Meyer Harris "Mickey" Cohen (September 4, 1913 in Brooklyn, New York – July 29 1976 in Los Angeles, California) was a gangster based in L.A. from the 1930s through 1970s. is the 247th day of the year (248th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1913 (MCMXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... For other meanings, see Brooklyn (disambiguation). ... is the 210th day of the year (211th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1976 Pick up sticks(MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Largest metro area Greater Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... For other uses, see Gangster (disambiguation). ...

Early life

In 1913, Mickey Cohen was born on September 4 in Brooklyn, New York (although his burial plaque says 1914). His mother Fanny had immigrated to the U.S. from Kiev, Ukraine. Between 1916 and 1919, Fanny moved with Mickey and his sister Lillie to the Boyle Heights section of Los Angeles and opened a grocery and drug store. She sent for the rest of the family later. At age six, Cohen was selling newspapers on the street; his brothers Harry or Louie would drop him off at his regular corner. Soon Cohen and his brothers became involved in crime (Cohen's brother Sam, an Orthodox Jew, was an exception). In 1923, at age nine, Cohen was delivering alcohol to customers from a gin mill operated by his older brother in the drug store. Cohen was arrested that same year for this activity, but avoided prosecution due to his brother's connections. For other meanings, see Brooklyn (disambiguation). ... Kiev (Київ, Kyiv, in Ukrainian; Киев, Kiev, in Russian) is the capital and largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper river. ... Boyle Heights is a district on the east side of Los Angeles, California. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... Orthodox Judaism is one of the three major branches of Judaism. ...

As a teenager, Cohen began boxing in illegal prizefights in Los Angeles. He eventually moved to the East Coast to train as a professional boxer, doing fights in the Midwest along the way. In New York, Cohen eventually fought and lost a match against World Featherweight Champion Tommy Paul. Cohen lived first in Cleveland, Ohio, where he met Lou Rothkopf, an associate of Moe Dalitz. Cohen moved later to New York, where he became associates with Tommy Dioguardi, the brother of labor racketeer Johnny Dio, and with Owney Madden. Finally, Cohen went to Chicago, where he ran a gambling operation for the Chicago Outfit, Al Capone's powerful criminal organization. Featherweight is a weight class division in the sport of boxing and wrestling (Greco-Roman). ... Cleveland redirects here. ... Joyous (talk) 19:37, July 18, 2005 (UTC) Categories: Possible copyright violations ... Johnny Dio (born John Dioguardi) (April 28, 1914-1979) was a mafiosi and union boss in the Lucchese crime family. ... Owney The Killer Madden (December 18, 1891-April 24, 1965) was a leading underworld figure in Manhattan, most notably his involvement in organized crime during Prohibition. ... Nickname: Motto: Urbs in Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in the Chicago metro area and Illinois Coordinates: , Country State Counties Cook, DuPage Settled 1770s Incorporated March 4, 1837 Government  - Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area  - City  234. ... The Chicago Outfit is a crime syndicate that has a long and extensive history dating back to long before Prohibition and part of the U.S. phenomenon known as the Mafia. ... “Capone” redirects here. ...

Prohibition and the Chicago Outfit

During Prohibition, Cohen moved to Chicago and became involved in organized crime working as an enforcer for the Chicago Outfit, where he briefly met Al Capone. During this period Cohen was arrested for his role in the deaths of several gangsters in a card game gone bad. The Chicago Outfit is a crime syndicate that has a long and extensive history dating back to long before Prohibition and part of the U.S. phenomenon known as the Mafia. ... “Capone” redirects here. ...

After a brief time in prison, Cohen was released and began running card games and other illegal gambling operations. He later became an associate of Mattie Capone, Al Capone's younger brother. While working for Jake Guzik, Cohen was forced to flee Chicago after an argument with a rival gambler. “Capone” redirects here. ... Jake Greasy Thumb Guzik (May 20, 1886-February 21, 1956) was the financial and legal advisor, and later political “fixer”, for the Chicago Outfit. ...

In Cleveland, Cohen again worked for Lou Rothkopf, an associate of Meyer Lansky and Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel. However, there was little work available for Cohen in Cleveland, so Rothkopf arranged for him to work with Siegel in California. Cleveland redirects here. ... Meyer Lansky (born Majer Suchowliński, July 4, 1902 – January 15, 1983) was an American gangster who, with Charles Lucky Luciano, was instrumental in the development of the National Crime Syndicate in the United States. ... Benjamin Bugsy Siegel (February 28, 1906 – June 20, 1947) was an American gangster, popularly thought to be the impetus behind large-scale development of Las Vegas. ...

From syndicate bodyguard to Los Angeles kingpin

Mickey Cohen was sent to Los Angeles by Meyer Lansky and Lou Rothkopf to watch Bugsy Siegel. During their association Mickey helped set up the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas and ran its sports book operation. He also was instrumental in setting up the race wire, which was essential to Las Vegas betting, perhaps only second to the Hoover Dam. In 1947, the crime families ordered the murder of Siegel due to his mismanagement of the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas; most likely because he or his girlfriend Virginia Hill was skimming money. According to one account which does not appear in newspapers, Cohen reacted violently to Siegel's murder. Entering the Hotel Roosevelt, where he believed the killers were staying, Cohen fired rounds from his two .45 calliber semi-automatic handguns into the lobby ceiling and demanded that the assassins meet him outside in ten minutes (Nash; pg. 741). However, no one appeared and Cohen was forced to flee when the cops arrived. After Siegel's death, Cohen was given control of the Las Vegas gambling operations This article needs to be wikified. ... For other uses, see Las Vegas (disambiguation) and Vegas (disambiguation). ... A sports book is a place where people can wager on various sport competitions. ... For the dam near Westerville, Ohio, see Hoover Dam (Ohio). ... Virginia Hill (1916-1966) was a US mob courier famous for being the only steady girlfriend of Hollywood gangster Bugsy Siegel. ... The Hotel Roosevelt (in the foreground), in a 2001 Navy photograph. ...

In later years, the Los Angeles crime syndicate was taken over by Frank Carbo of the Dragna family. Despite this changeover, Mickey Cohen continued to run its gambling operations. However Cohen's violent methods came to the attention of state and federal authorities investigating Dragna operations. Jack Dragna (born Antonio Rizzoti) (April 18, 1891 - February 23, 1956) was a organized crime figure from Chicago active in Los Angeles, California. ...

During this time, Cohen faced many attempts on his life, including a bombing of his home on posh Moreno Avenue in Brentwood. Cohen soon converted his house into a fortress, installing floodlights, alarm systems, and a well-equipped arsenal kept, as he often joked, next to his 200 tailor-made suits. Cohen also briefly hired bodyguard Johnny Stompanato before his murder by actress Lana Turner's daughter. Cohen bought a cheap coffin for Stompanato's funeral and then sold Lana Turner's love letters to Stompanato to the press. Johnny Stompanato, Jr. ... Lana Turner (February 8, 1921 – June 29, 1995) was an Academy award-nominated American film actress. ...

Stompanato ran a sexual extortion ring as well as a jewelry store. He was one of the most popular playboys in Hollywood. One time singer Frank Sinatra visited Cohen at his home and begged him to tell Stompanato to stop dating Sinatra's actress friend, Ava Gardner. Sinatra redirects here. ... Ava Lavinia Gardner (December 24, 1922 – January 25, 1990) was an Academy Award-nominated American film and television actress. ...

Later years

In 1950, Mickey Cohen was investigated along with numerous other underworld figures by the US Senate Committee known as the Kefauver Commission. As a result of this investigation, Cohen was convicted of tax evasion and sentenced to prison for four years. Between 1950 and 1951, the Kefauver Committee held all of Americans attention. ...

When he was released, he started up all over again, and became an international celebrity. He sold more newspapers than anyone else in the country, according to author Brad Lewis. His appearance on television with Mike Wallace in the late 50s rocked the media establishment. He ran floral shops, paint stores, nightclubs, casinos, gas stations, a men's haberdashery, and even an ice cream parlor on San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood proper, according to author Richard Lamparski. Mike Wallace can refer to: Mike Wallace, the long-time television correspondent for CBS. Mike Wallace, the historian. ...

In 1961, Cohen was again convicted of tax evasion and sent to Alcatraz. During his time on "the Rock", another inmate attempted to kill Cohen with a lead pipe. In 1972, Cohen was released from the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary, where he had spoken out against prison abuse. Mickey Cohen died in his sleep in 1976 and is interred in the Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California. He had been misdiagnosed with an ulcer, which turned out to be stomach cancer. After his bout with surgery, he continued touring the U.S., including television appearances, once with Ramsey Clark. Alcatraz Island is located in the middle of San Francisco Bay in California. ... United States Penitentiary, Atlanta. ... The Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery is located at 6001 W. Centinela Avenue, in Culver City, California. ... Motto: The Heart of Screenland Location of Culver City in Los Angeles County, California Coordinates: , Country State County Los Angeles Incorporated (city) 1917-09-07 [2] Government  - City Manager Jerry Fulwood [1] Area  - City  5. ... Stomach cancer (also called gastric cancer) can develop in any part of the stomach and may spread throughout the stomach and to other organs; particularly the esophagus and the small intestine. ... William Ramsey Clark (born December 18, 1927) is a lawyer and activist. ...

As an elder statesman, he even appeared on The Merv Griffin Show. Cohen knew everyone in Hollywood, from the entire Rat Pack to Marilyn Monroe. In politics, he befriended Richard Nixon. His pal Billy Graham once asked him to appear at an Evangelist rally in Madison Square Garden. The Merv Griffin Show was a long-running American television talk show, starring singer Merv Griffin. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson; June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962), was a Golden Globe award winning American actress, model and sex symbol. ... Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994) was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. ... For other persons named Billy Graham, see Billy Graham (disambiguation). ... Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG, known colloquially simply as The Garden, has been the name of four arenas in New York City, United States. ...

