<P> Jerome Lester Horwitz ( October 22 , 1903 -- January 18 , 1952 ) , known professionally as Curly Howard , was an American vaudevillian actor and comedian . He was best known as a member of the American farce comedy team the Three Stooges , which also featured his elder brothers Moe and Shemp Howard and actor Larry Fine . Curly Howard was generally considered the most popular and recognizable of the Stooges . He was well known for his high - pitched voice and vocal expressions ( `` nyuk - nyuk - nyuk ! '' , `` woob - woob - woob ! '' , `` soitenly ! '' ( certainly ) , and barking like a dog ) as well as his physical comedy ( e.g. , falling on the ground and pivoting on his shoulder as he `` walked '' in circular motion ) , improvisations , and athleticism . An untrained actor , Curly borrowed ( and significantly exaggerated ) the `` woob woob '' from `` nervous '' and soft - spoken comedian Hugh Herbert . Curly 's unique version of `` woob - woob - woob '' was firmly established by the time of the Stooges ' second Columbia film , Punch Drunks ( 1934 ) . </P>
<P> Jerome Lester Horwitz ( October 22 , 1903 -- January 18 , 1952 ) , known professionally as Curly Howard , was an American vaudevillian actor and comedian . He was best known as a member of the American farce comedy team the Three Stooges , which also featured his elder brothers Moe and Shemp Howard and actor Larry Fine . Curly Howard was generally considered the most popular and recognizable of the Stooges . He was well known for his high - pitched voice and vocal expressions ( `` nyuk - nyuk - nyuk ! '' , `` woob - woob - woob ! '' , `` soitenly ! '' ( certainly ) , and barking like a dog ) as well as his physical comedy ( e.g. , falling on the ground and pivoting on his shoulder as he `` walked '' in circular motion ) , improvisations , and athleticism . An untrained actor , Curly borrowed ( and significantly exaggerated ) the `` woob woob '' from `` nervous '' and soft - spoken comedian Hugh Herbert . Curly 's unique version of `` woob - woob - woob '' was firmly established by the time of the Stooges ' second Columbia film , Punch Drunks ( 1934 ) . </P>
when did curly die of the three stooges
when did curly die of the three stooges
January 18 , 1952
January 18 , 1952