Emil Sitka (December 22, 1914 â€" January 16, 1998) was a veteran
American actor, who appeared in hundreds of movies, short films, and
television shows, and is best known for his numerous appearances with
The Three Stooges. He is one of only two actors to have worked with
all six Stooges (Shemp Howard, Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard,
Joe Besser, Joe DeRita) on film in the various incarnations of the
group (Harold Brauer, a recurring villain who appeared in three 1940s
shorts, was the other).Sitka served the role of a literal "stooge," or
straight man, to the Three Stooges throughout nearly 40 of their short
films, most of which were filmed during Shemp's run as the third
stooge. In addition to one single appearance during Curly's run with
the trio, and a limited number of appearances during Besser's, Sitka
returned as a near-regular character when the trio returned to film
and television with DeRita. His frequent appearances with the trio,
and his role as stooge to the stooges, have earned him the informal
title of being the "fourth stooge".Sitka was born in Johnstown,
Pennsylvania in 1914. He was the oldest of five children, born of
Slovak immigrant parents. His father, Emil Sitka, a coal miner, died
of black lung disease when Sitka was 12 years old, and his mother,
Helena Matula Sitka, was hospitalized, unable to take care of the
children. His siblings were placed in foster homes, but Sitka went to
live in a church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a Catholic priest
for the next few years. At this time, he became an altar boy and made
plans to enter the priesthood, and had his first acting opportunity in
the church's annual Passion Play. At the age of 16, he and one of his
brothers traveled across the United States looking for work. After a
year, they returned to Pittsburgh, where Sitka found a job working in
a factory. He stayed there until the great St. Patrick's Day
Pittsburgh Flood of 1936, after which he departed to pursue his dream
of acting in Hollywood, California.Sitka found inexpensive lodging in
a small acting theater, doing handiwork to pay his rent, and gradually
acting in small parts in the theater. With time and experience, the
parts became larger, and eventually Sitka was directing plays as well.
Since the theater did not pay, Emil always kept a job as a civil
engineer to pay the bills as well as his acting career at night. By
1946, he had played dozens, if not hundreds of roles; this breadth of
experience would help him in his later film career, playing everything
from butler to lawyer to businessman to construction worker.
American actor, who appeared in hundreds of movies, short films, and
television shows, and is best known for his numerous appearances with
The Three Stooges. He is one of only two actors to have worked with
all six Stooges (Shemp Howard, Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard,
Joe Besser, Joe DeRita) on film in the various incarnations of the
group (Harold Brauer, a recurring villain who appeared in three 1940s
shorts, was the other).Sitka served the role of a literal "stooge," or
straight man, to the Three Stooges throughout nearly 40 of their short
films, most of which were filmed during Shemp's run as the third
stooge. In addition to one single appearance during Curly's run with
the trio, and a limited number of appearances during Besser's, Sitka
returned as a near-regular character when the trio returned to film
and television with DeRita. His frequent appearances with the trio,
and his role as stooge to the stooges, have earned him the informal
title of being the "fourth stooge".Sitka was born in Johnstown,
Pennsylvania in 1914. He was the oldest of five children, born of
Slovak immigrant parents. His father, Emil Sitka, a coal miner, died
of black lung disease when Sitka was 12 years old, and his mother,
Helena Matula Sitka, was hospitalized, unable to take care of the
children. His siblings were placed in foster homes, but Sitka went to
live in a church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a Catholic priest
for the next few years. At this time, he became an altar boy and made
plans to enter the priesthood, and had his first acting opportunity in
the church's annual Passion Play. At the age of 16, he and one of his
brothers traveled across the United States looking for work. After a
year, they returned to Pittsburgh, where Sitka found a job working in
a factory. He stayed there until the great St. Patrick's Day
Pittsburgh Flood of 1936, after which he departed to pursue his dream
of acting in Hollywood, California.Sitka found inexpensive lodging in
a small acting theater, doing handiwork to pay his rent, and gradually
acting in small parts in the theater. With time and experience, the
parts became larger, and eventually Sitka was directing plays as well.
Since the theater did not pay, Emil always kept a job as a civil
engineer to pay the bills as well as his acting career at night. By
1946, he had played dozens, if not hundreds of roles; this breadth of
experience would help him in his later film career, playing everything
from butler to lawyer to businessman to construction worker.
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