Stooge Number Five
Moe was obviously shattered and distraught after the sudden passing of his brother. However, that didn’t change the fact that they were still under contract with Columbia Pictures. Just like after Curly’s passing, the show must go on. This is when the fifth stooge finally joined the group.
Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Joe Besser in Three Stooges Fun-O-Rama (1959). Source: IMDB
Joe Besser was the newest stooge. Besser was already a comedian with a pretty successful solo career. He starred in Hour Glass and then in The Abbot and Costello Show and The Joey Bishop Show. The performer was already signed to Columbia Pictures, so the production company thought it would be a perfect fit. But how did the actors feel about this decision?