Valerie Newman (1947-1952) Marion Buxbaum (1945-1946) Elaine Ackerman (1937-1940) Julia Rosenthal (1930)
Curly Howard (October 22, 1903 – January 18, 1952) was a member of the American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges, along with his older brothers Moe Howard and Shemp Howard, and actor Larry Fine. Curly was more or less the breakout character of the Stooges and is generally considered the most popular and recognizable of the three.[1] He is well known for his high-pitched voice, vocal expressions ("nyuk-nyuk-nyuk!" and "woo-woo-woo!"), as well as his inventive physical comedy, hilarious improvisations, and athleticism.[2]
An untrained actor and natural comedian, Curly borrowed (and significantly exaggerated) the "woo woo" from "nervous" and soft-spoken comedian Hugh Herbert, but was otherwise an original and inspired performer. Curly's unique version of "woo-woo-woo" was firmly established by the time of the Stooges' second film Punch Drunks in 1934.[2]
Early life
Curly was born in Brownsville, a section of Brooklyn, New York. He was the fifth of the five Horwitz brothers and of Levite and Lithuanian Jewish ancestry. Because he was the youngest, his brothers called him "Babe" to tease him. The nickname stuck with him all his life although when Shemp married Gertrude Frank, who was also nicknamed "Babe," the brothers started calling him Curly to avoid confusion.[3]
A quiet child, Curly rarely caused problems for his parents (something older brother Moe and Shemp excelled in). The shy Howard brother was a mediocre student academically, but excelled as an athelete on the school basketball team. He did not graduate from high school, but kept himself busy with jobs here and there, and constantly followed his older brother around whereever they roamed. The graceful Stooge was also an accomplished ballroom dancer and singer, and reguarly turned up at the Triangle Ballroom in Brooklyn, occasionally bumping into George Raft.[2]
When Curly was 12, he accidentally shot himself in the ankle while cleaning a rifle. Moe rushed him to the hospital and saved his life. He suffered a slight limp afterward, and was so frightened of surgery that he never got it corrected. While with the Stooges, he developed his famous exaggerated walk to mask the limp on screen.[2]
Curly was interested in music and comedy, and would watch his brothers Shemp and Moe perform as stooges in Ted Healy's vaudeville act. Curly also liked to hang around backstage, though he never participated in any of the routines.
Early career and the Three Stooges
From an early age, Curly was always "in demand socially," as brother Moe put it.[2] He was also a ladies' man, and could not resist a beautiful woman. Curly married his first wife, Julia Rosenthal, on August 5, 1930. Very little is known of his first union, except for the fact the two divorced shortly afterwards.[4]
In 1928, Curly's break onto the stage was as a comedy musical conductor for the Orville Knapp Band. Moe later recalled that Curly's performances usually overshadowed those of the band.[2] Though Curly enjoyed the gig, he watched as older brothers Moe and Shemp (and partner Larry Fine) made it big as one of Ted Healy's "stooges." Vaudeville star Ted Healy had a very popular stage act, in which he would try to tell jokes or sing, only to have his stooges wander on stage and interrupt him. By 1930, Healy and company appeared in their first feature film, Rube Goldberg's Soup to Nuts.[1]
Shemp, however, never liked Healy's abrasiveness and drunken bouts of anger.[2] In 1932, luck came Shemp's way when he was offered the role of "Knobby Walsh" in the Joe Palooka series produced by Vitaphone back in Brooklyn. Shemp was thrilled to be away from Healy, but, as was his nature worried incessantly about brother Moe and partner Larry. Moe, however, told Shemp to pursue this opportunity:
In 1932 Shemp got the opportunity to play the character Knobby in Joe Palooka pictures out on the coast. And it seemed like a great opportunity for Shemp. And he was reluctant about leaving, he said 'Well, what are you gonna do for a third man?' I said 'Shemp, don't worry about that. Grab your opportunity and we'll get the kid brother Curly in. And Curly was working with a band called Orville Knapp and his Band, he was a comedy guest conductor. And it got a big laugh, so we got in touch with Curly and said, 'Give your man two weeks notice and come on, you're gonna join with us.'[5]
With Shemp gone, Moe suggested that kid brother Jerry fill the role of the third stooge. However, Ted took one look at Jerry, with his chestnut-red locks and elegant waxed mustache, and stated he was not a funny character like Moe and Larry. Jerry left the room and returned minutes later with a shaved head and face. Healy quipped, "Boy, don't you look girlie?" Moe misheard the joke as "curly," and all who witnessed the exchange realized that the nickname "Curly" would be a perfect fit. In one of the few interview's Curly gave in his lifetime, he moaned "I had to shave it off right down to the skin."[2] The character of "Curly" was born.
