Moses Harry Horwitz, known globally as Moe Howard, the bowl-cut, short-tempered leader of the Three Stooges, was born in Brooklyn, New York, on June 19, 1897. Over a film career spanning four decades, Moe perfected the art of physical slapstick, delivering thousands of eye-pokes, pie-throws, and nose-tweaks to his iconic partners, Larry and Curly. Behind the scenes, Moe was the sharp business manager of the act, fiercely protecting the group’s interests through changing Hollywood eras.
Moe’s signature bowl haircut—which became a cultural touchstone—was actually born out of childhood rebellion. As a boy, his mother adored his long, beautiful curls, refusing to cut them until he was systematically bullied at school. In a fit of desperation, young Moe hid in a backyard shed and used a pair of sewing shears to chop his hair into a crude bob. His mother was horrified, but the look stuck, eventually becoming the multi-million-dollar trademark of his comedy empire.
Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US
