born in new york, u.s., he began his acting career in theater with ted healy. the filmed his first short film with ted healy soup to nuts (1930). ted healy and his stooges, was a comedy group featuring ted and moe more moe's brother shemp howard, larry fine and fred sanborn. shemp leaving the group was replaced by the younger brother of moe curly howard. after shooting several shorts for mgm, the group disbanded in 1934.