Larry Fine

Larry Fine (born Louis Feinberg; October 4, 1902 – January 24, 1975) was an American actor, comedian and musician. He is best known as a member of the comedy act the Three Stooges and was often called "The Middle Stooge".

Early life

Fine was born Louis Feinberg to a Russian Jewish family at 3rd and South Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 4, 1902. Several sources erroneously listed his birthday as October 5. He was the eldest of four children. His father, Joseph Feinberg, and mother, Fanny Lieberman, owned a watch repair and jewelry shop.

In his early childhood, Fine's arm was accidentally burned with hydrochloric acid that his father used to test jewelry for its gold content. Fine had picked up the bottle and, mistaking it for a beverage, raised it to his lips when his father noticed and knocked it out of his hand, accidentally splashing the acid on his son's forearm, causing extensive damage to it.

Fine's parents later gave him violin lessons to help strengthen the damaged muscles in his forearm. He became so proficient that his parents wanted to send him to a European music conservatory, but the plan was thwarted by the outbreak of World War I. Fine later played the violin in the Stooge films. To further strengthen his damaged arm, Fine took up boxing in his teens, winning one professional bout. His father was opposed to Larry's fighting in public and put an end to his brief boxing career.