Joe De Rita
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Notes
In 1993, DeRita's stepsons filed a lawsuit questioning the distribution of profits of and assignment of rights held by Comedy III, a company formed in 1959 by the Three Stooges. The suit was settled in their favor.
Biography
In 1959, after Jerome ('Curly') Howard, Shemp Howard, and Joe Besser had either retired or died, this hefty, bald slapstick comedian stepped in as the final "third Stooge" alongside mainstays Moe Howard and Larry Fine. DeRita, often known as 'Curly Joe', joined the Three Stooges after the group had made nearly 200 comedy shorts spanning a quarter century. The new Stooges were ready to move into a series of low-budget features arising from their newfound popularity due to the TV syndication of their shorts. DeRita was less manic than either Shemp or the original Curly and given to less face-making, but his trademark prissy fussiness was also less funny. The trio romped their aging but still comically crackpot way through a half-dozen silly if broadly amusing vehicles in which they encountered Hercules, Snow White, and Western outlaws and were sent into orbit on several occasions.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Life Events
1944
First notable feature film role, in a small part in "The Doughgirls"
1959
Joined the Three Stooges, taking over for Joe Besser
1959
First feature film as one of the Stooges, "Have Rocket, Will Travel"
1965
Appeared in the last of the Three Stooges' feature films, "The Outlaws Is Coming!"
1966
Supplied the voice of Curly for the animated children's TV show, "The New Three Stooges"
1991
Moved into the Motion Picture and Television Fund convalescent home and hospital after suffering a series of strokes (date approximate)
Videos
Movie Clip
Trailer
Family
Companions
Bibliography
Notes
In 1993, DeRita's stepsons filed a lawsuit questioning the distribution of profits of and assignment of rights held by Comedy III, a company formed in 1959 by the Three Stooges. The suit was settled in their favor.
