Eddie Laughton (20 June 190321 March 1952) was an American film actor. Laughton appeared in more than 200 films between

1935 Events January * January 7 – Italian premier Benito Mussolini and French Foreign Minister Pierre Laval conclude Franco-Italian Agreement of 1935, an agreement, in which each power agrees not to oppose the other's colonial claims. * ...

and 1952, and is best known for his work with

The Three Stooges The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy team active from 1922 until 1970, best remembered for their 190 short subject films by Columbia Pictures. Their hallmark styles were physical farce and slapstick. Six Stooges appeared ...

Career

Laughton's family immigrated to the United States in 1909 and settled in Detroit. He started in

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...

and managed a vaudeville theatre where

Larry Fine Louis Feinberg (October 5, 1902 – January 24, 1975), known professionally as Larry Fine, was an American actor, comedian, and musician. He is best known as a member of the comedy act the Three Stooges. Early life Fine was born to a Russian Je ...

, later of the Stooges trio, once played. The pencil-mustached Laughton was placed under contract by

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production studio that is a member of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, which is one of the Big Five studios and a subsidiary of the mu ...

in 1935, almost certainly thanks to Fine. Laughton worked at Columbia almost exclusively for 10 years, in features, westerns, short subjects, and serials throughout the 1930s and 1940s. Modern viewers will remember Laughton for his role as "Percy Pomeroy, convict 41144" in the Stooge comedies '' So Long Mr. Chumps'' and '' Beer Barrel Polecats'', or as the happy drunk in '' Loco Boy Makes Good''. Laughton was an excellent utility player, useful in good-guy and bad-guy roles alike. (He and fellow Columbia stock player John Tyrrell shared many scenes.) Laughton was also a convincing dialect comedian, playing a French nobleman in

Buster Keaton Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966) was an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He is best known for his silent film work, in which his trademark was physical comedy accompanied by a stoic, deadpan expression ...

's ''

She's Oil Mine ''She's Oil Mine'' is the last short subject American comedian Buster Keaton made for Columbia Pictures. Keaton made a total of 10 films for the studio between 1939 and 1941. Plot Keaton and Monte Collins appear as Waters and Piper, plumbers. D ...

'', and an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

big-game hunter plastered with pies in the Stooges' ''

In the Sweet Pie and Pie ''In the Sweet Pie and Pie'' is a 1941 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 58th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures star ...

''.imdb.com
/ref> In addition to his roles in the Stooge shorts, Laughton traveled with the team between filming schedules, acting as their straight man in personal appearances.

Death

Laughton died of

pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severity ...

on March 21, 1952 just two months after the death of

Curly Howard Jerome Lester Horwitz (; October 22, 1903 – January 18, 1952), known professionally as Curly Howard, was an American actor and comedian. He was best known as a member of the American comedy team the Three Stooges, which also featured his elder ...

, who died of a massive cerebral hemorrhage. Both Curly and Eddie were born in the same year and were both 48 years old when they died within two months of each other.

Selected filmography

* ''

Three Little Beers ''Three Little Beers'' is a 1935 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 11th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the ...

'' (1935) * ''

Disorder in the Court ''Disorder in the Court'' is a 1936 short subject directed by Preston Black starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 15th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures sta ...

'' (1936) - Man Sitting by Letterpress (uncredited) * ''

A Pain in the Pullman ''A Pain in the Pullman'' is a 1936 short subject directed by Preston Black starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 16th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures s ...

'' (1936) * ''

Slippery Silks ''Slippery Silks'' is a 1936 short subject directed by Preston Black starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 19th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring t ...

'' (1936) * ''

3 Dumb Clucks ''3 Dumb Clucks'' is a 1937 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 22nd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the c ...

'' (1937) * ''

Goofs and Saddles ''Goofs and Saddles'' is a 1937 American Western short subject film directed by Del Lord and starring the slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 24th entry in the series released by Columbi ...

