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Mickey Cohen
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Meyer Harris "Mickey" Cohen (September 4, 1913[1] – July 29, 1976) was an American mobster based in Los Angeles and boss of the Cohen crime family during the mid-20th century.

Key Information

Early life

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Mickey Cohen was born on September 4, 1913, in New York City to Jewish parents.[2] Cohen's parents immigrated to the US from Kiev, Ukraine.[3] He was first raised in New York, moving with his mother and siblings to the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles at an early age. At 8, he earned money as a newsboy, selling newspapers on the street.[4] One of his brothers, either Louie or Harry, would drop Mickey off at his regular corner, Soto and Brooklyn Streets (later Cesar E. Chavez Avenue). In 1922, Mickey was sent to reform school for petty crimes including shoplifting and theft.

Boxing career

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As a teenager, Cohen began boxing in illegal prize fights in Los Angeles. In 1929, the 15-year-old moved from Los Angeles to Cleveland to train as a professional boxer with the alias of 'Irish Mickey Cohen'. His first professional boxing match was on April 8, 1930, against Patsy Farr in Cleveland. It was one of the preliminary fights on the card for the Paul Pirrone versus Jimmy Goodrich feature bout. In a match on June 12, 1931, Cohen fought and lost against future world featherweight champion Tommy Paul. Cohen was knocked out cold after 2:20 into the first round. It was during this contest that he earned the moniker "Gangster Mickey Cohen".[citation needed] On April 11, 1933, Cohen fought against Chalky Wright in Los Angeles. Wright won the match, and Mickey was incorrectly identified as "Mickey Cohen from Denver, Colorado" in the Los Angeles Times sports page report. His last fight was on May 14, 1933, against Baby Arizmendi in Tijuana, Mexico. He finished his career at 8-8 and 5 draws – 8 wins, 2 by knockout, 8 losses, 4 losses by knockout and 5 draws.[5]

Criminal career

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In Cleveland, Cohen met Lou Rothkopf, an associate of Moe Dalitz. Cohen later moved to New York, where he became an associate of labor racketeer Johnny Dio's brother, Tommy Dioguardi, and Owney Madden.

Prohibition and the Chicago Outfit

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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 at a card game. 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 Capone's younger brother, Mattie Capone. While working for Jake Guzik, Cohen was forced to flee Chicago after an argument with a rival gambler. In Cleveland, Cohen worked once more for Lou Rothkopf, an associate of Meyer Lansky and Bugsy Siegel. However, there was little work available for Cohen in Cleveland, so Lansky and Rothkopf arranged for Cohen to work with Siegel in Los Angeles.

From syndicate bodyguard to Sunset Strip kingpin

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In 1939, Cohen arrived in Los Angeles to work under Siegel, a sitting boss of the National Crime Syndicate. During their association, Cohen helped set up the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas and ran its sports book operation. He was also instrumental in setting up the race wire, essential to Vegas betting. During this time, Cohen met prostitute Lavonne Weaver (working alias Simoni King), and the couple married in 1940.[6] Serving as the Best Man at his wedding was one of his associates William "Stumpy" Zevon, who was later the father of the American rock singer-songwriter Warren Zevon.[7]

In 1942, while serving a six-month sentence for bookmaking, Cohen beat up Nazi sympathizers Robert Noble and Ellis Jones, who were under indictment for sedition, after the former made anti-Semitic remarks against him.[8]

In 1947, the crime families ordered the murder of Siegel due to his mismanagement of the Flamingo Hotel Casino, most likely because Siegel 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 caliber semi-automatic handguns into the lobby ceiling and demanded that the assassins meet him outside in 10 minutes. However, no one appeared, and Cohen was forced to flee when the police arrived.[citation needed]

Cohen's violent methods came to the attention of state and federal authorities investigating Jack Dragna's operations. During this time, Cohen faced many attempts on his life, including the 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 briefly hired Johnny Stompanato as a bodyguard. However, in 1958, Stompanato was killed in self-defense by Cheryl Crane, the daughter of actress Lana Turner (whom he had been dating). Cohen covered the expense of Stompanato's funeral and then gave Turner's love letters to Stompanato to the press in an attempt to discredit the worst allegations of threats and violence that Crane had alleged she suffered at the hands of the violent, womanizing Stompanato.[9]

Later years

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Cohen's 1950 armored Cadillac

In 1950, Cohen was investigated along with many other underworld figures by a U.S. Senate committee known as the Kefauver Commission. As a result of this investigation, Cohen was convicted of tax evasion in June 1951 and sentenced to four years in prison.

Ben Hecht stated in his autobiography, A Child of the Century, that Cohen called him to say he wanted to do his part in helping Hecht raise money to support Menachem Begin's Irgun in its activities. Cohen called together a parlor meeting of business associates and had Hecht address them on the importance of the cause. Each person was then asked to call out a sum he would donate. In some cases, Cohen told a donor "that's not enough," and they upped the pledge. Later, when Cohen was arrested, he called Hecht from prison to ask if he had access to some cash to help with his bail. When Hecht demurred, Cohen politely said goodbye, and they never spoke again.

