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. Details Casts Posters Title Leave 'Em Laughing Release Date 1981-04-29 Runtime 01 Hours 38 Minutes Genres Drama TV Movie Production Companies Julian Fowles Productions, Charles Fries Productions Production Countries United States of America Mickey Rooney... Jack Thum... Anne Jackson... Shirlee Thum... Allen Garfield... Dr. Arthur Abrams... Elisha Cook Jr.... Jetter... Michael LeClair... Tom... William Windom... Smiley Jenkins... Red Buttons... Roland Green... Carol Ann Susi... Gina... Bruce French... McClain... De'voreaux White... Ralph... Adrienne Kingman... Alice... Jan Stratton... 1st Nurse... Candy Mobley... 2nd Nurse... Gary Miller... Jeff... Joseph Pon... Ringmaster... Richard Paxton... Man... Dione Paray... Trapeze Lady... William McCabe... Clown... Danny Lance... Zooky... Scotty Lance... Zooky... Original Size (666x1000)