Why Buddy Hackett turned down the chance to become a legendary Three Stooge
In short: Buddy Hackett was a comedic force, but he famously rejected an offer to join the Three Stooges. He feared the physical toll of the slapstick, joking that he would miss out on too much ice cream if he had to endure constant eye pokes and nose-crushing stunts for his craft.
Born Leonard Hacker in 1924, the Brooklyn native developed his signature slurred speech and facial expressions due to childhood Bell's palsy. He began his career as a 'tummler' in the Catskills, eventually refining a brash, off-color style that made him a staple of television variety shows. His breakthrough came in 1953 with 'The Chinese Waiter,' a dialect routine that led to film roles, including a memorable turn in 1962's The Music Man and as Tennessee Steinmetz in 1968's The Love Bug.
Hackett's career was marked by unusual intersections with pop culture history. In 1950, he appeared in a short film demonstrating bowling techniques, which reportedly led Jules White to offer him a spot as the third Stooge following Curly Howard's stroke. Hackett declined, citing the brutal nature of the physical comedy. Later, he and his roommate Lenny Bruce jokingly dubbed themselves the 'Not Ready for Prime Time Players' in the late 1950s, a name that would be adopted by Saturday Night Live decades later.
Beyond his stage and screen work, Hackett was a fixture of American television, appearing frequently on The Tonight Show with both Jack Paar and Johnny Carson. He remained active well into his later years, hosting a revival of You Bet Your Life and appearing in the 1999 series Action. Despite a diagnosis of severe heart disease in the early 1990s, he continued to perform until his death in 2003 at age 78. His legacy persists through his son, Sandy, who created a stage show dedicated to his father's life and career.
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