When he was released in October 1955, he became an international celebrity. He ran floral shops, paint stores, nightclubs, casinos, gas stations, a men's haberdashery, and even drove an ice cream van on San Vicente Boulevard in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles, according to author Richard Lamparski.[citation needed]

In 1957, TIME magazine wrote a brief article[10] about Cohen's meeting with Christian evangelist Billy Graham. Cohen said: "I am very high on the Christian way of life. Billy came up, and before we had food he said—What do you call it, that thing they say before food? Grace? Yeah, grace. Then we talked a lot about Christianity and stuff." Allegedly when Cohen did not change his lifestyle, he was confronted by Christian acquaintances. His response: "Christian football players, Christian cowboys, Christian politicians; why not a Christian gangster?"[citation needed]

Cohen speaking at the Ex-Felon Consortium in 1975

In 1961, Cohen was again convicted of tax evasion and sent to Alcatraz. He was the only prisoner ever bailed out of Alcatraz; his bond was signed by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren. After his appeals failed, Cohen was sent to a federal prison in Atlanta, Georgia. His heavily armored Cadillac from this period was confiscated by the Los Angeles Police Department and is on display at the Southward Car Museum in New Zealand.[11] On August 14, 1963, during his time at the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary, inmate Burl Estes McDonald attempted to kill Cohen with a lead pipe.[12] In 1972, Cohen was released from the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary, where he had spoken out against prison abuse. He had been misdiagnosed with an ulcer, which turned out to be stomach cancer. After undergoing surgery, he continued touring the United States and made television appearances, once with Ramsey Clark.[citation needed]

Death

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In July 1976, Cohen died at age 62 due to the complications from stomach cancer surgery.[13] He was laid to rest at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California.

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Films

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  • In the film Bugsy (1991), Mickey Cohen is portrayed by actor Harvey Keitel. Keitel received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
  • In the film L.A. Confidential (1997), based on James Ellroy's 1990 novel, Mickey Cohen is portrayed by actor Paul Guilfoyle in a bit part but is a major influence throughout the rest of the movie.
  • In the film Gangster Squad (2013), Cohen is portrayed by actor Sean Penn and is the main antagonist of the film, portrayed as a sadistic and cruel man who enjoys murder and intends to expand his criminal enterprises to other major cities in the United States. The film shows a fictionalized version of Cohen's downfall: Cohen is beaten in a fistfight and arrested by the LAPD for murdering one of his subordinates, when he was actually imprisoned for tax evasion. Also, he is sentenced to life imprisonment, when in real life, Cohen was eventually released from custody and died of stomach cancer.
  • In the film The Lincoln Lawyer (2011), the protagonist, Michael Haller, played by actor Matthew McConaughey, owns a pistol said to have been owned by Mickey Cohen, and given to him by Haller's father after he successfully defended Cohen in a murder case.

Games

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  • Patrick Fischler lends his voice and likeness to play Mickey Cohen in the 2011 video game L.A. Noire (set in 1947), who is involved in a few cases while working the Vice desk.[14]

Literature

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  • In James Ellroy's L.A. Quartet book series, Cohen plays a major supporting role in three of the novels: The Big Nowhere (1988), L.A. Confidential (1990) and White Jazz (1992).
  • In retired newspaperman Howard Scott Williams' 2017 memoir The Gangster's Butler, recounting stories he reported on from 1948 to 1976, he recounts posing as a butler for Cohen in order to get information for a story.[15]

Television

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References

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Additional sources

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  • Davies, Lloyd G., Los Angeles City Council member, 1943–51, questioned police wiretaps on Mickey Cohen
  • 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: Facts on File, 2005. ISBN 0-8160-5694-3
  • Sifakis, Carl. The Encyclopedia of American Crime. New York: Facts on File, 2001. ISBN 0-8160-4040-0

Further reading

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Mickey Cohen

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Meyer Harris "Mickey" Cohen (September 4, 1913 – July 29, 1976) was an American of Jewish descent who became a dominant figure in Los Angeles after the 1947 assassination of his mentor Benjamin . Born in , New York, to Russian-Jewish immigrant parents, Cohen relocated to at age nine, where he engaged in petty crime from a young age, including stints in and with a record of seven wins, eleven losses, and one draw. In the 1930s, Cohen worked for the Chicago Outfit's operations before moving to in 1937 to assist in consolidating rackets such as , loan-sharking, and amid conflicts with local boss . Following 's murder, Cohen assumed control of West Coast operations linked to national figures like and , expanding into jewelry stores, nightclubs, and alleged blackmail schemes while cultivating a flamboyant public image that intertwined with Hollywood celebrities. Cohen's career was marked by high-profile violence, including surviving multiple assassination attempts—such as a 1948 office bombing and a 1961 prison shooting—and legal battles that resulted in convictions, leading to four years imprisonment starting in 1951 and eleven years from 1961 to 1972. He testified before the Kefauver Committee on and featured in a 1957 Interview, but evaded major indictments for through aggressive defense tactics. Cohen died of in 1976, leaving a legacy as a ruthless yet media-savvy mobster who epitomized mid-century underworld entrepreneurship in .

Early Life

Birth and Family Background

Meyer Harris Cohen, better known as Mickey Cohen, was born on September 4, 1913, in the Brownsville section of , New York, to Jewish parents Max Cohen and Fanny Cohen, who had immigrated from Kiev in the (present-day ). His father, a , died of natural causes several months after his birth, leaving the family destitute. Fanny Cohen, who spoke limited English, supported the household by operating a small after relocating the family to , , when Mickey was approximately two years old; they settled in the working-class Boyle Heights neighborhood. The Cohens were part of a wave of Eastern European Jewish immigrants facing economic hardship in early 20th-century America, with the family's poverty exacerbated by the father's early death and the mother's limited resources. Cohen was the youngest of six children, with five older siblings whose names included brothers Harry and ; the family dynamics involved older brothers engaging in petty ventures during , though Mickey received minimal formal supervision amid these circumstances. This immigrant background of resilience amid adversity shaped the early environment in which Cohen's independent streak developed, though direct causal links to his later path remain inferential from biographical accounts.

