Leo Gorcey (1917-1969) was an American actor, primarily known for portraying the leader of the groups of young actors known as the Dead End Kids and, subsequently, the Bowery Boys. His career took off on Broadway with the play *Dead End* (1935), a role he reprised in the 1937 film adaptation of the same name, directed by William Wyler. Along with the other original cast members, Gorcey appeared in numerous successful films, including *Angels with Dirty Faces* (1938) alongside James Cagney. The group changed its name and production studio several times, becoming the East Side Kids and finally, from 1946, the Bowery Boys for Monogram Pictures. In this long-running series of low-budget comedies, Gorcey perfected his character of "Slip" Mahoney, a leader with a heart of gold famous for his hilarious malapropisms. Although he did not receive any major formal awards, Gorcey remained an icon of American B-movies, starring in over 40 films with the Bowery Boys alone, leaving an indelible mark on the film comedy of his time.