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Paul Howard, the only son of The Three Stooges‘ Moe Howard and the last surviving son of the comedy team’s classic line up – Moe, brothers Curly and Shemp, and Larry Fine – died this week. He was 91.
The death was confirmed by a spokesperson for C3 Entertainment, the owner of The Three Stooges license and brand. An exact date or cause of death was not specified.
Howard, who lived on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, had acted as a guardian of his father’s legacy, often interacting with fans over the years and, in the words of C3, providing “a unique, firsthand view of the man behind the iconic bowl cut and timeless slapstick comedy.”
Both Moe Howard and Larry Fine died in 1975; Moe’s brothers Shemp and Curly died in 1955 and 1952, respectively.
“He connected directly with generations of The Three Stooges fans at various conventions and events over the years, sharing personal stories, family memories, and insights into the life of Moe Howard and the Stooges’ enduring impact on American pop culture,” the announcement stated.
In 2015, Paul Howard hosted an acclaimed 9-part docuseries Hey Moe, Hey Dad!, a series that served as an intimate, definitive tribute to the legacy of The Three Stooges, featuring rare archival footage, personal family accounts, and interviews with the families of Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Shemp Howard, and latter Stooge Curly Joe DeRita, as well as interviews with well-known celebrity fans including Whoopi Goldberg, Billy West, and Leonard Maltin. The docuseries is available on The Three Stooges+ YouTube channel.
Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, 1936
Everett Collection
The Three Stooges, of course, were the beloved comedy troupe active from the early 1920s through 1970 who starred in nearly 200 film shorts that featured their slapstick, cartoonishly violent humor. Moe Howard and Larry Fine were part of the act throughout its existence, with either of Howard’s brothers Samuel “Shemp” Howard and Jerome “Curly” Howard taking the role of third stooge at various times during the act’s prime years. After the deaths of Shemp and Curly in the 1950s, comics Joe Besser and “Curly Joe” DeRita filled in during the 1960s.
The C3 statement concluded, Paul Howard’s “devotion to preserving his family’s history leaves a lasting imprint on the global Stooges community. He will be remembered fondly for his dedication to honoring his father’s memory and the joy he brought to fans worldwide.”
Howard is survived by daughter Jennifer and nephew Jeffrey.