Curly Howard

Curly Howard (October 22, 1903 – January 18, 1952) was an American comedian and actor best known for his role as the energetic, bald-headed stooge in the slapstick comedy trio The Three Stooges, performing alongside his brother Moe Howard and Larry Fine in over 97 short films produced by Columbia Pictures from 1934 to 1946.

Born Jerome Lester Horwitz in Bath Beach, Brooklyn, New York, as the youngest of five sons to Lithuanian Jewish immigrants Jenny and Solomon Horwitz, Curly developed an early interest in show business by observing his brothers Shemp and Moe's performances in vaudeville. After briefly working as a bookkeeper and an umpire for the American Association, he entered the entertainment industry in the early 1930s by joining comedian Ted Healy's act as a replacement for Shemp, adopting the stage name "Curly" after shaving his head to distinguish himself from his curly-haired brother. When Healy's group splintered in 1934, Curly, Moe, and Larry signed with Columbia Pictures, launching The Three Stooges series with the short Woman Haters, where Curly's high-pitched voice, physical comedy, and catchphrases and vocalizations such as "Nyuk-nyuk-nyuk!" and his signature "whoop whoop whoop" (often transcribed as "woob woob woob" or "woo woo woo") quickly established him as the team's most beloved and chaotic performer.

Jerome Lester Horwitz, known professionally as Curly Howard, was born on October 22, 1903, in the Bath Beach neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City, to Lithuanian Jewish immigrants Solomon Nathan Horwitz and Jennie Mary (née Gorovitz or Goldsmith) Horwitz.

Solomon Horwitz worked as a fabric cutter in New York's garment trade, providing a stable working-class foundation for the family in early 20th-century Brooklyn, while Jennie Horwitz later operated as a real estate broker after their sons were grown. The family maintained a strong Jewish cultural upbringing, reflected in their heritage and eventual burial traditions, such as Hebrew inscriptions on gravestones denoting traditional blessings. Curly shared particularly close bonds with his brothers Moe and Shemp, whose early involvement in entertainment would later influence his path, fostering a familial environment centered on sibling camaraderie amid the immigrant Jewish community's values of perseverance and community.

Howard's hobbies reflected his low-key lifestyle, including playing music on the ukulele—a skill he picked up alongside his brother Shemp—and enjoying Western films during quiet evenings at home. He was also an avid golfer and a member of the exclusive Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles, where he socialized sparingly with fellow Jewish entertainers. Known for his generosity, Howard frequently lent money to friends and crew but struggled with impulsive spending, which contributed to financial debts despite his success.