Caught in the middle: Author Steve Cox salutes lovable Three Stooges porcupine Larry Fine

“One Fine Stooge: Larry Fine’s Frizzy Life in Pictures” author Steve Cox chronicles the smart little imbecile’s 40-year tenure as part of America’s most iconic comedy team in an engrossing conversation. Seen above is the cover of the Three Stooges’ June 1962 Dell comic book — beware of Moe, Larry and Curly Joe — purely incompetent painters for hire! Image Credit: My Comic Book Shop / DreamWorks Classics

You nitwit you! Larry Fine, best known as the frizzy haired lightning rod of the Three Stooge, was the eldest of four kids born on October 5, 1902, to Russian Jewish middle class parents in South Philadelphia. Fine’s dad Joseph Feinberg owned a watch repair and jewelry shop.

In an all-encompassing exclusive interview, Stooge historian Stephen [Steve] Cox, author of the well-received One Fine Stooge: Larry Fine’s Frizzy Life in Pictures, pulls no punches as he recalls the under-valued middle Stooge who never lost his zany streak of humor, even when a devastating series of strokes partially paralyzed his left side in January 1970.

Taking up residence at the Motion Picture Country Home, Larry maintained an active schedule, whether painting, doing the occasional personal appearance at local schools, encouraging fellow retirees with spirited gin rummy card games, or inviting fans to his room where they often got to screen a classic Columbia short and hear a spirited running commentary. Larry’s accessibility, down to earth nature, and kindheartedness resonates to this day. No question about it, Larry was one fine Stooge.

A shady character named James Carone convinced Larry to pen his memoirs in 1971. Unfortunately, Stroke of Luck was a shambolic…