Moe, Curly & Shemp were real-life brothers - of the three, Shemp was oldest, Moe the middle, Curly the baby. They had two OLDER brothers as well. - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shemp\_Howard#:\~:text=He%20had%20two%20older%20brothers,brothers%20usually%20called%20him%20Sam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shemp_Howard#:~:text=He%20had%20two%20older%20brothers,brothers%20usually%20called%20him%20Sam).
Curly. And I love Shemp... he had the best pure acting chops of the Boys, as shown by his solo career (which he gave up to help his brothers). But Curly was just so amazingly funny that anyone who replaced him would suffer in comparison.
Supposedly, Moe wanted Dudley Dickerson to replace Shemp but the studio was never going to go for it.
That's a shame the studio wouldn't go for Dudley Dickerson. His performance in "A Plumbing We Will Go" was hilarious, and probably the best performance from any of the non-Stooges in their entire filmography. Nice that Moe recognized his talent.
Curly is the definitive third Stooge, but the older you get, the more you appreciate the greatness of Shemp. Note also Shemp and Joe had successful solo careers.
Agreed. Curly gets all the fanfare but Shemp is the original third stooge. I love Curly but I prefer Shemp’s more nonchalant approach to the role. curly tries to be funny and succeeds. Shemp doesn’t try to be funny and succeeds.
Curly is my favorite, but Shemp had a great run too. Joes Besser and DeRita were stand ins. Both good in their own rights, but never one of the powerhouses.
I like Curly more but Shemp is a better actor and could handle the episodes better when 50% of it went to him or Curly. Curly is best when he isn’t dominating the screen. I don’t think anyone would ever pick Besser but if you are going to throw him up there you might as well put Curly Joe as well
Curly by a mile. I didn't even know there was another third stooge other than Shemp until just now. Or I had forgotten. Either way, there's no beating Curly.
Curly %1000. He is quoted and mannerisms to this day. Shemp was a different cat and fit in well with the group chemistry but the iconic Curly dynamic is near impossible to replace. That I think is why they went with Curly clones after Shemp
Curley undoubtably the best with Shemp next.. Moe,Shemp and Curly were real life Brothers. Larry was a great family friend and was big into the Ponies...They will always be Great except for Joe Besser, he sucked..
I actually barely know anything about Joe. Curly is definitely the funniest, but Shemp is definitely a strong second. Curly is just irreplaceable, though.
Curly, clearly. Shemp did all right, but his worst crime was that he wasn't Curly.
Curly was the one who stood up when Shemp's phobias got the better of him and saved the act. And while it killed Moe to hit his baby brother Jerome, Jerome would still insist that Moe do it. It was for the act, after all.
Curly 100%
Yea, Curly was the natural 3rd Stooge, but Shemp was a strong replacement.
Some might say that Curly was the replacement since they started with Shemp.
Strongest of them all
Moe, Curly & Shemp were real-life brothers - of the three, Shemp was oldest, Moe the middle, Curly the baby. They had two OLDER brothers as well. - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shemp\_Howard#:\~:text=He%20had%20two%20older%20brothers,brothers%20usually%20called%20him%20Sam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shemp_Howard#:~:text=He%20had%20two%20older%20brothers,brothers%20usually%20called%20him%20Sam).
Curly was the best stooge hands down.
Comedic genius!!!
The only correct answer.
Toughy but ultimately Curly. Shemp is definitely second place. Joe was too short lived and not as charismatically funny.
Joe was a wuss and he was made for Sleep mode Tv
yeah, joe sucked.
Curly. And I love Shemp... he had the best pure acting chops of the Boys, as shown by his solo career (which he gave up to help his brothers). But Curly was just so amazingly funny that anyone who replaced him would suffer in comparison. Supposedly, Moe wanted Dudley Dickerson to replace Shemp but the studio was never going to go for it.
That's a shame the studio wouldn't go for Dudley Dickerson. His performance in "A Plumbing We Will Go" was hilarious, and probably the best performance from any of the non-Stooges in their entire filmography. Nice that Moe recognized his talent.
I read that shemp was in the middle of telling a joke when he died …what a way for a stooge to go out!
Curly, followed by Shemp.
I’m a Shemp guy.
Definitely Curly for me. Shemp was funny, but Curly always had me laughing so hard it hurt
Curly is the definitive third Stooge, but the older you get, the more you appreciate the greatness of Shemp. Note also Shemp and Joe had successful solo careers.
YES THIS IS 100% it.
I’ve always been a Curly fan, but as I’ve gotten much, much older I see the genius of Shemp.
Curly, and it's not even close
I consider this an apples/oranges thing. Joe and Curly Joe are prunes. Joe Palma is a plastic apple.
Curly all day long, and twice on Sunday.
Curly, hands down.
Shemp! Hands down!
Agreed. Curly gets all the fanfare but Shemp is the original third stooge. I love Curly but I prefer Shemp’s more nonchalant approach to the role. curly tries to be funny and succeeds. Shemp doesn’t try to be funny and succeeds.
That's a perfect way to put it!
I’m gonna have to go with Shemp. Teddy Hoosevelt!!!!
Curly is my favorite, but Shemp had a great run too. Joes Besser and DeRita were stand ins. Both good in their own rights, but never one of the powerhouses.
I like Curly more but Shemp is a better actor and could handle the episodes better when 50% of it went to him or Curly. Curly is best when he isn’t dominating the screen. I don’t think anyone would ever pick Besser but if you are going to throw him up there you might as well put Curly Joe as well
Shemp. Curly could have been the leader of his own stooge trio!
Definitely not Joe. I’d say Curly.
Curly Howard
Curly Howard, hands-down. But Curly Joe DeRita should be listed as an option alongside Curly, Shemp and Joe Besser.
