Paul Howard, who spent most of his adult life introducing new generations to his father’s comedy, died this week in Manhattan. He was 91.
His father was Moe Howard, the bowl-cut leader of The Three Stooges, whose slapstick shorts with his brothers Curly and Shemp Howard and their partner Larry Fine made the team one of the most beloved acts in American comedy history. Paul was Moe and Helen Howard’s only son, and the last surviving son of that classic lineup. Moe and Larry Fine both died in 1975, Shemp in 1955 and Curly in 1952. The death was confirmed by a spokesperson for C3 Entertainment, the company that owns The Three Stooges license and brand, according to Deadline.
After his father’s death in 1975, Howard stepped into the role of guardian of the Stooges’ legacy, giving fans a firsthand view of the man behind the bowl cut. For decades he was a familiar presence at Stooges conventions and fan events, where he told stories about growing up as Moe’s son. “He connected directly with generations of The Three Stooges fans at various conventions and events over the years, sharing personal stories, family memories, and insights into the life of Moe Howard and the Stooges’ enduring impact on American pop culture,” C3 Entertainment said in its announcement.
In 2015, he hosted Hey Moe, Hey Dad!, an acclaimed nine-part docuseries that served as an intimate tribute to the Stooges. Built from rare archival footage and personal family accounts, it features interviews with members of the Howard, Fine and DeRita families, Curly Joe DeRita having been a later member of the act, along with celebrity fans including Whoopi Goldberg, Billy West and Leonard Maltin. The series is available on The Three Stooges+ YouTube channel.
Howard was born on July 8, 1935. His mother, Helen, was a cousin of the famed escape artist Harry Houdini, and his older sister Joan, a writer and actress, died in 2021. He lived in Rifton, New York, for more than 40 years before relocating to Manhattan. He is survived by his wife, Joanne; his daughter, Jennifer; his nephew, Jeffrey; and his cousin Janie Howard Hanky, Curly’s daughter.
With his passing, the last of the classic Stooges’ sons is gone. What he leaves behind is the record he spent a lifetime building, a son’s firsthand account of his father and the team, preserved for the fans who still pack convention halls to celebrate them.