Paul Howard, the son of Moe Howard, the leader of the iconic slapstick comedy act The Three Stooges, has died at the age of 91. His death was announced in a statement from the Three Stooges official Instagram page.
Guardian of a Comedy Legacy
Paul was the son of Moe and Helen Howard. Moe served as the straight man in the comedy trio, which also featured Larry Fine. Various performers took the role of the third Stooge over the years, including Shemp Howard, Curly Howard, Joe Besser, and "Curly Joe" DeRita.
The Three Stooges' physical farce comedy appeared in 190 film shorts commissioned by Columbia Pictures, and their antics are considered an early trailblazer for the slapstick genre. Since 1958, a Three Stooges film has aired on American television every year, with episodes such as Disorder in the Court, Half-Wits Holiday, Pies and Guys, and Three Little Beers remaining the most popular.
Keeping His Father's Memory Alive
Paul remained a guardian of his father's legacy, connecting with fans at various conventions over the years and sharing stories of his father and The Three Stooges. In 2015, he directed and hosted the nine-part docuseries Hey Moe, Hey Dad!, described as an intimate tribute to the legacy of The Three Stooges featuring interviews with the heirs of the Stooges and well-known fans.
The statement from the Three Stooges Instagram page said: "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."
It added: "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."
Family and Tributes
Variety reported that Paul's 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. The quoted extract read: "Dad [Moe] always wanted a son; someone he could take fishing and with whom he could play baseball."
The extract continued: "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'."
The statement noted that Paul is survived by his wife and his daughter, Jennifer.
