Joe DeRita

Biography

Joe DeRita, an American comedian, joined the Three Stooges as Curly Joe, the role he became best known for. Born in Philadelphia, he appeared on stage with his parents from childhood; his father worked as a stage technician and his mother was a professional dancer. He took his mother's maiden name for the stage, joined the burlesque circuit in the 1920s, built a reputation as a comedian and toured for the USO during World War II. Columbia Pictures hired him in 1946 to star in his own short comedies, starting with Slappily Married. After a dramatic turn in the Gregory Peck Western The Bravados (1958), he accepted Moe Howard and Larry Fine's invitation to replace Joe Besser and adopted the name Curly Joe. Their features included Have Rocket, Will Travel (1959) and Snow White and the Three Stooges (1961). He stayed with the act through the 1960s, appearing on television and in commercials, and died in 1993.

83years old at death

Born July 12, 1909Philadelphia
Died July 3, 1993Woodland Hills
Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22
Joseph Wardell (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 8
Career span: 17 years1948 to 1965

Genres

Comedy75%, 6 films
Western38%, 3 films
Adventure25%, 2 films
Drama25%, 2 films
Sci-Fi25%, 2 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Getting ready for a role
After the Three Stooges shorts with Curly Howard regained popularity on TV, it was suggested that Joe DeRita shave his head to resemble Curly. He first wore a crew cut, which later became a fully shaven head.

Joe DeRita movies on Netflix

The Outlaws Is Coming1965IMDb rating 6.0as Curly-Joe
The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze1963IMDb rating 6.2as Curly-Joe
The Three Stooges Meet Hercules1962IMDb rating 6.1as Curly Joe
The Three Stooges in Orbit1962IMDb rating 5.7as Curly-Joe
Snow White and the Three Stooges1961IMDb rating 5.3as Curley-Joe
Have Rocket, Will Travel1959IMDb rating 5.6as Curley-Joe
The Bravados1958IMDb rating 7.0as Tony Mirabel
Coroner Creek1948IMDb rating 6.7as Jack the Bartender

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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The Three Stooges Meet Hercules1962 Adventure, Comedyas Curly Joe
IMDb rating 6.11.3K votes
The Three Stooges in Orbit1962 Comedy, Sci-Fias Curly-Joe
IMDb rating 5.71.1K votes
The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze1963as Curly-Joe
IMDb rating 6.2912 votes
Snow White and the Three Stooges1961as Curley-Joe
IMDb rating 5.31.3K votes
Have Rocket, Will Travel1959as Curley-Joe
IMDb rating 5.61.1K votes
Coroner Creek1948as Jack the Bartender
IMDb rating 6.71.3K votes
The Bravados1958as Tony Mirabel
IMDb rating 7.07.3K votes

Most often with

Edward Bernds directed two of these films, Norman Maurer two. Two actors appear in six of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Moe Howard

Larry Fine

Emil SitkaDon Lamond

Murray Alper

George N. NeiseEdward BerndsDirector, 2 films Norman MaurerDirector, 2 films

Films together

Moe Howard6 films together, 1959 to 1965
Moe Howard's page
- The Outlaws Is Coming1965IMDb rating 6.0DeRita as Curly-JoeHoward as Moe
- The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze1963IMDb rating 6.2DeRita as Curly-JoeHoward as Moe
- The Three Stooges Meet Hercules1962IMDb rating 6.1DeRita as Curly JoeHoward as Moe
- The Three Stooges in Orbit1962IMDb rating 5.7DeRita as Curly-JoeHoward as Moe
- Snow White and the Three Stooges1961IMDb rating 5.3DeRita as Curley-JoeHoward as Moe
- Have Rocket, Will Travel1959IMDb rating 5.6DeRita as Curley-JoeHoward as Moe
Larry Fine6 films together, 1959 to 1965
Larry Fine's page
- The Outlaws Is Coming1965IMDb rating 6.0DeRita as Curly-JoeFine as Larry
- The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze1963IMDb rating 6.2DeRita as Curly-JoeFine as Larry
- The Three Stooges Meet Hercules1962IMDb rating 6.1DeRita as Curly JoeFine as Larry
- The Three Stooges in Orbit1962IMDb rating 5.7DeRita as Curly-JoeFine as Larry
- Snow White and the Three Stooges1961IMDb rating 5.3DeRita as Curley-JoeFine as Larry
- Have Rocket, Will Travel1959IMDb rating 5.6DeRita as Curley-JoeFine as Larry
Emil Sitka4 films together, 1962 to 1965
Emil Sitka's page
- The Outlaws Is Coming1965IMDb rating 6.0DeRita as Curly-JoeSitka as Mr. Abernathy / Witch doctor / Cavalry colonel
- The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze1963IMDb rating 6.2DeRita as Curly-JoeSitka as Butler
- The Three Stooges Meet Hercules1962IMDb rating 6.1DeRita as Curly JoeSitka as Shepherd / Refreshment Man
- The Three Stooges in Orbit1962IMDb rating 5.7DeRita as Curly-JoeSitka as Professor Danforth
Don Lamond3 films together, 1962 to 1965
Don Lamond's page
- The Outlaws Is Coming1965IMDb rating 6.0DeRita as Curly-JoeLamond as Rance Roden
- The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze1963IMDb rating 6.2DeRita as Curly-JoeLamond as Bill
- The Three Stooges in Orbit1962IMDb rating 5.7DeRita as Curly-JoeLamond as Colonel Smithers
Murray Alper2 films together, 1963 to 1965
Murray Alper's page
- The Outlaws Is Coming1965IMDb rating 6.0DeRita as Curly-JoeAlper as Chief Crazy Horse
- The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze1963IMDb rating 6.2DeRita as Curly-JoeAlper as Gus
George N. Neise2 films together, 1962
George N. Neise's page
- The Three Stooges Meet Hercules1962IMDb rating 6.1DeRita as Curly JoeNeise as Ralph Dimsal / King Odius
- The Three Stooges in Orbit1962IMDb rating 5.7DeRita as Curly-JoeNeise as Ogg / Airline Pilot
Edward BerndsDirector, 2 films, 1962
All films by Edward Bernds
- The Three Stooges Meet Hercules1962IMDb rating 6.1DeRita as Curly Joe
- The Three Stooges in Orbit1962IMDb rating 5.7DeRita as Curly-Joe
Norman MaurerDirector, 2 films, 1963 to 1965
All films by Norman Maurer
- The Outlaws Is Coming1965IMDb rating 6.0DeRita as Curly-Joe
- The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze1963IMDb rating 6.2DeRita as Curly-Joe

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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