Childhood and Early Influences in New York

Meyer Harris Cohen was born on September 4, 1913, in the Brownsville neighborhood of , New York, to Russian-Jewish immigrants Max and Fanny Cohen, who had arrived in the United States around the turn of the century from Kiev. His father, who ran a modest fish market, died of in 1914 when Cohen was less than two years old, leaving his mother to support Cohen and his five older siblings amid financial hardship. The family maintained a strictly Orthodox Jewish household, observing the Hebrew with religious devotion, though Cohen later recalled scant personal memories of his father, learning of him primarily through family accounts. In his early years in New York, Cohen experienced the typical struggles of in an immigrant enclave, contributing to household income by selling newspapers on the bustling streets of the city—a common entry point for urban youth into informal economies and exposure to neighborhood toughs. This street hustling introduced him to the raw underbelly of city life, fostering resourcefulness and wariness in a environment rife with economic desperation, though no records indicate organized criminal involvement during this brief New York phase. Familial emphasis on religious observance provided some structure, but the absence of a and maternal overburden likely contributed to lax , setting a foundation for later rebellious tendencies. By around age nine, in 1922, the Cohen family relocated to , , curtailing further direct New York influences, though the initial imprint of immigrant poverty and street-level survival persisted in shaping his worldview. These formative elements—economic precarity, early independence, and minimal formal guidance—mirrored patterns seen in many future mob figures from similar backgrounds, prioritizing over institutional norms.

Boxing and Initial Criminal Ventures

Amateur and Professional Boxing Career

Cohen began boxing as a youth in , developing an early interest through associations with newsboys groups amid his involvement in petty crime and . After being sent to a , he continued to build skills there, later participating in illegal prizefights as a teenager in around 1928. At age 15, in 1928, Cohen relocated to , , to pursue more seriously under trainer Bob Miller, transitioning toward professional aspirations amid the economic pressures of the . Cohen made his professional debut on April 8, 1930, in , defeating Patsy Farr by decision in a four-round bout, marking Farr's only professional fight. Competing primarily as a , he fought most of his professional bouts in the Midwest, accumulating a career record of 7 wins, 11 losses, and 1 draw between 1930 and 1935, with 2 among his victories. Notable losses included a first-round to Tommy Paul on June 12, 1931, in , and a decision defeat to on April 11, 1933, in . His professional career waned by the mid-1930s as Cohen increasingly shifted focus to , bootlegging, and connections in and , leveraging his physical toughness from the ring for enforcement roles.

Entry into Petty Crime and Chicago Connections

Cohen's involvement in petty crime began in his childhood in New York and early years in Los Angeles, where poverty and lack of supervision prompted minor s and . Born in in 1913, he was sent to in 1922 at age nine following incidents of petty , marking his initial brushes with the . By age ten, he had experienced multiple stints in institutions, during which he engaged in small-scale hustling such as selling newspapers in downtown areas and assisting in his 's drugstore operations, including rudimentary bootlegging activities amid . These early infractions reflected a pattern of driven by economic hardship in a large, struggling immigrant , rather than organized syndicates. As a teenager, Cohen's boxing pursuits provided mobility that escalated his criminal exposure, leading him to run away from home at age fifteen around 1928. He first traveled to , where he debuted professionally in the ring on April 8, 1930, compiling a record of seven wins, eleven losses, and one draw while facing arrests for armed robbery—though acquitted in at least one case. This period transitioned him from isolated petty offenses to associations with gamblers and figures encountered through fight circuits, honing skills in violence and evasion that later proved useful in . Cohen's Chicago connections solidified in the early 1930s, when he relocated there and aligned with the , the dominant crime syndicate formerly led by . Operating as an enforcer, he managed an armed burglary crew and facilitated illegal operations, capitalizing on the Outfit's rackets in the post-Prohibition era. While Cohen claimed personal encounters with Capone, such assertions lack corroboration, as Capone was incarcerated from 1931 to 1939; nonetheless, his roles under successors like and embedded him in the Outfit's enforcement and extortion networks, providing foundational experience in syndicate discipline and territorial control before his westward shift in 1937.

Association with Major Crime Syndicates

Prohibition-Era Activities with the Chicago Outfit

In the late 1920s, during the height of , Mickey Cohen relocated to Chicago after initial troubles in , where he had begun associating with local gangsters through circles. There, he integrated into the , Al Capone's dominant criminal syndicate, initially as an enforcer leveraging his physical prowess from amateur to intimidate rivals and collect debts. Cohen quickly expanded his role by assembling and leading his own crew for armed robberies, targeting speakeasies, gambling dens, and bootleg operations controlled by competing factions, which helped solidify the Outfit's territorial dominance amid the violent Beer Wars. His activities aligned with the Outfit's core Prohibition-era enterprises, including protection rackets over illicit alcohol distribution networks, though Cohen's direct involvement in bootlegging was limited compared to his and operations. As waned in the early 1930s, Cohen shifted focus to , managing card games, tables, and bookmaking setups under Outfit oversight, capitalizing on the syndicate's pivot from alcohol to industries post-Repeal. He later claimed a personal encounter with Capone, but biographical accounts question the extent of this interaction, noting Cohen's youth and mid-level status at the time. These Chicago experiences honed Cohen's reputation for brutality and loyalty, providing foundational connections that later facilitated his westward expansion.

