The Most Mysterious Marx Brother Of All
Zeppo Marx is the one Marx Brother who stood out for not standing out. He was the normal-looking guy appearing in films next to his clown-like brothers, Groucho, Chico, and Harpo. Now we finally know what was going on inside the head of what many called the “unfunny” Marx Brother.
When he finally extricated himself from an unwanted career in show business, he showed his true colors: marital deception, bizarre parenting, out-of-control gambling, and much, much more.
1. He Was A Naughty Child
Herbert Manfred Marx was born on February 25, 1901, in Manhattan. Both of his parents were Jewish and had emigrated from Europe. His mother was Miene “Minnie” Schoenburg and came from a family of performers. His father was Sam Marx, a tailor from France. But something set Herbert apart from his four brothers: He had a penchant for troublemaking.
2. She Was Tough On Him
The Marx family legend goes that Zeppo only joined his brothers in show business because his mother wanted to keep him out of trouble. You see, Minnie managed the careers of Zeppo’s older brothers. She was a tough manager who dealt gruffly with the theaters her boys performed in.
However, she also knew how to keep her boys in line.
FranksValli, Wikimedia Commons
3. He Didn’t Want To Perform
Zeppo watched as his mother helped his older brothers get their start in show business. He had little interest in that, so he became a mechanic for Ford. But that was all about to change. When WWI started—and the eldest brother, Gummo, got the call to fight for his country—Zeppo’s mother turned to him for a replacement and forced Zeppo to get on board.
Zeppo reluctantly agreed—and jetted off to Texas to join his brothers.
U.S. Army Signal Corps, Wikimedia Commons
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4. He Missed A Dangerous Date
As a last-minute replacement for a show in Texas, Zeppo had to drop everything and hustle to the train station. In doing so, he canceled a double date with his friend. Little did he know, he'd just dodged mortal danger.
While Zeppo was safe aboard his train, his friend got into some serious trouble. While on the date, his friend encountered a gang who looked down on Jewish men dating Irish girls—and he was tragically shot by one of the members. Zeppo had narrowly avoided a catastrophe. But being on stage posed a different kind of threat.
Ralph F. Stitt, Wikimedia Commons
5. He Wasn't A Natural
Zeppo didn’t have much time to prepare for his first performance. Suddenly, he was on stage with his brothers, Groucho, Chico, and Harpo, and facing a live audience. He had to improvise many of his lines, and then there was something even more terrifying: the dancing. Zeppo didn’t have any skill in that area, so whenever his brothers started dancing, he did his best to disappear.
Zeppo was now officially a Marx Brother. But he still needed a name.
6. He Needed A Name
Of course, like his brothers, Zeppo could not use his original name. Herbert Manfred just didn’t work in show business. How he came up with Zeppo depends on who you ask. Some say the name came from the Zeppelin airship. But this didn't make sense as the first flight of the Zeppelin hadn’t happened yet.
The name of Zeppo soon became a mystery that needed solving.
ullstein bild Dtl., Getty Images
7. He Was The Baby Of The Family
His brothers, Chico, Harpo, Groucho, and Gummo all had names that sounded funny. Now they needed one for the youngest Marx brother. They apparently got the name Zeppo from a chimp named Mr Zippo that Zeppo liked to imitate. Later, Zeppo explained the truth. Italian-Americans had a slang word for baby. This was “Zep”. Since Zeppo was the baby of the family, this name fit.
With his new name, Zeppo reluctantly joined his brothers in their search for fame.
8. Their Film Flopped
In 1921, Zeppo and his brothers made a short film called Humor Risk, which took its title from a silent film called Humoresque. The brothers screened the film at a children’s matinee in the Bronx, and there was nothing positive that came from the screening. It was so bad that Groucho reportedly burned the only copy.
However, the film's failure wasn't enough to free Zeppo from the shackles of his family obligations.
Authors: Marx Brothers (Zeppo, Groucho, Harpo, and Chico), Wikimedia Commons
9. They Thought About Breaking Up
Following the failure of Humor Risk, the Marx Brothers saw a decline in the popularity of their Vaudeville act. At this time, they thought about breaking up. The idea was for Groucho to go on as a solo act, and Chico to hire himself out as a pianist. Zeppo’s future looked different. He was going to go back to Chicago with his mother. But fate had other plans.
