Modern viewers will remember York for his portrayals of grotesque monsters, ape men, or other scary goon-like characters in Three Stooges short films such as Three Little Twirps, Idle Roomers, Three Pests in a Mess, Shivering Sherlocks, and Who Done It?

[4] In the 1930s, York married movie stuntwoman Frances Miles, but the union ended in divorce in 1941.

Several years later, York was dating Beverly Hills brunette Catherine Moench.

[1] York eventually admitted to Moench that he was wrong, and wanted to get back together, but she refused.

[1] On January 24, 1952, during a three-hour phone call to Moench, York threatened suicide several times stating he could not live without her.