- As a stunt man working with The Three Stooges he was used as a stand-in for Shemp Howard after Shemp's death and before Joe Besser joined the stooges. Reportedly Palma was filmed from the back & old footage of Shemp was inserted for frontal shots.
- Joe's last years in the business were as an assistant to Jack Lemmon. He received small credited roles in Mr. Lemmon's movies during the 1960s just before Joe retired.
- Before moving to Hollywood in the 1930s he worked as a mortician in the Provenzano funeral home, owned by his parents on 2nd Avenue in Manhattan, NYC.
- Real last name was Provenzano.
- Married to Marjorie Ann Ries for more than 50 years.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content