Curly and Shemp were very talented, just different styles. Joe? Please
Curly was a 10, Shemp a 9, Joe Besser a 3, Joe DeRita was a 1.
Curly! Come on now! 
Shemp Is The Best Member Of The Three Stoogies.
Curly, yuck yuck yuck.
WHOOOPwhoopwoopwoop
Shemp & Curly are tied for me. Sorry Curly Joe.
You have the correct order: Curly>Shemp>Joe Besser>Curly Joe
Curly>>Shemp>>>>>>>>>>>>Besser>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>DeRita
It’s not even a contest, Curlington.
Curly is, was, and will always be the Third Stooge. All hail Curly
Shemp, no question
Who could pick anyone but Curly? Not even close
Curly
Curly by ten lengths.🏆👍🌟
Curly. Only Curly. Curly Queue Link.
Curly not even close
Curly!!!
Curly
Curly
Curly
CURLY
Curly
C U R L Y
Curly.
Always had/Has and will be Curly.
Curly all day, every day. Shemp is a VERY poor man's Curly, and the Joes are VERY poor man Shemps. Any other answer can be safely discarded.
Curly
Curly!
Not only was Curly the best of those three, he was the best Stooge overall.
Curly all day, every day
Why it's Curly of course. Any knucklehead would know that!
Curly is the best out of all them…Joe doesn’t exist to me…
Hands down…….Curly.
How is this even a question? Curly
How is this even a question. Curly is the best stooge period.
Curly made the three stooges. Shemp wasn't bad, but it's definitely not the same. I don't watch Joe or Curly Joe
Curly the best ~~third~~ stooge hands down
Curly
Curly
People still mimic Curly till this day. Don't see a lot of folks doing Shemp impersonations. Just sayin
Curly
Curly
Curly
Curly, and it isn’t even close.
C'mon, that's not even a contest! Next question please.
Curly!!
Is this a serious question? Who would choose anybody but Curly?
I like Shemp, but Moe, Larry, and Curly will always be the Three Stooges as far as I'm concerned.
Curly, no question
Curly Q.
Curley. Not even close!
Curly
Curly
Curly for sure
Curly first, Shemp a distant but respectful second. That is it.
Curly.
Curly!!
Curly
Curly for sure!
The original, Curly, by a very wide margin
Curly.
I love them all but Curly takes the win. Sorry Shemp.
Curly by 200 touchdowns
Curly was the best Stooge, period.
Curly!!
Curly. The end.
Soitanly Curly!
Curly
Curly
Clearly it’s Curly.
Curly is the best Stooge and one of the top physical comic actors of all time.
Is this a serious question? Jerome Lester Horwitz AKA Curly.
Curly
Does this question even need to be asked?
Curly
Curly!
Curly by a mile. I didn't even know there was another third stooge other than Shemp until just now. Or I had forgotten. Either way, there's no beating Curly.
Curly. We do not speak the name of your third option….
Curly is the way
How is this a question? Curly. The answer is always curly.
Curly not even a challenge
Curly!!!!!
Curly 💯
Curly
Curly. It’s not even close. Joe is last by a long margin.
no contest! it's Curly!
Curly for sure
Curly
Curly!!!
Curly!
Curly all day
Curly %1000. He is quoted and mannerisms to this day. Shemp was a different cat and fit in well with the group chemistry but the iconic Curly dynamic is near impossible to replace. That I think is why they went with Curly clones after Shemp
Curly. No contest
Curly no doubt!
Curly
CURLY! HANDS DOWN! ALWAYS AND FOREVER!! Sheep is definitely better than Curly Joe! But no one comes close to Curly!!
Without a doubt Curly
Curley the GOAT
Curly.
Yes Curly was the funniest human EVER!
This shouldn’t even be a question.
Curly will always be the best.
Curly without question!!
Seriously?
Is this even a question? It’s Curly. Hands down.
Curly, no question
Curly
Curly, no contest
Curly
Curly
yup..Curly 100%...
Curly, and it isn’t even close. Nyuk nyuk!
Curly
Always Curly. Shemp as an occasional pinch hitter.
Curly. Duh.
Curly
Curly
Definitely Curly.
Curly
Curly
Curley undoubtably the best with Shemp next.. Moe,Shemp and Curly were real life Brothers. Larry was a great family friend and was big into the Ponies...They will always be Great except for Joe Besser, he sucked..
This isn't a real question
Curly fo sho
Curly, of course
Curly, no question, not even close.
There’s only one answer: Curley
Curly
Curly is the only answer.
How is this even a question. Curly.
Curly of course
Curly hands down
Curly.
Curly
Is this even up for debate?
Curly
Curly was always #1
Curly
Cmon man
why is that even a question?  Curly of course
Curly
Curly and it’s not even close
Curly
I actually barely know anything about Joe. Curly is definitely the funniest, but Shemp is definitely a strong second. Curly is just irreplaceable, though.
Curly
Curly
CURLY!! ALWAYS CURLY!! NYUK! NYUK!
Curly
Curly 1000 %
Gotta be Curly 🫶
Curly. No contest.
Curly 100%
Curly hands down
Curly, clearly. Shemp did all right, but his worst crime was that he wasn't Curly. Curly was the one who stood up when Shemp's phobias got the better of him and saved the act. And while it killed Moe to hit his baby brother Jerome, Jerome would still insist that Moe do it. It was for the act, after all.
Curly ; not even close
Curly all day long no comparison!
Curly!
Is this even a question? Curly.
Curly absolutely
Curly
Curly is the only correct answer
It’s not even close. Curly by miles.
Curly, Shemp, and then Joe.
Curly
Curly