I found photos of Groucho and Chico's grave sites. Their birth dates are listed as 1890 and 1887 respectively. Therefore, Harpo was apparently born in 1888, as most sources indicate. (Since Harpo was cremated, there is apparently no grave site.) So why does he give his birth date as 1893, in "Harpo Speaks"? It is not in keeping with his character to do this out of vanity. Could he have been confused himself about this? Or was he "covering" for vanity on the part of his brothers?
Not that all this really matters. He is still my favorite comedian of all times. But it is an intriguing litle mystery.
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Most sources I've come across state that Harpo was born in 1888. However, some sources - including his autobiography - state 1893 as his birth date. A similar 5-year discrepancy in the birthdates of Groucho and Chico also appear.
Does anybody out there know his/their actual birthdates? And why the confusion?
I am a bit rusty on Harpo facts, but I am positive that Harpo was not born in 1893, as he had stated. I have seen a photocopy of Groucho's birth certificate, which established the fact that he was born in 1890. Since Groucho was definitely born after Harpo, I figured that Harpo was a bit confused about the date he was born. I don't think things like birthdates and ages interested him enough for him to remember the exact year he was born, or the age he was when things happened. Food, however, interested him alot, so he DID remember the cost of everything he loved to eat at Max's Busy Bee!