In 1934, MGM was building Ted Healy up as a solo comedian in feature films, and Healy dissolved the act to pursue his own career. Like Shemp, the team of Howard, Fine and Howard were tired of Healy's alcoholism and abrasiveness as well, and renamed their act "The Three Stooges." The same year, they signed on to appear in two-reel comedy short subjects for Columbia Pictures. The Stooges soon became the most popular short-subject attraction, with Curly playing an integral part in the trio's rise to fame.[2]
Prime years
By the end of the 1930s, Curly was clearly the start of the Three Stooges.[1] His childlike mannerisms and natural comedic charm made him a hit with audiences. Having no formal acting training, his comedic skill was entirely spontaneous. Many times, directors would simply let the camera roll to see what Curly came up with. Jules White, in particular, would leave gaps in the Stooge scripts where Curly could improvise for several minutes.[2] By time the Stooges hit their peak in the late 1930s, films had almost become vehicles for Curly's manic comic performances. Classics like A Plumbing We Will Go, We Want Our Mummy, An Ache in Every Stake and Cactus Makes Perfect display Curly's innate ability to take inanimate objects (like food, tools, pipes, etc.) and turn them into breathtaking comic genius.[2] Moe later confirmed that the fact Curly often forget his lines only allowed him to improvise on the spot rather than ruin the shot:
But you see, he (Curly) couldn't talk tough to me because that would be the wrong thing to do. He'd get a belt in the mouth anyhow if he did. And Curly was just big enough and strong enough that anything I said or did, he could break me in half but his only response was 'mmmmm!'(the high-pitched whine Curly was known for) Every time we were on a personal appearance in the theater, every time I'd smack Curly someone in the audience would holler 'Hit him back, Curly! Hit him back!' If we were going through a scene and he'd forget his words for a moment, you know. Rather than stand, get pale and stop, you never knew what he was going to do. On one occasion he'd get down to the floor and spin around like a top until he remembered what he had to say.[5]
Oddly enough, Curly's offscreen personality was the anththesis of his onscreen manic persona. An introvert, Curly generally kept to himself, rarely socializing with people unless he had consumed several drinks. In addition, he came to life when in the presence of brothers Moe and Shemp. Never an intellect, Curly simply refrained from engaging in "crazy antics" unless he was in his element: with family or performing.[2]
File:Callingcurz.jpgCurly (center) was in his glory while filming the dog-themed Calling All Curs. His love of canines was unabated throughout his life.
On June 7, 1937, Curly married Elaine Ackerman, who gave birth to Curly's first child, Marilyn, the following year. By the 1940, it seemed that everything Curly touched turned to gold. Instead, 1940 proved to be the beginning of the end.
