Little Brother, Big Problems
The man we all remember as the beloved “Curly” is Jerome Lester Horwitz. He was Moe’s little brother and six years younger than him. Even though the youngest stooge was funny and clumsy on set, his behind-the-scenes behavior was far from innocent.
The Three Stooges – 1965, Larry Fine, Joe Derita, Moe Howard. Photo By Columbia/Kobal/Shutterstock
Like many entertainers, Curly fell down the dangerous rabbit hole of substance abuse, compulsive spending, and overeating. His brother, of course, tried to help him get his life back on track, but Curly wasn’t able to take the steps necessary for him to get better. In May 1946, on his last day of filming Half-Wits Holiday, Curly suffered a terrible stroke, which sadly ended his career.