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10. He Had One Last Chance
The Marx Brothers decided to give show business one last chance. This last effort came in the form of a show that writers Tom and Will Johnstone created for them. The show was I’ll Say She Is, and it made its way to Broadway and ran for an incredible 313 performances. Zeppo and his brothers were now a successful Broadway act.
It was official, Zeppo was in show business whether he liked it or not.
Screenshot from I'll Say She Is, Paramount Pictures (1924)
11. He Lost His Identity
One positive review of I’ll Say She Is came from Alexander Woollcott, who wrote for the Sun. Woollcott took an interest in the Marx Brothers—and he had one piece of advice for them. He advised the brothers to totally ditch their real names and go by their stage names all the time. But Zeppo wasn't about to lose himself entirely to the Marx Brothers.
Vikipediamallorca, Wikimedia Commons
12. He Went On His Own
Following the success of I’ll Say She Is, both Zeppo and Harpo tried making films without their brothers. Strangely, both films have a similar title. Harpo’s film was Two Many Kisses, and Zeppo’s film was A Kiss in the Dark. Sadly, there are no more copies of Zeppo’s film, but his performance received a good review in the New York Sun.
As it turned out, Zeppo would do better working with his brothers.
13. He Played It Straight
In the Marx Brothers’ Broadway show, Cocoanuts, Zeppo had a very familiar role. You see, Groucho, Chico, and Harpo got the interesting roles of grifters and con men. Zeppo always seemed to end up playing the more rational characters. But Zeppo had another role besides playing the straight man.
He was about to play husband.
Screenshot from The Cocoanuts, Paramount Pictures (1929)
14. He Had His Hands Full
On April 12, 1927, Zeppo walked down the aisle with actress Marion Benda Bimberg. Zeppo had little time to settle down with his wife, as he had another show, Animal Crackers, to do with his brothers. Making his life even busier was the fact that while performing in Animal Crackers by night, Zeppo and the brothers were busy making the film version of Cocoanuts.
But there was one thing that made it easier for Zeppo than his brothers.
Employee(s) of Paramount-Publix, Wikimedia Commons
15. He Played The Same Role
It’s true that Zeppo usually ended up playing the more rational—some would say, boring—characters in the Marx Brothers’ shows. As it turned out, even the names of his characters were a little boring. In both The Cocoanuts and Animal Crackers, Zeppo's character has the same name: Jamison.
The Cocoanuts, the movie, was a box office success—but in their personal lives, Zeppo and his brothers would have to face a tragedy.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
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16. He Got Some Shocking News
On September 13, 1929, Zeppo and his brothers were preparing for a tour of Animal Crackers, and they got some upsetting news. Their mother Minnie had had a stroke and passed. Minnie really had been the driving force behind Zeppo and his brothers. Her obituary said that she had “invented” the brothers. They would miss her dearly.
The brothers mourned their loss—but in the end, there was nowhere to go but forward.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
17. He Broke The Mold
Since The Cocoanuts movie had been a hit, Zeppo and the boys decided to turn Animal Crackers into a movie as well. In it, Zeppo had a brief chance to stray from his straight man role. There’s a famous scene where Groucho dictates a letter to his assistant, played by Zeppo. On Broadway, and in the movie, this scene was always improvised.
But Groucho’s reaction to Zeppo caused one cast member to lose it.
Screenshot from Animal Crackers, Paramount Pictures (1930)
18. They Scared Their Co-Star
While filming the famous “take a letter scene”, Zeppo gets an unusual chance to one-up his big brother Groucho. He hilariously tells him that he didn't write down the things he thought weren't important. When Groucho gets really quiet, their co-star, Margaret Dumont, looks legitimately scared. When Groucho swings at Zeppo, Dumont's look of shock is quite genuine.
Animal Crackers was another hit film for Zeppo and the Marx Brothers. It was time for a move.
