The Three Stooges Films

2008-07-24T07:48:00.000-07:00

The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. They were commonly known by their first names: 'Larry, Moe & Curly', and 'Moe, Larry, & Shemp', among other lineups. The act originally featured Moe Howard (born Harry(Moshe) Moses Horwitz), brother Shemp Howard (born (Shmuel) Samuel Horwitz), and longtime friend Larry Fine (born Louis(Levi) Feinberg). Shemp was later replaced by brother Curly Howard (born Jerome Lester(Yehudah-Leib) Horwitz) in 1932. When Curly suffered a debilitating stroke in 1946, Shemp rejoined the act. After Shemp's death in 1955, he was replaced by bald-headed comedian Joe Besser, after the use of stuntman Joe Palma to record several "Shemp" shorts after his death. Eventually Joe "Curly-Joe" DeRita (born Joseph Wardell) would replace him. After Larry suffered a serious stroke in 1970 he was unable to continue performing. Emil Sitka, a longtime actor in Stooge comedies, was contracted to replace Larry—but no film was ever made with him in the role, although publicity photographs exist of him with his hair combed similarly to Larry's posing with Moe and Curly-Joe. However, Larry's paralyzing stroke in 1970 effectively marked the end of the act. He died in January 1975. Moe died of cancer a few months later.

The Stooges' hallmark was extremely physical slapstick comedy punctuated by quickly-delivered one-liners, within outrageous storylines.

Three Stooges Combinations

1. Moe Howard, and Ted Healy 1922–1923

2. Moe Howard, Ted Healy, and Shemp Howard 1923

3. Moe Howard, Ted Healy, Larry Fine, and Shemp Howard 1923–1932

4. Moe Howard, Ted Healy, Larry Fine, and Curly Howard 1932–1934

5. Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Curly Howard 1934–1947

6. Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Shemp Howard 1947–1956

7. Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Joe Besser 1957–1959

8. Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Curly Joe DeRita 1958–1975

9. Moe Howard, Emil Sitka, and Curly Joe DeRita 1975

Moe Howard
Real Name: Harry Moses Horwitz
Born: June 19, 1897(1897-06-19)
Died: May 4, 1975 (aged 77)
Stooge years: 1922, 1926, 1929–1975

Larry Fine
Real Name: Louis Feinberg
Born: October 5, 1902(1902-10-05)
Died: January 24, 1975 (aged 72)
Stooge years: 1925–1926, 1929–1975

Curly Howard
Real Name: Jerome Lester Horwitz
Born: October 22, 1903(1903-10-22)
Died: January 18, 1952 (aged 48)
Stooge years: 1932–1946

Shemp Howard
Real Name: Schmool Samuel Horwitz
Born: March 4, 1895(1895-03-04)
Died: November 22, 1955 (aged 60)
Stooge years: 1922–1925, 1929–1932, 1947–1955

Ted Healy
Real Name: Clarence Ernst Lee Nash
Born: October 1, 1896(1896-10-01)
Died: December 21, 1937 (aged 41)
Stooge Years: 1922–1925, 1929–1934

Joe Palma
Born: March 17, 1905(1905-03-17)
Died: August 15, 1994 (aged 89)
Stooge Year: 1956 (body double for Shemp)

Joe Besser
Born: August 12, 1907(1907-08-12)
Died: March 1, 1988 (aged 80)
Stooge years: 1956–1957

Curly-Joe DeRita
Real Name: Joseph Wardell
Born: July 12, 1909(1909-07-12)
Died: July 3, 1993 (aged 83)
Stooge years: 1958–1975

Emil Josef Sitka [9]
Born: December 22, 1914(1914-12-22)
Died: January 16, 1998 (aged 83)
Stooge year: 1975

Sitka was officially named a member of the Stooges following Larry Fine's stroke, but never got to perform with the group.