Arthur Sheekman Biography

University of Minnesota graduate Arthur Sheekman rose to prominence in the 1920s and early '30s as a Manhattan newspaper columnist and drama critic. Sheekman entered films as one of the scenarists for the Marx Brothers' Monkey Business (1931), thereby launching a lifelong friendship with Groucho Marx. In addition to providing gags for the Marxes' subsequent Duck Soup (1933), Sheekman also scripted the Groucho-Chico radio series Flywheel, Shyster, and Flywheel, and ghosted several of Groucho's books, including Beds and Many Happy Returns. While working on the 1933 Eddie Cantor musical Roman Scandals (1933), Sheekman met his future bride, actress Gloria Stuart, with whom he remained married until his death. His later screenwriting assignments included Joe E. Brown's The Gladiator (1938), Danny Kaye's Wonder Man (1945), and the Bing Crosby vehicles Welcome Stranger (1947) and Mr. Music (1950). Arthur Sheekman's last film credit was 1961's Ada. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi