The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe, Larry, and Shemp," among other lineups. The film trio was originally composed of Moe Howard (1897-1975), brother Shemp Howard (1895-1955) and longtime friend Larry Fine (1902-1975). Curly Howard (1903-1952) replaced brother Shemp, who later returned when Curly suffered a debilitating stroke in 1946.
After Shemp's death in 1955, he was replaced by comedian Joe Besser, after the use of stuntman Joe Palma to record several "Shemp" shorts after his death. Eventually Joe "Curly-Joe" DeRita (born Joseph Wardell) replaced Joe Besser. Larry suffered a serious stroke in 1970, and was unable to continue performing. Emil Sitka, a longtime actor in Stooge comedies, was contracted to replace Larry, but no film was ever made with him in the role, although publicity photographs exist of him with his hair combed similarly to Larry's, posing with Moe and Curly-Joe. However, Larry's paralyzing stroke in 1970 effectively marked the end of the act. He died in January 1975. Moe died of cancer a few months later.
In "The Fat Guy Strangler", Peter Griffin watches an episode in fragments as the television orbits around his waist.
The Stooges are shown in a video that anti-abortion activists show to Peter to talk him out of letting Lois have an abortion in "Partial Terms of Endearment". The video, Abortion Madness!, shows various people that would have been alive if they hadn't been aborted including a guy that would have killed Adolf Hitler, Osama bin Laden's America-loving brother and a fourth stooge who insists his inclusion would have been hilarious.