The Man Who Wouldn't Die, and How His Ultimate Demise Shaped Insurance

Few true crime tales are as bizarre as the Michael Malloy case. His ability to survive multiple murder attempts in 1930s New York City before he finally succumbed exposed major vulnerabilities in the insurance industry. The case not only captivated public imagination, but became a catalyst for significant change. Beyond the shocking details lies a narrative that pushed the insurance industry, law enforcement, and regulatory bodies to evolve.

It highlighted systemic flaws and showed how a single act of greed, wrapped in tragic absurdity, could become a watershed moment for reform. Ultimately, Malloy’s endurance – and the incompetence of a slimy group of conspirators – led to reforms that made life insurance more ethical and less vulnerable to criminal exploitation than had been the case before. Below are twenty two fascinating facts about the lasting legacy of the man who (almost) wouldn’t die.

Michael Malloy (1873 – 1933) was a homeless Irish immigrant who lived in New York City in the 1920s and 1930s. Born in County Donegal, Ireland, in 1873, Malloy emigrated to the United States in search of better opportunities. Things did not turn out as well as he had hoped. By the early 1930s, he was a homeless alcoholic who frequented Bronx speakeasies.

His daily routine was to drink from morning until he passed out, often on the floor of Tony Marino’s speakeasy, where he was a regular. Malloy became the mark of a homicidal conspiracy whose execution became weirder and weirder with each passing day. It led to his demise and made international news – and as seen below, forever changed how life insurance is handled.