3 Stooges’ Joe Besser Dies

Joe Besser, the next-to-last surviving member of the Three Stooges, was found dead at his North Hollywood home early today. His longtime publicist, Jeff Lenburg, said Besser, who replaced Shemp Howard in the knockabout act in 1955, had been in failing health the last several years.

Besser, a veteran vaudeville and film comic, was an old friend of the three Howards (Moe, Shemp and Samuel) who with Larry Fine alternately made up the comic trio. When Shemp died in 1955 Besser took his place for three years, yielding the role to Joe (Curly Joe) De Rita, who is alive but in poor health.

Lenburg said Besser had just completed an autobiography, “Once a Stooge, Always a Stooge.” “It’s a shame he didn’t live to see it published,” Lenburg said.