Mentorship and Partnership with Bugsy Siegel

In 1939, and associate Lou Rothkopf dispatched Mickey Cohen to to serve under Benjamin "Bugsy" , who had arrived earlier to challenge Jack Dragna's control over local rackets on behalf of the . Cohen, leveraging his boxing-honed physicality and prior enforcement experience in and , functioned as 's primary lieutenant and , enforcing Syndicate interests in bookmaking, , and labor unions amid escalating violence with Dragna's Italian faction. This arrangement positioned Cohen to learn operational strategies directly from , including the consolidation of wire services for race betting and the intimidation tactics needed to dominate the Sunset Strip's vice economy. Siegel's mentorship extended to grooming Cohen for broader roles, as evidenced by Cohen's involvement in supporting Siegel's Flamingo Hotel project in , where he handled logistical enforcement and fundraising extensions from operations starting in the early 1940s. Their partnership emphasized territorial expansion, with Siegel focusing on high-profile ventures like the casino while delegating day-to-day muscle and racket enforcement in to Cohen, who built a network of bookies and protectors that generated substantial unreported revenue. By , amid tensions over the Flamingo's cost overruns, Cohen's loyalty to Siegel remained firm, though leaders grew wary of Siegel's autonomy; Cohen's role underscored a hierarchical dynamic where he executed Siegel's directives against rivals, solidifying his ascent in West Coast . Siegel's assassination on June 20, 1947, outside his Beverly Hills home elevated Cohen to de facto control of their shared enterprises, inheriting leadership of the Los Angeles rackets with implicit Syndicate approval despite ongoing Dragna hostilities. This transition highlighted the mentorship's success, as Cohen applied Siegel-taught methods to repel assassination attempts and expand wires, though it also exposed fractures in Syndicate unity over West Coast dominance.

Dominance in Los Angeles Underworld

Building the Sunset Strip Bookmaking Empire

In the wake of Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel's assassination on June 20, 1947, Mickey Cohen rapidly consolidated control over Siegel's gambling rackets in , with a primary focus on bookmaking along the , where illegal wagering on horse races thrived amid the area's burgeoning nightlife. Cohen positioned himself as a "bookie's bookie," operating a commission betting office that supplied independent bookmakers with protected access to wire services delivering real-time race odds, entries, and results from national tracks, generating substantial revenue through cuts of 10-20% per bet handled. By early 1948, Cohen relocated his operational headquarters from a modest haberdashery on to a more prominent address, establishing fronts such as clothing stores and social clubs that masked bookmaking hubs and facilitated collections from an estimated network of 500 affiliated bookies across . These operations leveraged teletype wire networks, often sourced from contacts, to undercut competitors by offering faster, more reliable data than rival services controlled by local Italian mob figures like . Cohen's empire expanded through aggressive enforcement, where bookmakers paid weekly vig for "protection" against raids and rival incursions, while his gunmen patrolled Strip venues to deter interlopers; this model reportedly yielded Cohen personal monthly earnings exceeding $50,000 from bookmaking alone by 1949. To secure dominance, Cohen orchestrated the "Battle of the " starting in late , a turf against Dragna's faction, which demanded from non-Italian syndicates; clashes involved drive-by shootings, bombings, and hijackings of wire installations, culminating in Cohen's forces repelling Dragna's advances through superior armament and alliances with Jewish and Midwestern mob elements. This consolidation transformed the into a bookmaking nexus, with Cohen's oversight extending to floating poker games and dice operations in backrooms of clubs like the Clover Club, though bookmaking remained the core, insulated by bribes to local vice squads and leveraging Hollywood celebrities' discreet patronage for high-volume wagers. Federal scrutiny intensified post-1949, as IRS probes into unreported wire service commissions eroded the empire's foundations, leading to Cohen's 1951 conviction.

Rivalries and Wars with Jack Dragna's Italian Mob

Following the murder of Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel on June 20, 1947, Mickey Cohen assumed control of Siegel's extensive operations in , including bookmaking on the , which positioned him in direct opposition to , the boss of the . Dragna, seeking to consolidate Italian-American dominance over local rackets such as , , and the lucrative race wire service for horse betting results, viewed Cohen's expansion as an encroachment on his territory, leading to a protracted gang war marked by bombings and shootings. The conflict escalated in August 1948 when gunmen, allegedly linked to Dragna's organization, ambushed Cohen in his office, firing multiple shots but failing to kill him as he took cover. Tensions peaked on July 20, 1949, with a brazen daylight ambush outside Sherry's restaurant on the , where assailants unleashed a barrage of gunfire at Cohen's vehicle; his , Harold "Hooky" Rothman, was fatally wounded, but Cohen escaped injury by diving to the floorboard. This incident, part of what became known as the "Battle of the ," highlighted the violent turf war over vice operations in Hollywood's nightlife district. Further attempts followed, including a February 6, 1950, bombing of Cohen's Brentwood home at approximately 4:15 a.m., which created a ten-foot in the front bedroom but caused no fatalities as Cohen was absent; several Dragna associates were subsequently arrested in connection with the attack, prompting Dragna to flee the state temporarily to evade questioning. Cohen reportedly survived at least eleven efforts overall, many attributed to Dragna's orders, though he retaliated through his own enforcement squads without documented successful hits on Dragna's key lieutenants. The feud weakened both factions, drawing increased scrutiny from and the California Commission on , which in February 1950 highlighted Dragna's role in the violence. Despite the intensity, the rivalry did not result in Cohen's ouster or Dragna's elimination of Jewish syndicate elements in , persisting until Dragna's death from natural causes on February 23, 1956, after which Cohen's influence waned due to federal prosecutions rather than mob opposition. The war underscored ethnic tensions between Italian-American and Jewish mob networks, with Cohen's defiance backed by ties to the frustrating Dragna's bids for monopoly control.

