Ted Healy
Actor
About Ted Healy
Ted Healy was a titan of American vaudeville and a pivotal figure in the evolution of slapstick comedy, best known today as the creator and original leader of the Three Stooges. Born Ernest Lea Nash in Texas, he moved to New York as a child and entered show business in 1912 alongside childhood friend Moe Howard. By the 1920s, Healy had become one of the highest-paid performers in vaudeville, earning as much as $9,000 a week for his quick-witted ad-libbing and aggressive comedic style. He developed a revolutionary act involving 'stooges'—performers planted in the audience who would heckle him and eventually join him on stage for physical comedy. This troupe, which eventually included Moe Howard, Shemp Howard, and Larry Fine, made their film debut in the 1930 feature 'Soup to Nuts.' Although the Stooges eventually left him in 1934 to find independent fame at Columbia Pictures, Healy continued a successful solo career as a character actor at MGM. His life was tragically cut short at age 41, dying under mysterious circumstances just days after the birth of his only son.
The Craft
On Screen
Healy was known for a 'wise-cracking' and aggressive comedic persona, often playing the short-tempered straight man to his chaotic stooges. He was a master of ad-libbing, a skill born from his notorious difficulty in memorizing scripts, and he utilized a gruff, commanding presence that influenced the later leadership style of Moe Howard. His performances often blended high-energy physical slapstick with sharp, rapid-fire verbal insults.
Milestones
- Created the 'Ted Healy and His Stooges' act which launched The Three Stooges
- Became the highest-paid performer in vaudeville during the mid-1920s
- Starred in the 1930 film 'Soup to Nuts', the screen debut of the Stooges
- Elected President of the National Vaudeville Artists in 1931
- Signed a major solo contract with MGM in 1934 after parting with the Stooges
- Appeared in the classic 1936 film 'San Francisco' with Clark Gable
Best Known For
Iconic Roles
Must-See Films
Accolades
Special Recognition
- First caricature by Alex Gard to be hung on the wall of Sardi's Restaurant
- Inducted into the Vaudeville Hall of Fame (Posthumous recognition)
Working Relationships
Worked Often With
Studios
Why They Matter
Impact on Culture
Ted Healy's primary cultural impact was the invention of the 'Stooge' comedy format, which revolutionized ensemble slapstick. By moving the comedy from the stage into the audience and back again, he broke the fourth wall in a way that was radical for vaudeville. His creation of the Three Stooges provided the blueprint for one of the most enduring comedy acts in history, influencing generations of physical comedians from Milton Berle to modern slapstick artists.
Lasting Legacy
Healy's legacy is inextricably linked to the Three Stooges, though he was a major star in his own right during the Golden Age. He is remembered as the man who discovered and polished the talents of the Howard brothers and Larry Fine. While his solo film career was beginning to flourish at MGM, his untimely death left a 'what if' over his potential as a leading character actor in Hollywood. He remains a figure of fascination due to the mystery surrounding his passing.
Who They Inspired
Healy's aggressive, 'bully' comedic persona was the direct inspiration for Moe Howard's stage character. His use of catchphrases like 'Spread out!' and 'I'm a victim of circumstance!' were later adopted and immortalized by the Stooges. He also influenced other comedians of the era with his mastery of the 'heckler' routine and his ability to maintain a straight face amidst absolute chaos.
Off Screen
Healy was known for a volatile personal life marked by heavy drinking and a legendary temper. He was a notorious gambler who loved betting on horse races and was known to spend his massive earnings as quickly as he made them. Despite his rough exterior and professional disputes, friends like Moe Howard noted that he had a deep love for children and frequently hosted lavish Christmas parties for underprivileged youth.
Education
Attended Holy Innocents School in Houston and De La Salle Institute in Manhattan, New York.
Family
- Betty Brown (1922-1932)
- Betty Hickman (1936-1937)
Did You Know?
- Healy was the highest-paid performer in vaudeville, once making $9,000 a week in the 1920s.
- He was a childhood friend of Moe Howard; they met at a beach in Brooklyn around 1909.
- His sister, Marcia Healy, was also an actress and appeared in several films, including the Stooges short 'The Sitter Downers'.
- Healy was known for wearing a toupée in public during his later years in Hollywood.
- He died only four days after the birth of his first and only child.
- Healy's caricature was the very first one drawn for the famous walls of Sardi's restaurant in New York.
- He once sued the Three Stooges for using his comedy material after they left his act.
- He was a vocal supporter of Herbert Hoover during the 1932 presidential election.
In Their Own Words
Spread out!
I'll make him the richest kid in the world. (Referring to his newborn son)
I'm a victim of circumstance!
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Ted Healy?
Ted Healy was a famous American vaudeville comedian and actor who is best known for creating the comedy act that became The Three Stooges. He was a major star in the 1920s and 1930s, known for his aggressive slapstick style and quick-witted ad-libs.
What films is Ted Healy best known for?
He is best known for 'Soup to Nuts' (1930), which featured the original Stooges, as well as solo roles in MGM films like 'San Francisco' (1936), 'Mad Love' (1935), and his final film 'Hollywood Hotel' (1937).
When was Ted Healy born and when did he die?
Ted Healy was born on October 1, 1896, in Kaufman, Texas, and died at the age of 41 on December 21, 1937, in Los Angeles, California.
What was Ted Healy's relationship with the Three Stooges?
Healy was their employer and mentor; he discovered Moe, Shemp, Larry, and Curly and integrated them into his vaudeville act as 'stooges.' They eventually split from him in 1934 due to financial disputes and his difficult temperament.
How did Ted Healy die?
The official cause of death was kidney failure linked to acute alcoholism. However, a long-standing Hollywood legend suggests he died from injuries sustained in a nightclub brawl involving actor Wallace Beery and producer Albert Broccoli.
What was Ted Healy's acting style?
Healy played a fast-talking, abrasive, and often abusive 'straight man' who used physical violence and verbal insults to control his comedic foils. His style was high-energy and relied heavily on his ability to improvise when he forgot his lines.
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Films
1 film