At the time of the abduction of Patty Hearst, Cohen claimed to know facts about Hearst's abductors and other circumstances of the issue. However, journalists at the time dismissed this as way for the "gentleman mobster" to put himself back in the limelight. Mickey called Patty's father "Randy" (Randolph Hearst), and met with him and his wife at Gatsby's, a restaurant he controlled. Mickey had been friends with William Randolph Hearst, with whom he maintained a long respectful friendship. Patricia Campbell Hearst (born February 20, 1954), now known as Patricia Hearst Shaw, is an American newspaper heiress and occasional actress. ... William Randolph Hearst William Randolph Hearst (April 29, 1863 – August 14, 1951) was an American newspaper magnate, born in San Francisco, California. ... For other people named William Randolph Hearst, see William Randolph Hearst (disambiguation) William Randolph Hearst I (April 29, 1863 – August 14, 1951) was an American newspaper magnate. ...

Cohen's girlfried Liz Renay herself spent three years behind bars for refusing to squeal on him. One of his other many girlfriends, Candy Barr, served prison time for marijuana possession. Two of his other favorites were Tempest Storm and Beverly Hills, the former having a bust insured with Lloyd's of London. Was an author and convicted felon. ... Candy Barr (born Juanita Dale Slusher in Edna, Texas, on July 6, 1935, and died of pneumonia on December 30, 2005) was the stage name of an American burlesque dancer and occasional pornographic film actress and magazine model. ... Tempest Storm, publicity photo Tempest Storm (born February 29, 1928) was born Annie Blanche Banks in Eastman, Georgia. ... It has been suggested that Council of Lloyds be merged into this article or section. ...

In popular culture

• Cohen appears as a character in some of James Ellroy's L.A. Quartet novels, especially the latter three. He features prominently in both L.A. Confidential and White Jazz.
• In the 1991 film Bugsy, the highly-fictionalized story of Bugsy Siegel, Harvey Keitel plays Cohen.
• In the 1997 film adaptation of Ellroy's L.A. Confidential, Cohen is played by Paul Guilfoyle.
• In the 2005 novel The Lincoln Lawyer, by Michael Connelly, the lead character's father is Cohen's lawyer.

James Ellroy (born Lee Earle Ellroy on March 4, 1948 in Los Angeles, California) is an American writer. ... James Ellroys is made up of four Crime fiction novels set in the late 1940s and early 1950s in Los Angeles. ... L.A. Confidential is a crime novel by James Ellroy published in 1990 that was adapted into a 1997 feature film. ... White Jazz book cover White Jazz is a novel by James Ellroy, an American crime fiction writer. ... Bugsy is a 1991 film which tells the story of mobster Bugsy Siegel. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Harvey Keitel (born May 13, 1939) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor from New York City. ... This article is about the film. ... Paul Guilfoyle (born April 28, 1948) is an American television and film actor known for playing Captain Jim Brass in the popular forensic television drama CSI. Guilfoyle was born in Canton, Massachusetts. ... Michael Connelly (born July 21, 1956, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American author of detective novels, notably those featuring Detective Hieronymus Harry Bosch. ...

Further reading

• Ed Clark, "Trouble in Los Angeles", LIFE Magazine, 1950 (seen at LIFE Books - Mobsters & Gangsters: At Home with Mickey Cohen)
• Mickey Cohen and John Peer Nugent, "In My Own Words", Englewood Cliffs, 1975
• Stevens, Steve and Lockwood, Craig, "King of the Sunset Strip: Hangin' With Mickey Cohen and the Hollywood Mob", Cumberland House Publishing, 2006
• Lewis, Brad, "Hollywood's Celebrity Gangster, The Incredible Life and Times of Mickey Cohen, Enigma Books, 2007

References

• Kelly, Robert J. Encyclopedia of Organized Crime in the United States. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 2000. ISBN 0-313-30653-2
• Phillips, Charles and Alan Axelrod. Cops, Crooks, and Criminologists: An International Biographical Dictionary of Law Enforcement, Updated Edition. New York: Checkmark Books, 2000. ISBN 0-8160-3016-2
• Sifakis, Carl. The Mafia Encyclopedia. New York: Da Capo Press, 2005. ISBN 0-8180-5694-3
• Sifakis, Carl. The Encyclopedia of American Crime. New York: Facts on File Inc., 2005. ISBN 0-8160-4040-0

External links

• Benny's Shadow: All about Mickey Cohen by Mark Gribben
• Recollections of Mickey Cohen on the Los Angeles Times' Daily Mirror blog
• The Biography Channel - Mickey Cohen
• Mickey Cohen quotes
• Mugshots.com - Mickey Cohen
• FindaGrave.com: Mickey Cohen
• Mickey Cohen's Grave (photo)
• Mickey Cohen's grave