Curly. When Shemp had left the Stooges, Moe and Larry took kid brother Curly into the act as Shemp's replacement. Curly was the perfect fit. But by the mid-1940s, Curly's health was deteriorating, and Shemp was often called in as Curly's replacement when the Three Stooges had live performances.

What happened to Curly Howard?

Curly Howard suffered a stroke in 1946 that forced him to retire, and he died six years later. He was replaced in 1946 by Shemp Howard, who was with the Stooges until 1955, when he died. The Three Stooges continued with two other actors, Joe Besser and later Joe De Rita, playing the character Curly Joe.

Was Curly before Shemp?

In 1932, Jerome Howard (soon to be universally known as "Curly") joined The Three Stooges comedy team. He was replacing his older brother, Shemp, as the third Stooge, joining his older brother Moe and frizzly haired Larry Fine.