'' (1937) * ''

It Happened in Hollywood ''It Happened in Hollywood'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Harry Lachman and starring Richard Dix, Fay Wray and Victor Kilian. The arrival of sound wrecks the career of a leading western actor while his leading lady rises to new heig ...

'' (1937) * '' Cash and Carry'' (1937) * ''

No Time to Marry ''No Time to Marry'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Harry Lachman and starring Richard Arlen, Mary Astor and Lionel Stander.Goble p.888 Partial cast * Richard Arlen as Perry Brown * Mary Astor as Kay McGowan * Lionel Stander as A ...

'' (1938) * '' Special Inspector'' (1938) * ''

Squadron of Honor ''Squadron of Honor'' is a 1938 American action film directed by Charles C. Coleman (director), Charles C. Coleman and starring Don Terry, Mary Russell (actress), Mary Russell, and Thurston Hall. It was produced as a second feature by Columbia Pic ...

'' (1938) * ''

We Want Our Mummy ''We Want Our Mummy'' is a 1939 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 37th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring th ...

'' (1939) - Cab Driver (uncredited) * ''

Pest from the West ''Pest from the West'' is the first short subject starring American comedian Buster Keaton made for Columbia Pictures. Keaton made a total of ten films for the studio between 1939 and 1941. Synopsis Keaton is a millionaire vacationing in Mexico ...

'' (1939) * ''

Oily to Bed, Oily to Rise ''Oily to Bed, Oily to Rise'' is a 1939 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges ( Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 42nd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures ...

'' (1939) * ''

Three Sappy People ''Three Sappy People'' is a 1939 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 43rd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring ...

'' (1939) * ''

Beware Spooks! ''Beware Spooks!'' is a 1939 American comedy film directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring Joe E. Brown, Mary Carlisle and Clarence Kolb.Gehring p.100 Synopsis Rookie cop Roy L. Gifford is kicked off the force after he accidentally assists a bank ...

'' (1939) * ''

Scandal Sheet Tabloid journalism is a popular style of largely sensationalist journalism (usually dramatized and sometimes unverifiable or even blatantly false), which takes its name from the tabloid newspaper format: a small-sized newspaper also known as ...

'' (1939) * ''

Girls of the Road Girls of the Road is a 1940 American action film, based on an original screenplay by Robert Hardy Andrews, directed by Nick Grinde, and produced by Wallace MacDonald. The main characters of the 61–minute Columbia Pictures feature film were ten f ...

'' (1940) *''

The Secret Seven The Secret Seven or Secret Seven Society is a fictional group of child detectives created by Enid Blyton and based on the publisher’s children. They appear in one of several adolescent detective series which Blyton wrote. The Secret Seve ...

'' (1940) * ''

You Nazty Spy! ''You Nazty Spy!'' is a 1940 comedy film directed by Jules White and starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Curly Howard). It is the 44th short film released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedi ...

'' (1940) * '' A Plumbing We Will Go'' (1940) * ''

Boobs in Arms ''Boobs in Arms'' is a 1940 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 52nd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the ...

'' (1940) * '' So Long Mr. Chumps'' (1941) * ''

Dutiful But Dumb ''Dutiful but Dumb'' is a 1941 short film, short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 54th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures st ...

'' (1941) * ''

Meet Boston Blackie ''Meet Boston Blackie'' is a 1941 crime film starring Chester Morris as Boston Blackie, a notorious, but honorable jewel thief. Although the character had been the hero of a number of silent films, this was the first talking picture. It proved po ...

'' (1941) * ''

I Was a Prisoner on Devil's Island ''I Was a Prisoner on Devil's Island'' is a 1941 American crime film directed by Lew Landers and written by Karl Brown (cinematographer), Karl Brown. The film stars Sally Eilers, Donald Woods (actor), Donald Woods, Eduardo Ciannelli, Victor Kilia ...

