A vaudeville performer from a young age, Howard had starred in several silent short subjects before teaming up with older brother Shemp Howard and friend Larry Fine in 1922 to form the Three Stooges. By 1934, the team was signed to Columbia Pictures, where they achieved international fame for their slapstick comedy routines.
Howard appeared in almost all of the Three Stooges' 190 short films and 23 feature films, as well as numerous television appearances and other projects. He was the group's de facto leader and straight man, and his trademark eyeglasses were an essential part of his character's persona.
Outside of the Three Stooges, Howard had a brief solo career in the 1940s and early 1950s, during which he starred in several short subjects and feature films. He also made several appearances on television shows, including as a guest star on I Love Lucy.
In 1955, Howard reunited with Shemp and Fine for the Three Stooges' final years at Columbia Pictures, and they continued to perform together until Shemp's death in 1955. Howard and Fine continued to perform as a duo until the late 1960s, when their performances became less frequent due to health issues and declining popularity.
Howard died of lung cancer in 1975 at the age of 77. He is considered one of the most iconic comedians of all time and is recognized along with Shemp and Fine as one of the most influential comedic teams in history.