Larry was a classically trained violinist, sidetracked by ragtime. An acid burn when he was 4 nearly caused amputation and later physical therapy led to a brief boxing career as a lightweight. He won his only pro fight under the name "Kid Roth". Moe and then-boss Ted Healy 'discovered" Larry performing with fiddle and dancing, kicking his heels up with his ass an inch from the floor and decided to ask him to join the act as a Stooge. They offered him $90 per week with a 10 dollar bonus if he'd give up the violin (according to Moe). When they went backstage to talk with him, he was just coming from a shower with his curly hair all astray. That's where his look came from.