Comic actor Joe DeRita became "Curly Joe" in 1958, replacing Besser for a new series of full-length theatrical films. With intense television exposure, the act regained momentum throughout the 1960s as popular kids' fare, until Larry’s paralyzing stroke in the midst of filming a pilot for a Three Stooges TV series in January 1970. Larry Fine died in January 1975 after a further series of strokes. Unsuccessful attempts were made to revive the Stooges with longtime supporting actor Emil Sitka in Fine's role in 1970 and again in 1975, but this attempt was cut short by Moe Howard's death on May 4, 1975.