'' (1941) * ''

Across the Sierras ''Across the Sierras'' is a 1941 American Western film directed by D. Ross Lederman and starring Bill Elliott. Plot After six years in prison, Mitch Carew returns to Arroyo to seek his revenge on the two men who sent him to prison, shopkeepe ...

'' (1941) * ''

Tillie the Toiler ''Tillie the Toiler'' is a newspaper comic strip created by cartoonist Russ Westover who initially worked on his concept of a flapper character in a strip he titled ''Rose of the Office''. With a title change, it sold to King Features Syndicate ...

'' (1941) * ''

Outlaws of the Panhandle ''Outlaws of the Panhandle'' is a 1941 American Western film directed by Sam Nelson and written by Paul Franklin. The film stars Charles Starrett, Frances Robinson, Stanley Brown, Norman Willis, Ray Teal and Lee Prather. The film was released ...

'' (1941) * ''

The Boogie Man Will Get You ''The Boogie Man Will Get You'' is a 1942 American comedy horror film directed by Lew Landers and starring Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre. It was the final film Karloff made under his contract with Columbia Pictures, and it was filmed in the wake ...

'' (1942) * '' Loco Boy Makes Good'' (1942) * '' Cactus Makes Perfect'' (1942) * ''

What's the Matador? ''What's the Matador?'' is a 1942 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 62nd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring ...

'' (1942) * ''

Parachute Nurse ''Parachute Nurse'' is a 1942 Columbia Pictures film about the Aerial Nurse Corps. The film was directed by Charles Barton. Plot Inspired by a visit from their old friend Lieutenant Mullins, an officer in the Aerial Nurse Corps, nurses Glenda W ...

'' (1942) * ''

Atlantic Convoy ''Atlantic Convoy'' is a 1942 American war film directed by Lew Landers. The story follows naval patrols based on the Icelandic coast battling the German U-boats during World War II, and the German efforts to infiltrate their operations with s ...

'' (1942) * ''

Alias Boston Blackie ''Alias Boston Blackie'' (1942) is the third in a series of fourteen Columbia Pictures "B" movies starring Chester Morris as Boston Blackie. It was preceded by ''Meet Boston Blackie'', ''Confessions of Boston Blackie'' and followed by '' Boston ...

'' (1942) * '' Stand By All Networks'' (1942) * ''

Three Smart Saps ''Three Smart Saps'' is a 1942 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 64th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring ...

'' (1942) * ''

Daring Young Man ''Daring Young Man'' is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer, which stars Joe E. Brown, Marguerite Chapman, and William Wright. Brown plays the dual roles of a failure turned champion bowler, Jonathan Peckinpaw, and his own ...

'' (1942) * ''

Bullets for Bandits ''Bullets for Bandits'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by Wallace W. Fox, starring Wild Bill Elliott, Tex Ritter, and Frank Mitchell. Plot Queen Katey is the owner of a large ranch. There is the beginning of a movement among the ...

'' (1942) * ''

Busy Buddies This is a complete list of the 164 shorts in the Tom and Jerry, ''Tom and Jerry'' series produced and released between 1940 and 2014. Of these, 162 are theatrical shorts, one is a made-for-TV short, and one is a 2-minute sketch shown as part of ...

'' (1944) * '' Sailor's Holiday'' (1944) * '' Idle Roomers'' (1944) * ''

Idiots Deluxe ''Idiots Deluxe'' is a 1945 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 85th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the co ...

'' (1945) - Courtroom spectator (uncredited) * '' Beer Barrel Polecats'' (1946, in footage from ''So Long, Mr. Chumps'') * '' The Perils of Pauline'' (1947) * ''

Chicken Every Sunday ''Chicken Every Sunday'' is a 1949 American comedy film directed by George Seaton. The screenplay by Seaton and Valentine Davies is based on the 1944 play of the same title by Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein, which was based on Chicken Ev ...

'' (1949)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Laughton, Eddie 1903 births 1952 deaths English male film actors Deaths from pneumonia in California British expatriate male actors in the United States 20th-century English male actors 20th-century American comedians Eaton family