Moe Howard
Moe Howard (born Moses Harry Horwitz; June 19, 1897 – May 4, 1975) was an American comedian and actor best known as the leader of The Three Stooges. This article chronicles his life, his role in shaping slapstick comedy, his personality beyond the screen, and how his legacy continues.
Introduction
When you think of The Three Stooges, the image of a stern-faced man with a bowl haircut demanding “Why I oughta…” while slapping his cohorts probably comes to mind. That was Moe Howard, the de facto leader and comic foil of the trio. Over four decades, Howard’s timing, screen presence, and energy helped define a style of physical comedy that remains iconic in American pop culture.
But behind the exaggerated screen persona lay a man whose path from vaudeville to movie shorts spanned eras of transformation in entertainment — from silent film to television syndication. Moe’s life is as much about ambition and artistry as it is about laughter.
Early Life and Family
Moe Howard was born Moses Harry Horwitz on June 19, 1897 in Brooklyn, New York, in the Bensonhurst neighborhood.
From an early age, Moe showed a love for performance and reading. One anecdote describes how, teased for his long curly hair, he sneaked into a bathroom and chopped it himself — a cut that evolved into his trademark bowl-style hair.
Although Moe attended P.S. 163 in Brooklyn and later briefly enrolled in Erasmus Hall High School, he dropped out after a short time.
Entry into Show Business
Moe’s first brushes with show business began early. According to various sources, he started with odd jobs in film studios (e.g. running errands) and minor bit parts in silent film productions.
In his teens, he and his brother Shemp performed in vaudeville and minstrel shows, including a showboat on the Mississippi River, billed under names like Howard & Howard.
A pivotal moment came when he joined the vaudeville comedian Ted Healy in the early 1920s. The act “Ted Healy and His Stooges” brought together Moe, Shemp, and later Larry Fine. The Three Stooges.
Career and Achievements
The Three Stooges Era
By 1934, Moe, Larry, and Curly (Jerome, Moe’s younger brother) had signed with Columbia Pictures and entered into a long-term agreement to produce short comedy films. 190 short films with Columbia.
In the Stooges’ dynamic, Moe often played the aggressive, bossy, quick-tempered leader who disciplined his fellow stooges via slaps, pokes, eye-rubs, and comedic abuse.
Some of the Stooges’ shorts highlighted topical or satirical themes. For example:
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You Nazty Spy! (1940) — a spoof mocking dictator imagery and was the first American film to satirize Adolf Hitler.
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I’ll Never Heil Again (1941) — a sequel in the same vein.
As the film industry evolved and television grew, the Stooges’ old short films found new life in TV syndication, bringing Moe and company renewed popularity with younger generations.
Later, Moe helped reconfigure the Stooges lineup, bringing in Joe DeRita (“Curly Joe”) when Shemp and others could no longer perform, allowing them to continue performing into the 1960s.
Business and Later Work
Moe was not only a performer but also handled much of the business side of the Stooges’ enterprise. He arranged contracts, merchandising, and tours.
Even after the era of short subject films ended (Columbia stopped producing them in the late 1950s), Moe continued to appear in smaller roles, television appearances, and live performances.
In 1969, the Stooges embarked on a final filmed project Kook’s Tour, a tour-style documentary combining travel and comedy. However, production was halted when Larry Fine suffered a stroke. Enough footage was completed to release a short version posthumously.
Personality, Traits & Off-Stage Persona
On screen, Moe’s persona was harsh, domineering, and short-fused. Off screen, memoirs and accounts depict a contrasting character: loyal, quietly humorous, generous, and protective of his colleagues.
He was also pragmatic and shrewd — mindful of contracts, schedules, and how to keep the act viable even as tastes and media changed.
In personal life, in June 1925, Moe married Helen Schonberger, who was a cousin of magician Harry Houdini. Joan Howard (born April 2, 1927) and Paul Howard (born July 8, 1935).
Toward the end of his life, Moe was working on his autobiography, tentatively titled I Stooged to Conquer. He passed away before its completion, and his daughter Joan later completed and published it as Moe Howard and the Three Stooges (1977).
Death & Legacy
Moe Howard died on May 4, 1975, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles from lung cancer, aged 77. Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California.
In 1983, The Three Stooges (including Moe) were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1560 Vine Street.
Despite departure from mainstream cinema, or perhaps because of it, the Stooges (and Moe) have endured in popular culture. Their slapstick routines continue to be rediscovered by new generations, and Moe’s image (the bowl haircut gangster) remains iconic.
Selected Memorable Moments & Works
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You Nazty Spy! (1940) — a bold political satire.
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I’ll Never Heil Again (1941) — follow-up satire.
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Men in Black (1934) — one of their early shorts that got an Academy Award nomination.
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Kook’s Tour (1969) — final filmed project (incomplete).
Lessons from Moe Howard’s Journey
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The Power of Adaptation
Moe’s career spanned vaudeville, two-reel shorts, and the television era. His ability to evolve and reclaim relevance across media was key to his longevity. -
Balancing Stage Persona & Personal Integrity
Moe played a rough and commanding character, yet off-camera maintained friendships, fairness, and managerial care over his team. -
Commitment to Craft
Physical comedy requires precision, rehearsal, timing, and guts — Moe never slacked in delivering laughs even when the act matured in years. -
Legacy Through Reinvention
Though his film shorts became old-fashioned, life in syndication, merchandising, and fandom revived the Stooges’ brand — showing how art can be reborn. -
Humor as Universality
The simple, exaggerated style of The Three Stooges transcended language and culture. Moe’s work is proof that comedy rooted in gesture, face, and rhythm can endure.
Conclusion
Moe Howard’s life is a story of persistence, comedic instinct, and leadership under slapstick guise. As the stern figure of The Three Stooges, he beat, poked, and berated — and we laughed. Off-screen, he shepherded an act across decades, negotiated changing media landscapes, and helped build one of the most enduring comedy franchises in history.