Criminal Operations and Methods

Extortion, Protection Rackets, and Gambling Networks

Upon relocating to Los Angeles in 1937 under the auspices of the , Cohen sought to consolidate control over local rackets, including the vital race wire service that transmitted real-time betting results to bookmakers, a monopoly that precipitated violent conflicts with Jack Dragna's organization. This infrastructure underpinned his expanding gambling networks, enabling efficient bookmaking operations across . By the early , Cohen had established a betting office at 8109 , disguised as a paint store, where daily wagers ranged from $30,000 to $150,000, hedged through connections to national syndicate offices. Following Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel's assassination on June 20, 1947, Cohen inherited and fortified Siegel's gambling enterprises, particularly the bookmaking hubs along the , transforming them into a dominant empire that drew high-rollers from Hollywood and beyond. He operated exclusive venues such as the La Brea Social Club near and annexed suites at the Ambassador Hotel for high-stakes games, where cash stakes often exceeded $150,000 per session, supplemented by gourmet catering and live entertainment to attract elite clientele. In 1944, Cohen ran a lavish private at 9100 Hazen Drive in the hills, hosting games like chemin de fer and after midnight, further embedding his network in the region's illicit betting ecosystem. Cohen's gambling dominance intertwined with extortion and protection rackets, as he and his enforcers imposed "insurance" fees on independent bookmakers and businesses to safeguard against rivals or , often enforced through or . A notable example occurred on New Year's Eve 1945, when Cohen led an armed raid on an unsanctioned pop-up casino on the , confiscating cash and valuables from Hollywood elites in a bid to assert territorial control and extract tribute. He systematically shook down Los Angeles business owners, labor unions, and even Hollywood studios for payoffs, leveraging threats of disruption or exposure to maintain compliance, while his and schemes targeted influential figures in entertainment and government for additional leverage. These operations generated substantial unreported income, fueling his opulent lifestyle but ultimately drawing federal scrutiny for in subsequent prosecutions.

Hollywood Infiltrations and National Crime Syndicate Ties

Cohen's criminal enterprises in Los Angeles permeated Hollywood through control of , , and high-end vice operations that catered to celebrities and studio executives. By the early 1940s, alongside , he managed a lucrative horserace wire service and bookmaking rackets on the , drawing in stars seeking discreet betting opportunities and generating substantial revenue from the entertainment industry's elite. These activities extended to protection rackets and shakedowns of businesses and labor groups tied to film production, including unions for projectionists, electricians, and other trades, enabling influence over studio operations without direct ownership. A prominent example of extortion involved associate Johnny Stompanato, whom Cohen employed as a bodyguard and enforcer; Stompanato's 1950s affair with actress Lana Turner provided leverage for blackmail, with Cohen and Stompanato demanding payments and later leaking compromising love letters to the press following Stompanato's fatal stabbing by Turner's daughter in April 1958. Cohen also oversaw prostitution rings and pornography schemes that targeted Hollywood figures, exploiting scandals for financial gain and further embedding his network among celebrities like Frank Sinatra, Robert Mitchum, and Sammy Davis Jr., with whom he socialized publicly. These West Coast infiltrations were bolstered by Cohen's alignment with the , the loose alliance of Italian-American and Jewish organized crime factions led by figures like and . In the early 1940s, Luciano and Lansky endorsed Cohen's partnership with , positioning him as their representative in against local Italian boss ; this backing included legal support from Syndicate-funded attorneys during his 1942 assault arrest. Following 's assassination on June 20, 1947, Cohen assumed control of Syndicate interests in , including labor racketeering such as the Teamsters-Mob alliance, for which Lansky later credited him. His operations in narcotics, unions, and vice thus served as an extension of eastern Syndicate strategies, ensuring coordinated national expansion while fending off rivals.

Clashes with Authorities

Assassination Attempts and Defensive Measures

Mickey Cohen survived numerous assassination attempts, with reports indicating at least 11 such efforts throughout his criminal career, primarily stemming from turf wars with Jack Dragna's over gambling rackets and the "race wire" service. These attacks included shootings, bombings targeting his home and office, and one during his federal imprisonment from 1961 to 1972. Rivals sought to eliminate Cohen as he consolidated power in following Siegel's 1947 murder, viewing him as a non-Italian outsider dominating lucrative operations. A prominent attempt occurred on July 20, 1949, outside Sherry's restaurant at 9039 , where assailants fired four shotgun blasts at Cohen and his entourage from a passing . Cohen sustained a shoulder wound requiring intravenous treatment, while Harry Cooper was critically injured with stomach shots, associate Edward "Neddie" Herbert died from multiple gunshot wounds, and others including actress Dee David and reporter Florabel Muir were hospitalized. Cohen's group did not return fire, and the gunmen escaped unidentified, amid the broader "Sunset Wars" violence. Earlier that year, a shotgun attack on Cohen's clothing store killed a , escalating the conflict. To counter these threats, Cohen employed constant bodyguards, often numbering two or more from his crew known as the "Seven Dwarfs," who escorted him during movements. He also commissioned a custom-armored 1950 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty Special, reinforced with steel plating to resist bullets and bombs at a cost of $16,000, which required five months to construct and featured enhanced weight for protection during high-risk travel. These measures, including his fortified vehicle later confiscated by authorities, enabled Cohen to evade death despite repeated targeting by Dragna-aligned hitmen.

