The son of one of the most iconic comedy trio performers has died aged 91. Paul Howard was the son of Moe Howard, the legendary performer who played the role of leader in the iconic 1930s to 1950s Three Stooges act. Moe was the straight man of the slapstick comedy triple, which also included Larry Fine. Various performers took up the role of third Stooge, including Shemp Howard, Curly Howard, Joe Besser, and “Curly Joe” DeRita.
The physical farce comedy of the Stooges featured in 190 film shorts commissioned by Columbia Pictures and their raucous antics have gone down in comedy history as an early trailblazer for the slapstick genre.
Since 1958 there has always been a Three Stooges film airing on American television every year, with episodes Disorder in the Court, Half-Wits Holiday, Pies and Guys and Three Little Beers remaining the most popular.
Paul kept his father’s legacy alive directing a nine-part docuseries ‘Hey Moe, Hey Dad!’ in 2015
A statement from the Three Stooges official Instagram page read: “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Paul Howard, son of Moe and Helen Howard, at the age of 91. Over the years, Paul remained a guardian of his father’s legacy, offering fans a firsthand view of the man behind the slapstick legend.
“Paul connected directly with the fans of The Three Stooges at various conventions over the years, sharing stories of his father and The Three Stooges.
“In 2015, he directed and hosted the 9-part docuseries Hey Moe, Hey Dad!, creating an intimate tribute to the legacy of The Three Stooges, featuring interviews with the heirs of the Stooges and well-known fans.”
The statement added that Paul is survived by his wife and his daughter, Jennifer.
Variety reports Paul niece Tessa Maurer, shared an excerpt from Paul Howard’s sister Joan Howard Maurer’s book “Growing Up Stooge” about how Paul came into the world.
She quoted an extract which read: “Dad [Moe] always wanted a son; someone he could take fishing and with whom he could play baseball.
“In late 1934, after Mother informed him that she was pregnant, he quipped, ‘Honey, if it’s a boy, they’ll have to drag me out of the gutter, I’ll be so drunk’.”