Screenshot from Animal Crackers, Paramount Pictures (1930)
19. He Made A Big Move
It now looked like Zeppo had no hope of getting out of show business. In 1931, the four brothers packed their bags and headed to California to be closer to Hollywood. Once there, they made three movies with Paramount. Both Monkey Business and Horse Feathers were big hits—but their third film wasn’t quite a smashing success.
Screenshot from Monkey Business, Paramount Pictures (1931)
20. He Had A Way Out
The Marx Brothers’ third film, Duck Soup, for Paramount failed to excite audiences. Some blame the fact that it premiered at the height of the depression, and comes across as callous. More important than the bad reviews was the tragic box office performance. When the brothers' contract ended with Paramount, Zeppo found his footing: This was exactly the moment he'd been waiting for.
American Stock Archive, Getty Images
21. He Had Bigger Dreams
When the Marx Brothers' time with Paramount came to a close, Zeppo had a moment to think. He realized he no longer wanted to play the roles he'd been forced to take on. He’d grown tired of playing the straight man on stage and hearing people call him the “unfunny” Marx brother. Zeppo decided it was time for him to make his exit.
But then he had to decide what he was leaving his brothers for.
Screenshot from Duck Soup, Paramount Pictures (1933)
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22. He Was On A Mission
According to author Robert S Bader, when Zeppo left the Marx Brothers, he was on a mission. You could see it as a sort of revenge for always playing the least memorable brother. Reportedly, he set out to build his own success—and ultimately amass a greater fortune than his siblings. And allegedly, he'd do anything to come out on top.
23. He Joined With His Other Brother
Remember, years ago Zeppo had replaced his big brother Gummo as a member of the Marx Brothers. Now it was time for Zeppo and Gummo to join forces. Together, they wanted to create a theatrical agency. But there was just one problem. They didn’t have the money.
NBC Television-photo by Ethel Kirsner, NBC Press, Wikimedia Commons
24. He “Found” Some Money
In his book, Zeppo Marx: The Reluctant Marx Brother, Robert S Bader says that it’s possible that Zeppo organized a series of jewelry heists. He allegedly used this money to start his agency and booked stars like Jack Benny and Lana Turner. He also represented his own brothers. With this money, he also organized a movie that would become a classic.
Unknown, none visible, Wikimedia Commons
25. He Helped Create An Iconic Film
At the height of his career as an agent, Zeppo represented film icons Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray. The legend goes that it was Zeppo’s idea to put them together in the iconic film noir Double Indemnity. But Zeppo had even more talents he could exploit in his thirst for riches.
Whitey Schafer, Wikimedia Commons
26. He Was Handy
When Zeppo wasn’t on stage or in a film, his brothers often counted on him to perform mechanical duties, like fixing their car. In 1941, Zeppo took his skills as a mechanic and started Marman Products Company. While designing and manufacturing clamps and straps sounds exactly like what you’d expect the unfunny Marx Brothers to do, they ended up playing an important role in history.
27. His Product Made An Infamous Flight
With the beginning of WWII, Zeppo’s company became involved in creating products used in battle. His invention, the Marman Clamp, had a very important job. They used them on the infamous Enola Gay. They held down the atomic explosive devices dropped on Japan. Zeppo’s mission to be richer than his brothers was going very well.
U.S. Air Force photo, Wikimedia Commons
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28. He Reached The Top
While Zeppo had always been the weakest of the Marx brothers, he was now emerging as the strongest. He and his wife Marion received many features in the society pages. Zeppo was making a lot of money, and most considered him to be the richest of all the brothers. Zeppo had completed his mission.
But there was one thing Zeppo still wanted that was out of reach.
Ralph F. Stitt, Wikimedia Commons
29. He Wanted To Be A Dad
Zeppo and Marion had been husband and wife for over 10 years, and they still had no children. In 1944, they decided to adopt. That year, they welcomed Timothy into their lives, and the following year another boy named Thomas. They may have wanted children—but, as it turned out, they didn’t really know how to raise them.
