He was replaced by Moe's younger brother, Jerome 'Curly' Howard, in 1932. The four appeared in one feature film, Soup to Nuts, before Shemp left to pursue a solo career. Over time, they were joined by Moe's brother, Shemp Howard, and then Larry Fine.
The act began in the early 1920s as part of a vaudeville comedy act billed as 'Ted Healy and His Stooges', consisting originally of Ted Healy and Moe Howard. Six Stooges appeared over the act's run (with only three active at any given time): Moe Howard (born Moses Horwitz) and Larry Fine (born Louis Feinberg) were mainstays throughout the ensemble's nearly 50-year run the pivotal 'third stooge' was played by (in order of appearance) Shemp Howard (born Samuel Horwitz), Curly Howard (born Jerome Horwitz), Shemp Howard again, Joe Besser, and 'Curly Joe' DeRita (born Joseph Wardell). Their hallmark styles were physical, farce, and slapstick. The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy team active from 1922 until 1970, best remembered for their 190 short-subject films by Columbia Pictures.
