Paul Howard, the only son of Moe Howard of The Three Stooges and the narrator of a nine-part 2015 docuseries about the legendary American comedy team, has died. He was 91.
Howard lived on Upper East Side of Manhattan and died this week, a spokesperson for C3 Entertainment, the owner of The Three Stooges license and brand, announced. He was the last remaining son of the original comedy team that consisted of Moe, his brothers Curly and Shemp and Larry Fine.
Since Moe’s death in 1975 at age 77, Paul Howard served as a guardian of his father’s legacy, offering fans a unique, firsthand view of the man behind the iconic bowl-cut hairdo and timeless slapstick comedy.
He connected with generations of the Stooges faithful
He connected with generations of the Stooges faithful at conventions and events over the decades, sharing stories, memories and insights into the lives of his dad, his Uncle Shemp and his Uncle Curly.
The docuseries Hey Moe, Hey Dad! features rare archival footage, personal family accounts and interviews with members of the Howard, Fine and DeRita families (Curly Joe DeRita was another member of the Stooges act) and fans including Whoopi Goldberg and Leonard Maltin. (The series is available on The Three Stooges+ YouTube channel.)
Moe married Helen Schonberger — a cousin of famed escape artist Harry Houdini — in June 1925, and they welcomed their first child, Joan, in April 1927. Paul arrived on July 8, 1935. (Helen died six months after Moe did, and Joan, a writer and actress, died in September 2021 at age 94.
Paul lived in Rifton, New York, for more than 40 years before relocating to Manhattan. His survivors include his wife, Joanne; his daughter, Jennifer; his nephew, Jeffrey; and a cousin, Janie Howard Hanky, daughter of Curly (she was born in May 1948).
