Leo Gorcey's parents, Bernard Gorcey and Josephine Condon, were both actors who worked in vaudeville in New York. Josephine, born in 1901, was only 14 years old when she gave birth to her first child, Fred, in 1915. Leo was born in 1917, a large baby weighing 12lb. 3 oz., and would later grow to be 5' 6".
Leo's younger brother, David Gorcey, was born in 1921. The two brothers began their acting careers together, appearing in the stage play "Dead End" in 1935. The play was later adapted into a film in 1937, and Leo went on to become one of the busiest actors of the next 20 years.
Leo's personal life was marked by a series of marriages. His first marriage was to 17-year-old dancer Kay Marvis in 1939, with whom he appeared in four films. They divorced in 1944 after five years of marriage, and Kay went on to marry Groucho Marx.
Leo's second marriage was to Evalene Bankston in 1945, but they divorced in 1948 after only three years of marriage. The divorce was contentious, with Evalene hiring detectives to break into Leo's home, leading to a countersuit and a $35,000 settlement in Leo's favor.
Leo's third marriage was to Amelita Ward in 1949, with whom he had two children, Leo Gorcey Jr. and Jan. They divorced in 1956, and Leo married his young nanny, Brandy, in the same year. Brandy was taking care of Leo's two children at the time, and they had a baby girl named Brandy Jo in 1958. The couple divorced in 1962.
Leo's final marriage was to Mary Gannon in February 1968, and he remained married to her until his death on June 2, 1969.