Tax Evasion Prosecutions and Federal Imprisonments

In February 1951, federal authorities arrested Cohen and his wife Lavada for income tax evasion, charging him with failing to report substantial earnings from illegal gambling and other rackets during the mid-1940s. The indictment alleged willful attempts to evade taxes on over $500,000 in unreported income across multiple years, leading to his conviction later that year on three counts under 26 U.S.C. § 145(b). Cohen was sentenced to four years in federal prison and fined $10,000, with his wife receiving a suspended sentence; he began serving time at the United States Penitentiary, McNeil Island, and was released in 1955 after approximately four years due to good behavior credits. Following his release, Cohen resumed bookmaking and activities in , which drew renewed IRS scrutiny for underreported income from wire services and protection payments. In 1961, he was convicted again on federal charges involving deliberate concealment of assets and falsified records for the years 1956–1959, resulting in a 15-year sentence and additional fines totaling $30,000. Transferred to shortly after sentencing, Cohen became the only inmate ever granted bail from the facility when his attorneys secured release pending appeal in 1962; the appeal failed, and he served subsequent time at facilities including USP Atlanta, where he survived a reported attempt via a smuggled into his cell in 1963—one of at least 11 such attempts on his life. Cohen was ultimately paroled in 1972 after serving about 11 years of the sentence, having endured harsh conditions and ongoing threats from rivals, including suspected Italian elements seeking to eliminate his influence in West Coast operations. These prosecutions exemplified the U.S. government's strategy of using tax laws to dismantle figures, as direct evidence of violent crimes was often elusive, though Cohen maintained the charges targeted his legitimate business interests while ignoring corrupt ties.

Public Image and Political Involvement

Media Persona and Claims of Philanthropy

Cohen actively cultivated a flamboyant media persona in the late 1940s and 1950s, positioning himself as a dapper, unapologetic figure in Los Angeles society through extravagant attire, including custom-tailored suits and lavish jewelry, which contrasted sharply with his criminal undertakings. His high-visibility lifestyle, including ownership of a customized Cadillac and associations with Hollywood celebrities, drew extensive press coverage, with Cohen often posing amid stacks of newspapers bearing headlines about his exploits, reinforcing his status as the city's most infamous underworld personality by 1949. This self-promotion extended to national platforms, such as a 1957 live television interview with Mike Wallace, where Cohen openly discussed his criminal past, admitted to acts of violence in self-defense, and lambasted Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker, further amplifying his defiant public image. Amid federal prosecutions in the early 1950s, Cohen promoted claims of to soften his reputation, asserting contributions to Jewish causes, orphanages, and hospitals, though specific donation amounts and recipients remain sparsely documented and often anecdotal. As a self-identified Zionist, he voiced support for the and participated in related efforts, including a 1950 charity gala co-hosted with screenwriter at Slapsy Maxie's nightclub to aid Israeli causes, which blended entertainment with purported benevolence. Biographers have questioned the sincerity of these activities, portraying them as calculated public relations maneuvers to counter his "Public Enemy No. 1" label and appeal to sympathetic ethnic communities, rather than evidence of genuine , given the absence of audited records or sustained institutional involvement. For instance, Cohen personally funded the 1958 of associate following his killing, framing it as an act of loyalty and generosity, yet such gestures aligned more with syndicate codes than broad charitable intent.

Anti-Communist Stance and Associations with Conservative Figures

In the late 1940s, Cohen attended evangelist Billy Graham's crusade rallies, which drew massive crowds and were promoted by William Randolph Hearst's newspapers as part of a broader anti-communist cultural push. Cohen met Graham personally and publicly praised the "Christian way of life," stating after a 1951 dinner with the evangelist, "I am very high on the Christian way of life." Graham and his associates pressed Cohen to publicly renounce and embrace fully, but Cohen refused, continuing his criminal enterprises despite the association. This interaction highlighted Cohen's opportunistic alignment with conservative evangelical figures amid the era's fervor, though his commitment appeared superficial. Cohen cultivated favor with publishing magnate through acts of , such as funding funerals and aiding the poor without publicity, which Hearst publicized positively in his outlets. Hearst, a vocal anti-communist who wielded influence against perceived leftist threats in Hollywood and beyond, became an admirer, amplifying Cohen's public image during a time when mob figures occasionally aided studio efforts to counter communist-influenced unions. For instance, in the , organized crime elements, including those linked to Cohen, assisted in breaking picket lines during Hollywood labor disputes tied to suspected communist organizers, aligning with industry anti-communist sentiments. These ties underscored Cohen's navigation of conservative networks for legitimacy, rather than ideological conviction. Politically, Cohen reportedly donated $5,000 to Richard Nixon's 1946 congressional campaign, connecting him to a rising anti-communist leader who later prosecuted labor . Nixon's early career focused on exposing communist infiltration, and such contributions from figures reflected Cohen's strategic support for figures combating leftist influences in unions and entertainment, where his own rackets intersected. However, these associations did not translate to Cohen adopting a formal anti-communist platform; his involvement remained pragmatic, leveraging conservative alliances amid federal scrutiny of his operations.

