Mine
as Muggs Maloney
Hullabaloo
as Apartment House Bellhop
Angels Wash Their Faces
as Leo Finnegan
Hell's Kitchen
as Gyp Haller
On Dress Parade
as Slip Duncan
Private Detective
as Newsboy (uncredited)
Invisible Stripes
as Jimmy
Mannequin
as Clifford Cassidy
Crime School
as Charles 'Spike' Hawkins
Swingtime in the Movies
as Crime School Kid (uncredited)
The Beloved Brat
as Spike Matz
Dead End
as Spit
Portia on Trial
as Joe Gannow
Headin' East
as Boy Boxer in Gym (uncredited)