Screenshot from Animal Crackers, Paramount Pictures (1930)
30. He Ignored His Children
As a father, Zeppo had a dual personality. At times, he seemed not to care that he had children at all, and at other times, he was a cruel disciplinarian. Apparently, Marion also paid little attention to the boys. Eventually, Zeppo and Marion heartlessly sent them both to military school. But even in his marriage, Zeppo seemed to be of two minds.
USMA Bicentennial Website, Wikimedia Commons
31. He Had A Double Life
According to the Bader biography, Zeppo was a serial cheater. Marion likely grew tired of the host of women friends that Zeppo had. Her husband also seemed to be mysteriously in and out of court. There were some lawsuits against him and some instigated by him. It seemed like Zeppo was leading a double life. In 1954, his wife had had it, and the two divorced.
Zeppo would take a long time to find his next wife.
32. He Extended His Family
Nine years after his divorce, Zeppo found a new bride. This was model and showgirl Barbara Blakeley. Blakeley already had a son from a previous marriage, Bobby Oliver, and Zeppo wanted to add him as another adopted child. His request got a big no from the boy’s father, but Bobby did eventually start using the name Marx.
However, there was something weird about Zeppo’s relationship with Bobby.
33. He Kept Him Away
When Zeppo wanted to adopt his wife’s son Bobby, it seemed clear that he was happy to welcome him into their home. But then Zeppo did something heartless. He built a guest house on their property, just so he could keep Bobby away from him. He then got rid of Bobby the same way he got rid of his other kids. He sent him off to military school. Barbara later said that Zeppo strangely breathed a sigh of relief when Bobby was gone.
But there were some people that Zeppo did want to be around.
UnknownUnknown , Wikimedia Commons
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34. He Rubbed Shoulders With The Rich And Famous
Even though Zeppo had walked away from show business, he still wanted to keep a connection. He joined the upscale Hillcrest Country Club, where his brothers and celebrities such as George Burns, Jack Benny, and Milton Berle were members. Also, his house in Rancho Mirage, California, was close to singing and acting icon Frank Sinatra’s house.
But being close to celebrities could also be dangerous.
35. He Got Cheated
Back in 1967, Zeppo was a regular poker player at the exclusive Las Vegas Friars Club. Zeppo and other stars like Tony Martin and Phil Silvers seemed to always be losing money at these games. Sometimes up to $30,000. As it turned out, the club was using peepholes to cheat on the naive celebrities.
Of course, this wasn't the only time Zeppo would feel cheated on.
36. His Friend Offered Help
Like many celebrity wives, Zeppo’s wife Barbara became involved in charity work. When her idea for a charity film screening hit a snag, Zeppo got Frank Sinatra to give her a helping hand. Sinatra went overboard and even provided flights for everyone to get to Palm Springs for the screening.
On the surface, Sinatra seemed like the best friend ever. But Zeppo should have smelled a rat.
Philippe Halsman, Wikimedia Commons
37. It Happened Behind His Back
Zeppo, his wife Barbara, and Sinatra had become close friends. The Marxes got invites to Sinatra’s house for parties, and the celebrated crooner even regularly sent them gifts. What Zeppo failed to realize was that these gifts were really just for Barbara. You see, Barbara was secretly having an affair with Sinatra.
Zeppo found out in the worst way possible.
38. He Read It In The Newspaper
Zeppo found out about his wife’s secret affair with Sinatra by reading it in the paper. Tabloid newspapers started to print pictures of Barbara and Sinatra together. Of course, both Barbara and Sinatra denied the rumors, but soon Zeppo couldn't ignore them any longer. He had to do something.
Publisher-Macfadden Publications, New York, Wikimedia Commons
39. She Got Off Easy
Barbara continued to deny her affair with Sinatra—at least until she and Zeppo got a divorce. Then she heartlessly started dating Sinatra openly. Her punishment from Zeppo was a Jaguar XK-E and a $1,500 a month allowance for 10 years. That would be almost $11,000 per month today. Barbara married Sinatra in 1976.
Unfortunately for him, Zeppo’s romantic future was not as rosy as his cheating ex-wife's
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40. She Accused Him
The same year as his divorce, Zeppo got into trouble with a woman. Jean Bodul accused him of roughing her up. It went to trial, and a judge forced Zeppo to pay over $20,000 to her, which would be more than $100,000 today. Bodul would go on to marry notorious gang member Jimmy Fratianno.
