- Born
- Died
- Place
Margaret Dumont
Margaret Dumont would probably consider it a tragedy that she is best-known for her performances as the ultimate straight woman in seven of the Marx Brothers' films (including most of their best). By all accounts she never understood their jokes (offscreen and on), which is of course a major reason why she's so funny. Apart from a small role in a 1917 Dickens adaptation, she spent her early career on the stage, ending up with the Marxes in the late 1920s in the stage versions of The Cocoanuts (1929) and Animal Crackers (1930), and was given a Paramount contract at the same time they were. She played similar roles alongside other great comedians, including W.C. Fields, Laurel & Hardy and Jack Benny and also played straight dramatic parts (her chief love), but few of them made much impact - it is as Groucho Marx's foil that she ranks among the immortals, and she died shortly after being reunited with him on "The Hollywood Palace" (1964).
As actor
Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults
The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell
The Hollywood Clowns
That's Entertainment, Part II
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
What a Way to Go!
Zotz!
Around the World with Nellie Bly
Auntie Mame
Shake, Rattle and Rock!
Stop, You're Killing Me
Three for Bedroom C
Little Giant
Susie Steps Out
The Horn Blows at Midnight
Diamond Horseshoe
Sunset in El Dorado
Bathing Beauty
Up in Arms
Seven Days Ashore
The Dancing Masters
About Face
Sing Your Worries Away
Born to Sing
Rhythm Parade
Tales of Manhattan
The Big Store
Never Give a Sucker an Even Break
For Beauty's Sake