Tragic Loss: Curly Howard’s Daughter Marilyn Howard Ellman Passes Away at 86

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Growing up as Curly Howard’s youngest daughter, Marilyn Ellman, I was fortunate enough to share moments with my father, albeit limited due to his busy showbiz life and our parents’ divorce in the early ’40s. Weekends were my precious visits to him, but they were few and far between during his peak with The Three Stooges. As time passed, I found myself spending more hours by his side in hospitals, especially after he experienced a string of strokes that ultimately led to his retirement from the group in 1946. I shared this life journey with him, even though it was often filled with hospital visits and health struggles.

In a 2020 interview, Server shared that his mother has fond memories of his affection for animals. She often played with the dog he kept as a pet and it was clear that this dog held a special place in his heart, remaining by his side until the end. Interestingly, even though his grandfather had a strong on-screen presence, I discovered later that he was actually a reserved, quiet individual in private.

At the tender age of thirteen, Ellman tragically lost her father on January 18, 1952, in San Gabriel, California. Previously, her father’s role had been taken over by her brother Shemp Howard in the act. He then joined his brothers Moe Howard and Larry Fine.

or simply:

Ellman was only thirteen when her dad passed away at 48 on January 18, 1952, in San Gabriel, California. At that time, her brother Shemp Howard had stepped into the act, eventually teaming up with brothers Moe Howard and Larry Fine.

I, Marilyn Howard, hail from the bustling city of Los Angeles, born on the 18th of December, 1938. My parents, Jerome Lester Horwitz and Elaine Julia Ackerman, were a married couple for three short years before they parted ways in 1940. Interestingly, my dad would go on to have another daughter named Janie with his fourth spouse.

Following Curly’s passing, she was taken in by her mother’s subsequent spouse, Moe Diamond, at the age of 14.

As a proud alumna of North Hollywood High School and a former student at USC for two years, I ventured into a career as a procurement buyer in the electronics industry. Marrying twice along the way, my immediate family consists of my son Darren, daughter Andrea, granddaughter Elizabeth, and half-brother Michael.

Bradley Server entertains with physical humor on social media, using the pseudonym Curly G, which stands for “Curly’s Grandson.

I’ll deeply miss our beloved matriarch, who can’t be filled by anyone else,” I expressed. “Her boundless love, kindness, and wisdom have left an indelible mark on each one of us.

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2025-05-27 22:24