Birthday: July 12, 1909 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Birth Name: Joseph Wardell
Height: 163 cm
Born into a show business family, DeRita began performing at the age of 7. He played the Burlesque circuit until 1942 when he went to headline in California stage shows. He toured with Randolph Scott and Bing Crosby for the USO during World War II. Joe made his film debut in "The Doughgirls" (1944) and continued to perform in films, radio...
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Born into a show business family, DeRita began performing at the age of 7. He played the Burlesque circuit until 1942 when he went to headline in California stage shows. He toured with Randolph Scott and Bing Crosby for the USO during World War II. Joe made his film debut in "The Doughgirls" (1944) and continued to perform in films, radio, and television before joining the Three Stooges in 1958. When Moe Howard's death ended the comedy team in 1975, DeRita retired. Show less «
I don't think [The Three Stooges] were funny. I'm not putting you on, I'm telling the truth--they we...Show more »
I don't think [The Three Stooges] were funny. I'm not putting you on, I'm telling the truth--they were physical, but they just didn't have any humor about them. Take, for instance, [Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy]. I can watch their films and I still laugh at them and maybe I've seen them four or five times before. But when I see that pie or seltzer bottle, I know that it's not just lying around for no reason. It's going to be used for something. I was with the Stooges for 12 years and it was a very pleasant association, but I just don't think they were funny. Show less «
[on working with The Three Stooges] Moe and Larry were the best. We worked well together and enjoyed...Show more »
[on working with The Three Stooges] Moe and Larry were the best. We worked well together and enjoyed every moment of it. Show less «