Orphaned at twelve, Sitka caught the acting bug while living with a priest in Pittsburgh. He road the rails as a hobo for years during the Depression before arriving in Hollywood in 1936. Theatre work, including directing, eventually brought him to the attention of a talent scout, who contracted him to Columbia Studios. Famous for his character roles in slapstick comedy . Sitka's most famous role, as a justice of the peace who begins every service with the words, "Hold hands, you love birds", brought him lasting fame among Stooge fans, who would sometimes ask him to repeat the phrase during their own wedding ceremonies.
His license plate read STOOGES.
Has two daughters: Eelonka Klugman and Little-Star Martotella; and four sons: Rudigor Sitka, Storm Sitka, Darrow Sitka and Saxon Sitka.
Officially became a member of The Three Stooges in the early 1970s, replacing Larry Fine. Two planned Stooges film projects never occurred. The second, which the Stooges dropped out of when Moe Howard became too ill to work, was produced with the [two surviving] Ritz Brothers stepping into the Stooges shoes and released as Blazing Stewardesses .
Last surviving member of The Three Stooges (although he never got a chance to make a film in this role).
Following his death, he was interred at Conejo Mountain Memorial Park in Camarilla, California.
As a tribute to his tenure with the Stooges, his gravestone reads "Hold hands, you lovebirds!".
