Leave 'Em Laughing
Synopsis
Real-life clown Jack Thum, along with his devoted wife, Shirlee, cared for dozens of homeless children — 37 of them over the years — in the Chicago area, all of whom come back to visit when they discover he's terminally ill.
Top Cast
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Mickey Rooney
Jack Thum
Anne Jackson
Shirlee Thum
Allen Garfield
Dr. Arthur Abrams
Elisha Cook Jr.
Jetter
Michael LeClair
Tom
William Windom
Smiley Jenkins
Red Buttons
Roland Green
Carol Ann Susi
Gina
Bruce French
McClain
De'voreaux White
Ralph
Adrienne Kingman
Alice
Jan Stratton
1st Nurse
Candy Mobley
2nd Nurse
Gary Miller
Jeff
Joseph Pon
Ringmaster
Richard Paxton
Man
Dione Paray
Trapeze Lady
William McCabe
Clown
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jackie Cooper
- Screenplay & Story
- Cynthia Whitcomb, Peggy Chantler Dick
- Original Score
- Jimmie Haskell
- Original Title
- Leave 'Em Laughing
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 38m
- Production Studios
- Julian Fowles Productions, Charles Fries Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jackie Cooper
Cynthia Whitcomb, Peggy Chantler Dick
Jimmie Haskell
Howard Schwartz
Jerry Dronsky
Julian Fowles, Charles W. Fries
Department Leadership Roster
Jackie Cooper
Director
Cynthia Whitcomb
Writer
Peggy Chantler Dick
Writer
Julian Fowles
Producer
Howard Schwartz
Director of Photography
Jerry Dronsky
Editor
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Leave 'Em Laughing.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Leave 'Em Laughing
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Leave 'Em Laughing about?
Real-life clown Jack Thum, along with his devoted wife, Shirlee, cared for dozens of homeless children — 37 of them over the years — in the Chicago area, all of whom come back to visit when they discover he's terminally ill.
Who directed Leave 'Em Laughing?
Leave 'Em Laughing was directed by Jackie Cooper.
Who stars in Leave 'Em Laughing?
The principal cast of Leave 'Em Laughing includes Mickey Rooney, Anne Jackson, Allen Garfield, Elisha Cook Jr., Michael LeClair.
When was Leave 'Em Laughing released and how long is it?
Leave 'Em Laughing was released in 1981 with a total runtime of 1h 38m.
Who composed the musical score for Leave 'Em Laughing?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Leave 'Em Laughing was composed by Jimmie Haskell.