Later Life and Decline

Post-Release Activities and Business Attempts

Cohen was released from the Federal Penitentiary in 1972 after serving 11 years of a 15-year sentence for . Due to a with a lead pipe by another inmate at Alcatraz in 1963, which caused lasting brain damage, Cohen emerged from partially paralyzed on one side and reliant on a cane for mobility. During his incarceration, he had advocated against prison abuses and filed a $10 million against the federal government alleging negligence in the attack. Post-release activities centered on exploiting his public notoriety rather than criminal or commercial revival. Cohen made guest appearances on television talk shows, recounting episodes from his gangster past. In 1975, he dictated his autobiography, Mickey Cohen: In My Own Words, to journalist John Peer Nugent, offering a self-narrated account of his rise in Los Angeles organized crime; the book detailed his operations, feuds, and associations without expressing remorse for his actions. No documented successful business ventures—legitimate or illicit—followed his release. Hampered by physical disabilities, advancing age, depleted finances, and a transformed landscape dominated by newer syndicates, Cohen mounted no notable efforts to re-enter , , or entrepreneurial fields like his pre-incarceration interests in jewelry, nightclubs, or vending. His inability to regain former wealth underscored the finality of his decline from power. Soon after , a diagnosis—initially misidentified as an during imprisonment—dominated his remaining years, curtailing any potential pursuits.

Health Deterioration and Final Years

Following his release from on January 6, 1972, Cohen suffered lasting effects from a severe sustained during a 1961 prison attack at Alcatraz, where skull fragments pierced his brain tissue, causing hemorrhage and requiring surgical intervention; this left him partially disabled, reliant on a cane for mobility. In his final years, Cohen experienced gastrointestinal distress initially misdiagnosed as an ulcer, which was later revealed to be stomach cancer. Despite abstaining from alcohol and tobacco throughout his life, he underwent surgery for the cancer, but succumbed to postoperative complications on July 29, 1976, at age 62 in Los Angeles.

Death and Immediate Aftermath

Stomach Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

Following his parole from federal prison on October 14, 1972, Cohen experienced persistent and digestive issues, initially attributed to a peptic by physicians. Further medical evaluation in the ensuing months revealed the condition to be , a confirmed through diagnostic procedures typical of the era, including clinical examination and likely imaging or , though specific details of the confirmatory tests remain undocumented in primary accounts. Cohen underwent surgical intervention to address the malignancy, which involved resection of the affected gastric tissue, standard for advanced at the time absent more contemporary options like protocols or targeted therapies. Post-operative recovery allowed him to resume limited public activities, including promotional tours across the and television appearances, indicating partial remission or stabilization of the disease in the immediate aftermath. However, the surgery carried inherent risks, and recurrent complications, such as or gastrointestinal failure, ultimately proved fatal on July 29, 1976, while Cohen slept at his residence. No evidence exists of adjunctive treatments like or experimental regimens, reflecting the limited oncological standards of the mid-1970s for gastric .

Funeral and Estate Disputes

Cohen died on July 29, 1976, at age 62 from complications following surgery for . His funeral services were conducted privately, reflecting his diminished status in later years, with burial at Hillside Memorial Park in , in the Garden of Memories section. The gravesite inscription reads "Our Beloved Brother," indicating recognition by surviving siblings amid his lack of children. At the time of death, Cohen's estate was appraised at $3,000, a stark contrast to his earlier reputed wealth from gambling, extortion, and other rackets, likely depleted by prolonged legal battles, federal tax convictions, and medical expenses. His wife, Lavada "Vee" Cohen, whom he married in 1947, survived him but received no public mention in estate proceedings; the modest value precluded significant inheritance claims. No documented disputes arose over the will or distribution, as the estate's scale and Cohen's childless status limited potential conflicts among heirs.

Legacy and Historical Evaluation

Impact on Organized Crime Structures in the West

Following the assassination of Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel on June 20, 1947, Mickey Cohen assumed control of Siegel's extensive , , and operations across and , effectively positioning himself as the preeminent West Coast crime boss with backing from national figures like and . This consolidation expanded the syndicate's reach into , narcotics distribution, labor union infiltration, and a dominant horse race wire service that facilitated nationwide , thereby embedding more deeply into Southern California's economy and entertainment industry. Cohen's operations, often fronted by legitimate businesses such as jewelry stores and nightclubs, temporarily centralized Jewish-led rackets in , challenging the Italian-dominated faction under Jack Dragna and fostering a hybrid structure influenced by tactics adapted to the West's decentralized environment. However, Cohen's aggressive expansion sparked a protracted gang war with Dragna, marked by bombings, shootings, and territorial disputes over the lucrative race wire, which fragmented West Coast crime networks rather than unifying them under a cohesive akin to Eastern families. His survival of at least 11 attempts between 1948 and 1950 underscored personal resilience but highlighted structural vulnerabilities, as the drew intense scrutiny from law enforcement, including the Los Angeles Police Department's Gangster Squad and the 1950-1951 Kefauver Committee hearings that exposed mob infiltration in Hollywood and politics. This publicity, combined with Cohen's flamboyant media presence, elevated organized crime's profile in the West but eroded operational secrecy, prompting rivals and authorities to exploit divisions. Cohen's federal tax evasion conviction on November 21, 1951, resulting in a four-year sentence, critically disrupted his , allowing Dragna's group to reclaim some territory and contributing to the long-term weakening of structured mob dominance in . A subsequent 1961 conviction, carrying a 15-year term served partly at Alcatraz, further dismantled remnants of his network, as lieutenants scattered or faced prosecution, ultimately rendering ' underworld more opportunistic and less institutionalized compared to Eastern counterparts. Historians note that while Cohen facilitated the westward migration of methods from Prohibition-era models, his era's internal conflicts and legal defeats entrenched fragmentation, limiting the West's evolution into a major national crime hub.

