The Three Stooges
 
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. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick.
 

Moe Howard

Moe Howard   Moe was born on June 19, 1897 as Moses Harry Horwitz.
He was known as the leader of the Three Stooges. He was the younger brother of Shemp and the older brother of Curly. Moe joined up with Ted Healy's vaudeville routine, later titled 'Ted Healy and His Stooges', in 1921.
Moe passed away on May 4, 1975.
 

Shemp Howard

Shemp Howard   Shemp was born on March 4, 1895 as Samuel Horwitz.
He was the older brother of both Moe and Curly. In 1923 he joined Ted Healy and His Stooges. Shemp was in the Stooges' first film, Soup to Nuts. Shemp left the act in 1932 and did not return to the Stooges until 1946.
Shemp passed away on November 22, 1955.
 

Larry Fine

Larry Fine   Larry was born on October 5, 1902 as Louis Feinberg.
Before joining Ted Healy and His Stooges in 1925, Larry was a profesional violinist. The Stooges left Healy for good in in 1934. Larry suffered a stroke in 1970, this marked the end of the Stooges.
Larry passed away on January 24, 1975.
 

Curly Howard

Curly Howard   Curly was born on October 22, 1903 as Jerome Lester Horwitz.
He was the younger brother of both Shemp and Moe. Curly is probably the best known and most popular Stooge. In 1932 after Shemp left the act, Curly was added. In 1946 he suffered a stroke and Shemp came back.
Curly passed away on January 18, 1952.
 

Joe Besser

Joe Besser   Joe Besser was born on August 12, 1907.
After Shemp's death in 1955 Joe was picked to replace him. He was with the Stooges from 1956 until 1957 when he left due to his wife's heart attack.
Joe passed away on March 1, 1988.
 

Curly-Joe DeRita

Curly-Joe DeRita   Curly-Joe was born on July 12, 1909 as Joseph Wardell.
He joined up with the Stooges in 1958 going by the name Curly-Joe, as not to be confused for Curly Howard or Joe Besser. He was with the Stooges until 1970.
Curly-Joe passed away on July 3, 1993.
 

Honorable Mentions

Ted Healy   Ted Healy
Ted was born on October 1, 1896 as Charles Ernest Lee Nash.
He was a childhood friend of Moe and was an important part of the Three Stooges starting.
Ted passed away on December 21, 1937.
 
Joe Palma   Joe Palma
Joe was born on March 17, 1905 as Joseph Provenzano.
Palma played in over 120 movies and shorts, but is best known for his filling in as a "Fake Shemp" after Shemp passed away.
Joe passed away on August 14, 1994.
 
Mantan Moreland   Mantan Moreland
Mantan was born on September 3, 1902.
Moreland was Moe's choice to replace Shemp, per Shemp's recomendation. Moe had contacted Mantan, who was receptive of the idea. Universal Studios stepped in and forced the Stooges to use Joe Besser instead.
Mantan passed away on September 28, 1973.
 
Emil Sitka   Emil Sitka
Emil was born on December 22, 1914.
He is one of only 2 actors to have worked with all 6 Stooges. Emil was shown as a Stooge in promotional photographs in 1975, before Moe's death. His character would have filled in for Larry.
Emil passed away on January 16, 1998.