Matinee Classics - Joe DeRita Biography & Filmography

Joe DeRita ACTOR

JOE DERITA BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Joe DeRita was born on July 12th, 1909 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with the birth name Joseph Wardell. His family was very involved in show business, which made it easy for him to enter the industry as a young boy.

By the age of seven he was performing on stage and later became involved in the Burlesque circuit. Then he relocated to California to work as the headliner for a number of live stage performances.

During World War II, he traveled and performed for troops along with Bing Crosby and Randolph Scott. He then returned to acting and began acting in films, making his debut in, "The Doughgirls" followed by roles in such films as, "The French Key" (1946), "High School Hero" (1946) and the short films, "Wedlock Deadlock" (1947) and "Jitter Bughouse" (1948).

In addition to working in films he also appeared on the radio as well as a variety of television shows such as, "I Married Joan", "Bachelor Father" and "Lassie".

He is most well known for being part of, "The Three Stooges" which he joined in 1958 and remained with the cast, portraying Curly Joe, until, Moe Howard passed away in 1975.

Along with the many short "The Three Stooges" films, he was also part of the television cast of, "The New Three Stooges" (1965). Joe even appeared in a film "4 for Texas" (1964) starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Ursula Andress. After appearing on the television series, "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" (1966) and "Off to See the Wizard" (1967), DeRita, then chose to retire from the industry and he passed away in Woodland Hills, California on July 3rd, 1993 from pneumonia.

Joe DeRita married twice during his lifetime, first to Bonnie Brooks from 1935 through 1964. He then wed his second wife, Jean Sullivan in 1966 and they remained together until he passed away.

Filmography

1970 Kook's Tour

1967 Off to See the Wizard

1966 The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet

1965 Danny Thomas Meets the Comics

1965 The New 3 Stooges

1965 The Outlaws Is Coming

1963 4 for Texas

1963 It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World

1963 The Three Stooges Scrapbook

1963 The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze

1962 The Three Stooges in Orbit

1962 The Three Stooges Meet Hercules

1961 Snow White and the Three Stooges

1961 Lassie

1959 Have Rocket - Will Travel

1958 Bachelor Father

1958 Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse