The Autographs of the Last Third Stooge: Curly Joe DeRitaJoe DeRita (Joseph Wardell) was born July 12, 1909 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Joe was raised in a show business family; his father was a stage technician and his mother was a dancer. From the age of seven, he accompanied his parents on tour, and while still a child he performed on stage in a dance act with his sister. After his sister married and left show business, Joe began working as a comedian and dancer. From the early 1920's until 1942, he worked in burlesque. In 1944, he landed his first film role in Warner Brother's "The Doughgirls" starring Ann Sheridan. He appeared in two more movies for Warner Brothers, then moved to to Columbia Pictures for a series of comedy shorts. After World War II, he continued his work on the stage, but also began working on radio. In 1958, he did several more movies - one was his only non-comedic acting role, playing the menacing hangman in Henry King's western "The Bravados." He also began acting on television occasionally in comedy roles on series such as Bachelor Father. Joe Besser Joins the Three StoogesAlso in 1958, he took on a role that would change his life. Larry Fine and Moe Howard needed a replacement for Joe Besser, who became the third Stooge after Shemp died in 1955. Larry had attended a Las Vegas stage show called Minsky's Follies of 1958. Larry was impressed with Joe's comedic performance, and he thought Joe was good enough to become the third Stooge. After catching a few of Joe's performances himself, Moe was also impressed. Joe became an official Stooge in October 1958, and from then on he was Curly Joe. By this time, the act was primarily geared to children, and there was less violence and verbal abuse which were trademarks of the earlier Stooges. Kiddie Shows and Feature FilmsCurly Joe missed out on the busiest years of the Three Stooges, but he was fortunate to become involved in the Three Stooges' most profitable years. Kiddie shows across the country began playing Three Stooges shorts, and the Stooges became big stars again, only this time they had the power of TV behind them. The Stooges made six full-length feature films in which they starred, as well as two more movies, "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" and "Four for Texas," in which the group had bit parts, but still memorable. During Joe's stint as a Stooge, they did countless personal appearances and television work. They also benefited from merchandising Stooge products, everything from pogo sticks to coloring books. Larry Fine suffered a stroke in 1970. Emil Sitka was recruited to be "the middle Stooge", but nothing came of it. Later, DeRita tried to form a "new" Three Stooges, recruiting actors Mousie Garner and Frank Mitchell to replace Moe and Larry. The act never really got beyond the planning stages, and Curly Joe DeRita retired from show business. DeRita died in Los Angeles on July 3, 1993. Curly Joe DeRita AutographsSigned Curly Joe Joe DeRita photos are worth between $40 and $100. Signatures sell from $40 - up. There are Joe DeRita bank checks on the market selling in the $50 range. Both Joe Besser and Curly Joe DeRita are part of the Stooge legacy, so their autographs will always be collectible. Both could be undervalued today. Curly Joe DeRita and Joe Besser are the least favorite Stooges among fans. That, plus the fact that both signed autographs for many years after retirement, means their autographs are readily available. Return to the Three Stooges Page
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During World War II, DeRita joined the USO, performing overseas with big celebrities such as Bing Crosby and Randolph Scott. Randolph Scott became a good friend to Joe.