A few years later, Zeppo would be in another kind of trouble.
41. He Got Sick
In 1978, Zeppo heard something from his doctor that all of us fear. He had cancer. At this point, all of his brothers had passed. In fact, Groucho and Gummo had both passed the year before this diagnosis. Thankfully, his cancer went into remission with treatment. But little did he know, his most terrifying fight was yet to come.
42. He Had Her Company
When Zeppo’s cancer came back, he looked for support in a surprising place: his ex-wife. During this trying time, Barbara was by his side for his doctor’s appointments and chemotherapy treatments. Sadly, this time, the cancer would not go into remission. On November 30, 1979, Zeppo passed away due to lung cancer.
He left behind a confusing legacy.
43. They Didn’t Need Him
The running joke about Zeppo was that he was the least talented of the Marx Brothers. When he left the Marx Brothers, the studio assumed they would be paying them less. After all, there were now three and not four. Groucho’s famous quip about this was, "We're twice as funny without Zeppo!"
But this may not have been true.
44. He Was The Funniest
When Zeppo had to step in to cover during Groucho’s appendicitis, Groucho had this to say: "He was so good as Captain Spaulding in Animal Crackers that I would have let him play the part indefinitely if they had allowed me to smoke in the audience". Also, his brothers all believed that when Zeppo was offstage, he was the funniest of them all.
But some saw Zeppo as a real talent.
Movie Poster Image Art, Getty Images
45. He Was A Great Actor
Acting icon Cary Grant was a big Zeppo fan and even credits him as an inspiration. Arthouse filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder included Zeppo in his list of the top ten greatest actors of all time. Maybe it was just the skill of keeping a straight face while his brothers clowned it up around him.
But there was a darkness to Zeppo that didn’t show up in his performances.
Harry Warnecke of New York Daily News, Wikimedia Commons
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46. He Wasn’t the Boring One
Bader’s book suggests that Zeppo had strong ties to gang life. But what proof is there? One night at a boxing match in LA, outside the ring, Zeppo threw a punch. The recipient was the notorious gang member Pat DiDicco. If Zeppo lacked gang connections, he would not have gotten away with it. If anyone else had punched DiDicco, they would have ended up six feet under.
Zeppo’s brothers had some inkling about what their youngest sibling was up to.
47. He Was A Risk
Zeppo’s brothers knew that Zeppo had a double life. They understood that he had a dangerous gambling habit, where he could win or lose huge sums of money in a single night. For this reason, the other Marx Brothers kept a wary eye on Zeppo—and allegedly even wondered whether they should disown him. After all, becoming responsible for his debts was a terrifying prospect.
So, who was the real Zeppo? The sane, rational brother or the wild one.
48. The Truth Was Out There
One of Zeppo’s adopted sons, Tim Marx, finally laid the truth out about his father’s seemingly double life. In a prepared statement, he called his father “charming” and “funny". This corresponds with the Zeppo we know. But Tim also added a shocking third descriptor. He called him a "narcissistic individual".
It seems that no matter what comes out about Zeppo, his reputation never changes.
49. His Reputation Stuck
In its third season, the popular TV show Buffy The Vampire Slayer wanted to do an episode focusing on one character who had a reputation as being superfluous to the gang of vampire fighters. The character of Xander Harris just didn’t have anything special about him compared to his vampire-fighting cohorts. The show writers called the episode “The Zeppo”.
But Zeppo did appeal to a certain kind of person.
Screenshot from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 20th Century Fox Television (1997–2003)
50. He Was Her Favorite
There was another iconic TV show that continued Zeppo’s reputation for being boring. In TV's Cheers, one favorite character is straight-laced and buttoned-down Lilith Crane. Crane, expertly played by Bebe Neuwirth, is overly analytical, brutally honest, and extremely uncomfortable with other people. She also lists Zeppo as her favorite Marx Brother.
Screenshot from Cheers, Paramount Television (1982–1993)
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Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