Decline
1940 began with Curly's marriage to Elaine Ackerman coming to end on July 11. Coming off the heels of his divorce, Curly began to indulge in life's excesses. He gained a tremendous amount of weight and developed hypertension. The fact that Curly always believed that his shaven his head made him unappealing to women caused him to drink excessively to mask the insecurities. Curly wore a hat in public to convey an image of masculinity, saying he felt like a little kid with his hair shaved off However, he was popular with women all his life, even after becoming "Curly."[1] In fact, many who knew him said women were Curly's main weakness throughout his life. Moe's son-in-law Norman Maurer even went so far to say he "was a pushover for women. If a pretty girl went up to him and gave him a spiel, Curly would marry them. Then she would take his money and run off. It was the same when a real estate agent would come up and say 'I have a house for you,' Curly would sell his current home and buy another one."[2]
As the 1940s wore on, so did the United States's involvement in World War II. For seven months out of each year, the trio's filming schedule would go on hiatus, which allowed them to make personal appearances. The war demamded that trio entertain the troops constantly, resulting in a backbreaking work schedule that took its toll on the seemingly indestructible Curly. As a result, his drinking increased, as did his eating, cigar smoking, and overall carousing. Curly also had difficulties managing his finances, often spending his money on wine, food, women, homes, cars, and especially dogs. Since income from his successful career was carelessly spent, Curly was often near poverty. Moe eventually handled all of Curly's financial affairs, helped him manage his money, and even completed his income tax returns.[2]
File:Plumb.jpgCurly models a girdle for Moe and Larry in A Plumbing We Will Go. This short was reportedly Curly's favorite film.[2]
Though single, Curly found constant companionship in his canine friends. Quite simply, he was "mad about dogs," and often befriended strays whenever the Stooges were travelling. Curly would pick up strays from town to town, take them everywhere with him, and then try to find them a home before departing from Stooges' latest gig. When not performing, Curly would usually have a few dogs waiting for him at home as well.[6]
By 1944, Curly's energy began to seriously wane. Refusing to see a doctor (against brother Moe's wishes), Curly's lack of energy began to show up on film. Films like Idle Roomers and Booby Dupes display a Curly whose voice was somewhat deeper and his actions somewhat slower. At Moe's insistance, Curly finally checked himself into a local hospital in Santa Barbara, California on January 23, 1945, where, to Moe's shock and horror, his brother was diagnosed with extreme hypertension, a retinal hemorrhage, high blood pressure and obesity. It is also believed that Curly suffered what was to be the first in a series of mild strokes. He remained in Cottage Hospital for tests and treatment for two full weeks where it became clear to Moe that his baby brother was indeed a sick man.[2] Realizing how dire the situation had become, Moe pleaded with Columbia Pictures president Harry Cohn to allow Curly some time off upon discharge to regain his strength. Unfortunately, not wanting to halt the production of the profitable Stooge shorts, Cohn declined Moe's request. It was a disastrous course of action that would result in Curly's health slowly declining before the cameras.[1] Despite this, Curly managed to turn in decent performances, even though it was still a shadow of the former talent he once possessed. The first film produced after Curly's minor stroke was If a Body Meets a Body. Others, like Uncivil War Birds, Micro-Phonies and A Bird in the Head also showed a Curly that was trying to maintain his former energy level. But the worst was yet to come.
Moe then urged Curly to find himself a wife, hoping it would convince his brother to finally settle down and allow his health to somewhat improve. After a two-week courtship, Curly married Marion Buxbaum on October 17, 1945, a union which lasted approximately three months. The couple ended up separating in what became a bitter divorce proceeding that was exploited in the local media. It was after this divorce that Curly's health began a rapid and devastating decline.[2]
Illness
A thinner, ailing Curly (far left) struggles to get through his dialogue in Rhythm and Weep.
By early 1946, Curly's had taken a sharp nosedive. His voice had become twice as coarse as before and he had increasing difficulty remembering even the simplest dialogue. The quality of his performances seriously declined as his strength and energy plummeted; several shorts (most notably Three Loan Wolves and Rhythm and Weep, both 1946) clearly display Curly's diminished energy. Harry's Cohn decision to not allow Curly a brief vacation time off to recuperate and rest resulted in Curly's final 12 films becoming the nadir of his once-bright career. For the most part, however, Curly looked thinner, tired, and sickly. Shemp was already filling in for Curly in live appearances: "Moe and Shemp Howard and Larry Fine, who were the originals in the Three Stooges act, compose the trio to appear here. Curley (sic) Howard, who took Shemp's place after the act had been organized some years and whose appearance is familiar to movie audiences, is not on the current tour because of illness."[7]
The end came soon enough. On May 6, 1946, while filming Half-Wits Holiday, Curly suffered a massive stroke on the set. Curly had completed most of the film, except for the pie-fight scene which occurred at the end of the film. Moe recalled that director Jules White called for Curly, but got no answer. Moe sought out his brother, finding him sitting with his head slumped over on his shoulder. Curly was crying profusely but unable to speak, and Moe knew instantly that his already ill brother had suffered a severe stroke. Curly was immediately driven to the local hospital, while White quietly scrambled to shoot the final scene around Curly's absence. Moe later recalled that immediately following the day's filming, he drove directly to the hospital while still wearing his studio makeup and tuxedo wardrobe. Curly soon took residence at the Motion Picture Home and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California.