Balanced Assessments: Achievements in Syndicate Building vs. Societal Costs

Mickey Cohen's primary achievement in syndicate building lay in consolidating and expanding operations on the West Coast following his 1937 relocation to under the auspices of the . Tasked with organizing rackets in the burgeoning region, Cohen partnered with Benjamin "Bugsy" to establish a comprehensive network encompassing , narcotics distribution, labor union infiltration, and a horse race wire service that facilitated nationwide . After 's on June 20, 1947, Cohen assumed control of key and loan-sharking enterprises, transforming a fragmented underworld into a more centralized apparatus that generated substantial illicit revenue through high-stakes betting operations, such as his commission office at 8109 , which served as a hub for bookmakers. This structure extended to shakedowns of businesses and labor groups, distribution, and schemes targeting Hollywood figures and local officials, enabling Cohen to amass influence rivaling that of established bosses like . These organizational successes, however, exacted severe societal costs through pervasive violence and that destabilized during the late and . Cohen's refusal to defer to Dragna ignited a protracted gang war marked by bombings, ambushes, and assassinations, including an at Cohen's residence and at least 11 attempts on his life, which escalated public fear and strained resources. His enforcer tactics contributed to direct acts of brutality, such as the 1945 killing of rival Max Shaman—deemed —and assaults on competitors, fostering an environment of intimidation that infiltrated unions and entertainment industries, leading to and disrupted legitimate commerce. Broader repercussions included deepened municipal , as Cohen's operations compromised officials and celebrities, undermining trust in institutions and perpetuating social unrest amid one of the city's most violent epochs up to that point. In assessing Cohen's legacy, his efficiencies—streamlining rackets for profitability and resilience—must be weighed against the net detriment to civic order, where territorial wars and coercive practices inflicted measurable and economic tolls without commensurate societal benefits. While Cohen evaded convictions for violent crimes despite federal scrutiny, his imprisonments in 1951 and 1961 underscored how such empires relied on evasion of accountability, ultimately eroding community cohesion more than advancing any structured criminal innovation. Historians note that these operations diverted economic activity into shadows, inflating costs for victims through lost productivity and heightened security demands, though precise quantification remains elusive absent comprehensive period-specific audits.

Representations in Media

Films and Television Depictions

In the 1991 biographical film , directed by and focusing on the life of gangster Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, portrayed Mickey Cohen as Siegel's loyal enforcer and associate in establishing operations in . The depiction emphasizes Cohen's role in the violent expansion of the Jewish Mafia's influence on the West Coast during the late 1940s. Cohen appears in a supporting capacity in the 1997 neo-noir crime film , directed by and adapted from James Ellroy's novel, where plays him as a key figure in 1950s Los Angeles underworld corruption tied to and rackets. The film portrays Cohen's syndicate clashing with and rival elements amid broader LAPD scandals. James Woods depicted Cohen in the 1993 episode "" of the anthology television series , which dramatizes 1950s Los Angeles crime stories; here, Cohen is shown navigating mob intrigues involving fixed boxing matches and personal vendettas. The portrayal highlights his combative personality and connections to figures like . The 2013 TNT miniseries , created by and set in post-World War II , features Jeremy Luke as Cohen in a central antagonistic , depicting his of the city's rackets following Siegel's 1947 assassination and his brutal enforcement tactics against police interference. Luke's performance underscores Cohen's physical toughness from his background and his flamboyant public persona amid turf wars. In the 2013 film Gangster Squad, directed by Ruben Fleischer and based on real LAPD efforts to dismantle East Coast mob influence in Los Angeles, Sean Penn plays Cohen as the primary villain, a ruthless kingpin expanding operations through extortion, gambling, and violence in 1949. Penn's portrayal accentuates Cohen's dapper attire, explosive temper, and iron-fisted control over the city, drawing from historical accounts of his wiretapping resistance and high-profile feuds. The film dramatizes an off-the-books police unit's attempts to undermine his empire without formal arrests. Earlier, in the 1988 television movie Shakedown on the , Harris Laskawy portrayed Cohen in a centered on LAPD vice squad operations targeting and rings under his influence. This depiction frames him as a cunning operator evading through political connections and brutality.

Literature, Books, and Other Cultural References

, dictated to John Peer Nugent and published in 1975, serves as Cohen's , offering his personal recounting of events from his early boxing days through his Los Angeles mob activities and imprisonments. Tere Tereba's Mickey Cohen: The Life and Crimes of L.A.'s Notorious Mobster, published in 2012 by , draws on archival materials, interviews, and court records to trace Cohen's ascent after Siegel's 1947 assassination, his control over West Coast rackets including gambling and extortion, and his flamboyant clashes with law enforcement. Brad Lewis's Hollywood's Celebrity Gangster: The Incredible Life and Times of Mickey Cohen, released in , compiles details from over a thousand sources on Cohen's Hollywood connections, such as associations with figures like and his bookmaking operations that targeted celebrities. In fictional , Cohen appears as a recurring character in James Ellroy's crime novels depicting 1940s-1950s corruption. In (1988), he orchestrates union infiltration and vice rackets that entangle LAPD officers in a investigation. Ellroy also features Cohen in (1990), linking him to heroin distribution and police frame-ups amid the city's underworld power struggles. Additionally, the short story collection Hollywood Nocturnes (1994) includes tales where Cohen employs strong-arm tactics for in schemes involving murder and extortion.

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