Harpo Marx was one of the most popular members of the Marx Brothers comedy team. He was born in New York City on November 23, 1888, and grew up in a poor immigrant neighborhood.
Harpo began his career as a vaudeville performer and first appeared on stage with his brothers in 1905. He quickly became known for his clownish antics and silent movie-inspired physical comedy.
Harpo’s signature prop was a horn that he would toot whenever he wanted to get someone’s attention. He also played the harp (hence his nickname) and was once voted “The World’s Greatest Harpist” by readers of Harper’s magazine.
In addition to his work with the Marx Brothers, Harpo appeared in several successful Hollywood films, including A Night at the Opera (1935), Room Service (1938), and GoWest (1940).
Harpo retired from show business in 1949 and died of natural causes on September 28, 1964.
| Name | Harpo Marx |
| Died | September 28, 1964 |
| Date of Birth | November 23, 1888 |
| Nationality | American |
| Gender | Male |
| Religion | Christian |
| Profession | Actor, Comedian |
Physical Stats
Harpo Marx was a handsome man with a kind demeanor. He was 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighed around 175 pounds. His hair was curly black and his eyes were gorgeous black.
During his stage act, he wore a red-blond wig on his head. His muscular build and the lack of any tattoos on his body indicate that he did not have any tattoos inked on his body.
| Height (Approximate) | 5 feet 7 inches |
| Weight (Approximate) | 175 pounds |
| Figure Measurements (Approximate) | Chest Size – N/A inches Waist Size – N/A inches Hip Size – N/A inches |
| Eye Color | Black eyes |
| Hair Color | Black hair |
Family
Harpo Marx is a member of the famous comedy family that settled in Manhattan, New York, United States. He is an American by birth and a Christian by faith.
Sam Marx was his father’s name and he worked as a tailor, while Minnie Schoenberg Marx was his mother. Sam Marx came from Alsace in France and Minnie Schoenberg Marx was a housewife who was from East Frisia in Germany.
Groucho Marx was born on July 30, 1890, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Gummo Marx, and Zeppo Marx. Al Shean was his maternal uncle’s name.
| Father | Sam Marx |
| Mother | Minnie Schoenberg Marx |
| Brother | Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Gummo Marx, and Zeppo Marx. |
| Sister | N/ A |
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Harpo Marx Wife & Marriage
Harpo Marx was married. He and Susan Fleming got married on September 28, 1936, in a private ceremony. After Franklin D. Roosevelt sent them a telegram wishing them happy news, their marital status became public.
| Marital Status | Married |
| Affair | N/ A |
| Girlfriend | Susan Fleming |
| Children | None |
Harpo Marx Education & Career
Harpo Marx began his career as a comedian and stage actor in 1910. He joined his brothers, who had formed a group known as The Marx Brothers, and they became the Three Nightingales.
He portrayed the role of a fool who couldn’t speak on stage. His birth name was Adolph Marx, but he became Harpo because he played the harp when no one else in the town knew how to play it.
He began his career in the film industry as an actor, making his on-screen debut with Humor Risk in the year 1921. After that, he appeared in movies including Too Many Kisses, The Coconuts, Horse Feathers, Duck Soup, Animal Crackers, and a slew of other well-known films. In the films, he generally played a quiet role and utilized a harp or whistling to convey important ideas.
He performed as a clown and goodwill ambassador for the Soviet Union from 1933 until 1937. He also appeared in the Walt Disney film Mickey’s Polo Team in 1936.
He also made an appearance in the first episode of the long-running children’s show Popeye, which was titled, Sock-A-Bye Baby. He also enjoys painting, and he created some unique pieces as well as produced albums for RCA Victor and Mercury Records.
He’s acted in many television series, including I Love Lucy, The Martha Ray Show, The Incredible Jewelry Robbery, The DuPont Show, and many more. From the 1950s through the 1970s, he appeared in several movies and TV shows.
He has made numerous guest appearances on television shows such as Today Show Play Your Hunch, Candid Camera, You Bet Your Life and others. He followed up with his autobiography, Harpo Speaks, in 1961.
| School | Local Private High School |
| College/ University | N/ A |
| Education Qualifications | N/ A |
Harpo Marx’s Net Worth
At the time of his death, Harpo Marx’s net worth was estimated to be $2 million. This would be equivalent to approximately $15 million in today’s dollars.
| Net Worth (approximately) | $2 million |
| Income Source | Acting |
Trivia and Lesser Known Facts about Harpo Marx
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Harpo Marx was a frequent fixture at the Algonquin Round Table and had a close relationship with theatre critic Alexander Woollcott. He was also linked to Soviet Foreign Minister Maxim Litvinov and President Franklin D. Roosevelt, to who he was very close.
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On 15 January 1963, he made his last public appearance when he joined Allan Sherman, another well-known singer, and comedian at the time, for a performance in Los Angeles. Harpo Marx announced his retirement from show business during this event.
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