Leave 'Em Laughing

Leave 'Em Laughing

98 mins | Drama, TV Movie | April 29, 1981

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.

Leave 'Em Laughing

98 mins | Drama, TV Movie | April 29, 1981

Leave 'Em Laughing
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.
Producers Charles Fries Productions, Julian Fowles Productions
Original title Leave 'Em Laughing
Directors Jackie Cooper
Writers Cynthia Whitcomb, Peggy Chantler Dick

Cast

Mickey Rooney

as Jack Thum

Anne Jackson

as Shirlee Thum

Allen Garfield

as Dr. Arthur Abrams

Elisha Cook Jr.

as Jetter

William Windom

as Smiley Jenkins

Red Buttons

as Roland Green

Carol Ann Susi

as Gina

Bruce French

as McClain

De'voreaux White

as Ralph

Adrienne Kingman

as Alice

Jan Stratton

as 1st Nurse

Candy Mobley

as 2nd Nurse

Gary Miller

as Jeff

Joseph Pon

as Ringmaster

Dione Paray

as Trapeze Lady

William McCabe

as Clown

Danny Lance

as Zooky

Scotty Lance

as Zooky