The Wrotten American

On October 5, 1902, Louis Feinberg was born in Philadelphia. The world would know him as Larry Fine, one of the legendary Three Stooges. His childhood was marked by an acid accident that damaged his arms. Violin lessons, recommended as therapy, not only restored his mobility but turned him into a virtuoso musician. In 1925 he joined Ted Healy’s comedy act alongside brothers Moe and Shemp Howard, taking the stage name Larry Fine. When Curly came aboard, the trio broke away on their own and The Three Stooges became a worldwide slapstick phenomenon. Larry was famously generous—giving money away, lending without limits, and living for years in hotels. His love for Mabel Haney, his lifelong partner, ran so deep that he insisted any female character in their scenes be named after her. They had two sons; the loss of the older one left a lasting mark on them. After the act dissolved, he faced financial and health struggles, but he was never alone. Moe Howard and Mabel stayed with him until his death in 1975. Moe died just three months later, closing one of the most enduring friendships in show business.