Harpo Marx Biography

Harpo Marx, born as Adolph Marx, was a comedian and mime artist who was the second-oldest of the famous Marx Brothers. As a comedian of the silent era, he wore a funny costume consisting of a wig of unruly curly red hair and a top hat. He never spoke on stage, and used his body language and a honking horn to communicate with his audience. Legend has it that he lacked the sharp wits to effectively say funny things to make the audience laugh and therefore his brothers did not allow him to speak. But he was not someone to be disheartened—he evolved into such an emotive mime artist that soon his popularity surpassed that of his brothers’. He used to play a harp, albeit in a wrong way, and that is why he acquired his stage name ‘Harpo’. The Marx brothers had a difficult childhood ridden with poverty, but they were determined to overcome life’s challenges in order to make a name for themselves in the show biz. Their family comedy act, Marx Brothers was very successful and the group eventually made their way into Broadways and films where also they were able to replicate their success. More than just an entertainer, Marx was also a dedicated family man, completely devoted to his brothers, wife and children.