Curly had to leave the team to recuperate. Shemp returned to the trio to replace Curly in the Columbia shorts; an extant copy of the Stooges' 1947 Columbia Pictures contract was signed by all four Stooges, and stipulated that Shemp's joining "in place and stead of Jerry Howard" would be temporary, until Curly recovered sufficiently to return to work full time. That never happened, but Curly did make one brief cameo appearance (doing his barking-dog routine) in the third film after brother Shemp returned to the trio, Hold That Lion!. It was the only film that featured Larry Fine and all three Howard brothers (Moe, Shemp, and Curly) simultaneously; director Jules White later said he spontaneously staged the bit during Curly's impromptu visit to the soundstage:
It was a spur of the moment idea. Curly was visiting the set; this was sometime after his stroke. Apparently he came in on his own since I didn't see a nurse with him. He was sitting around, reading a newspaper. As I walked in, the newspaper, which he had in front of his face, came down and he waved hello to me. I thought it would be funny to have him do a bit in the picture, and he was happy to do it.[8]
File:Curlyshempholdf.jpgCurly makes a cameo after his career-ending stroke in Hold That Lion!. This marked the only instance in which brothers Curly, Moe and Shemp appeared together on screen.
A second cameo was staged for Malice in the Palace — a lobby card photo for this film was shot, featuring a considerably slimmer and mustachioed Curly as a chef, but he did not appear in the short (Larry portrayed the chef character). Curly's cameo appearance from Hold That Lion was recycled in the 1953 remake Booty and the Beast, one year after Curly had died.
Still not fully recovered from his stroke, Curly met Valerie Newman, whom he married on July 31, 1947. A friend later recalled, "Valerie was the only decent thing that happened to Curly and the only one that really cared about him."[2] Although his health worsened after the marriage, Valerie gave birth to a daughter, Janie, in 1948. In later years, Janie said that he and her mother had a good marriage and that she regretted that he did not live long enough for her to know him as an adult so she could speak to him about various things. She also stated that Curly told her he hoped she found what made her happy as her life progressed because he had finally found what made him happy.[5]
In 1949, Curly's health took a severe turn for the worse when he suffered a second massive stroke, which left him partially paralyzed. He was confined to a wheelchair by 1950 and was fed boiled rice and apples as part of his diet. His doctors hoped weight reduction would diminish the risk of another stroke and Curly's weight dropped significantly as a result. His physical and mental condition continued to deteriorate, however, and eventually Curly had to be admitted to a series of nursing homes and hospitals.[2]
The rest of the Stooges were on the set of Booty and the Beast when Valerie broke the news to Moe and Shemp that their baby brother had died. Interns at Columbia recalled seeing Larry, Moe, and Shemp burst into tears with the elder Howard brothers, sobbing: "Babe is gone! Babe is gone!" [citation needed]
Curly was given a Jewish funeral and was laid to rest at Home of Peace Memorial Park in East Los Angeles. Jules White postponed the shooting of Booty and the Beast for four months; production resumed in May 1952.
Legacy
The Three Stooges made 190 short subjects over 23 years, the longest such series in history. (The Stooges' Columbia shorts contract expired at the end of 1957; the final short filmed was Flying Saucer Daffy, which wrapped December 20, 1957; Sappy Bull Fighters was the final short to be released to theaters, on June 4, 1959.) Though their movies were perennial favorites in theaters, the Stooges' height in popularity came when their short comedies were first broadcast on television in 1959, introducing them to a new generation of fans. The shorts are still shown on U.S. television on the Rich Koz's syndicated "Stooge-A-Palooza" show which is broadcast from Chicago's WCIU on Saturday evenings.
Today, Curly is considered by many Stooge fans to be their favorite of the Three Stooges. Even Larry said Curly was his favorite Stooge. In a 1972 interview, Larry recalled, "Personally, I thought Curly was the greatest because he was a natural comedian who had no formal training. Whatever he did he made up on the spur of the moment. When we lost Curly, we took a hit." [10]
In 2000, long-time Stooges fan Mel Gibson produced a TV-movie for ABC about the life and careers of the Stooges. (In an interview promoting the film, Gibson revealed that Curly was his favorite of the Stooges.[11] In the film, Curly was played by Michael Chiklis.
