Moe Howard Net Worth - Pulptastic

Publish date: 2024-05-16

What was Moe Howard’s Net Worth and Salary?

Moe Howard, the American actor and comedian famous for being the leader of the Three Stooges comedy team, had a net worth of $10 million at the time of his death. He appeared in numerous films and television shows alongside Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Curly Howard, Joe Besser, and Joe DeRita, and had over 240 acting credits from 1909 to 1973. Howard was known for his distinctive bowl-cut hairstyle and short temper, and was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame with Larry and Curly in 1983. He passed away on May 4, 1975 at 77 years old from lung cancer.

Moe Howard’s Early Life

Moe Howard was born in Brooklyn, New York on June 19, 1897, as the fourth of five sons of Jewish parents Solomon and Jennie. He achieved his trademark bowl-cut hairstyle early on in life by cutting his curls with a pair of scissors in the backyard.

Howard also developed a love of acting and would skip school to see shows at the local theater. Despite his poor attendance, he managed to graduate from P.S. 163, but dropped out of Erasmus Hall High School after only two months.

Early Career in Show Business

Howard’s first job was running errands at Vitagraph Studios in Brooklyn, where he was able to secure bit parts in some of the studio’s films. However, a fire destroyed most of the films made there in 1910. Howard continued to pursue experience in show business, singing in a bar with his older brother Shemp and later joining a minstrel show troupe on a Mississippi River showboat.

The Early Years of Ted Healy and His Stooges

In the early 20s, Howard joined Ted Healy in a vaudeville act. Later in the decade, Healy, Howard, and future Three Stooges cast mates Larry Fine and Shemp Howard came together to appear in the revue “A Night in Venice.”

Ted Healy and His Stooges was born and the group made its first movie, “Soup to Nuts,” in 1930.

Following a disagreement with Healy, Howard, Fine, and Howard premiered their act at Los Angeles’ Paramount Theatre, then went on tour on the RKO vaudeville circuit.

In 1932, Howard, Fine, and Howard accepted an offer to rejoin Healy for the new Broadway revue “Passing Show of 1932.” Shemp Howard eventually left the group due to internal conflict; replacing him was Howard’s brother Jerome, who adopted the stage name Curly. The new lineup of Moe, Curly, and Larry debuted alongside Ted at Cleveland’s RKO Palace.

Three Stooges: From Healy to Columbia Pictures

After Ted Healy’s departure, the group renamed themselves the Three Stooges. They signed a contract with Columbia Pictures and made nearly 200 comedy shorts through the late 50s. Moe Howard took over Healy’s role as the aggressive leader, resulting in slapstick violence against his fellow Stooges.

The trio’s most notable shorts include “Punch Drunks,” “Men in Black,” and “Three Little Pigskins,” which featured a young Lucille Ball. They also made anti-Nazi shorts during the 40s.

Curly Howard suffered a stroke during the production of “Half-Wits Holiday” in 1946 and passed away in 1952 following a series of strokes. Shemp Howard was brought back into the act.

The Three Stooges’ Legacy

During the 50s, the Three Stooges’ short films remained popular with audiences, and they even costarred in a comedy Western film called “Gold Raiders” in 1951. However, Shemp Howard’s passing in 1955 required the addition of another Stooge, Joe Besser. Yet, Howard later put together a new Stooges act with Joe DeRita in place of Besser, and the trio starred in six full-length feature films from 1959 to 1965.

In the 60s, the Three Stooges made appearances on several television programs, including “The Steve Allen Show” and “The Joey Bishop Show.” However, by the end of the decade, the men were at an age where performing slapstick was no longer worth the physical risk. The Stooges worked on a film in 1969 called “Kook’s Tour,” but production was halted when Larry had a major stroke during filming; he later passed away in 1975.

Marriage and Family Life

In 1925, Howard tied the knot with Helen Schonberger, who happened to be a relative of the famous Harry Houdini. The couple was blessed with two children, named Joan and Paul.

Death and Legacy

Due to his heavy smoking habit, Howard succumbed to lung cancer in 1975, just four months after the demise of his fellow Stooge Larry Fine. He was 77 years old. Howard’s wife also passed away later that year. In 1983, Howard and the Three Stooges were posthumously awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as a tribute to their significant contributions to the entertainment industry.

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