Growing up, Kris Cutler had a front-row seat to what it meant to be part of the Fine family. Every Friday, as a little girl, she'd eagerly await her grandfather Larry Fine, who always made time for her. “He’d pick me up from school, take me shopping at Hughes Market, and then make me the best hamburger in town,” Kris shares with a warm smile, calling herself a proud “pal of Larry Fine.” She adds, “He wasn’t just a great cook; he was kind, wonderful, and loving. He spoiled me rotten, but in the best way possible.”
And let me tell you, Kris wasn’t the only lucky one. Larry Fine, born Louis Feinberg in Philadelphia and later becoming one-third of the legendary Three Stooges, had a heart as big as his comedic timing. “During World War II, my mom told me stories about how he’d bring soldiers home, feed them, and even let them stay with us,” Kris explains. “If someone needed help, Larry was the first to step up. He truly believed in paying it forward and treating everyone with kindness.”
Now, when it came to Larry’s wife, Mabel, well, let’s just say she held a very special place in his heart. “Mabel was a dancer and singer who came from Ireland with her sisters,” explains Kurt Lamond, Larry’s great-grandson and the man behind shopknuckleheads.com, the official Three Stooges store. “After meeting Larry in 1922 on the vaudeville circuit, she decided to focus on her family, becoming the ultimate homemaker.”
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Kris remembers those cherished moments with her grandparents vividly. “Oh, he adored Mabel. If she wanted something, Larry would move heaven and earth to get it for her,” she recalls. “Whether it was 3 a.m. and she craved Chinese food or just felt like having candy, Larry would head out without hesitation. That’s the kind of love they shared.”
Their home was always filled with laughter, but sometimes things got a little chaotic. “Thanksgiving dinners were legendary in our family,” Kurt reminisces, sharing a funny story. “One year, Larry pulled the turkey out of the oven, but Mabel said it wasn’t done. Next thing you know, they’re both tugging at it, and bam! The turkey flies out of the pan, slides right through the swinging doors, and lands smack dab at the base of the dining table. Larry just walked out, threw his hands in the air, and declared, ‘Dinner’s ready!’”
A Family Legacy Beyond Blood
While Larry wasn’t biologically related to the other members of the Three Stooges, the bond they shared was unbreakable. “We’d visit Mo Howard’s house for barbecues,” Kris recalls fondly. “He’d joke around, saying, ‘See these bags under my eyes? That’s where I keep my money.’” The camaraderie between the Stooges wasn’t just for the cameras; it was a genuine friendship that lasted a lifetime. “They’d gather once a week for dinner,” Kurt adds. “They truly were a close-knit family group, both on-screen and off.”
This sense of togetherness meant everything to Larry. “We’d go to baseball games together, eat out as a family, and spend countless hours laughing and enjoying each other’s company,” Kris says. “He always emphasized how important family was. He lived by that philosophy, and it’s something I carry with me every day.”
