<P> The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy team active from 1922 until 1970 , best known for their 190 short subject films by Columbia Pictures that have been regularly airing on television since 1958 . Their hallmark was physical farce and slapstick . In films , the stooges were commonly known by their actual first names . There were a total of six stooges over the act 's run ( with only three active at any given time ) , but Moe Howard and Larry Fine were the mainstays throughout the ensemble 's nearly fifty - year run and the pivotal `` third Stooge '' was played by ( in order of appearance ) Shemp Howard , Curly Howard , Joe Besser , or Curly Joe DeRita . </P>
<P> The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy team active from 1922 until 1970 , best known for their 190 short subject films by Columbia Pictures that have been regularly airing on television since 1958 . Their hallmark was physical farce and slapstick . In films , the stooges were commonly known by their actual first names . There were a total of six stooges over the act 's run ( with only three active at any given time ) , but Moe Howard and Larry Fine were the mainstays throughout the ensemble 's nearly fifty - year run and the pivotal `` third Stooge '' was played by ( in order of appearance ) Shemp Howard , Curly Howard , Joe Besser , or Curly Joe DeRita . </P>
when did the three stooges start and when did it end
when did the three stooges start and when did it end
1922 until 1970
1922 until 1970