Shemp Howard
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Samuel (born Shmuel) Horwitz (March 11, 1895 – November 22, 1955), known professionally as Shemp Howard, was an American actor and comedian. He is best known today for his role as the third stooge in the Three Stooges, a role he first portrayed at the beginning of the act in the early 1920s (1923–1932) while the act was still associated with Ted Healy and known as "Ted Healy and his Stooges", and again from 1946 until his death in 1955. Between his times with the Stooges, Shemp had a successful film career as a solo comedian.
He was born in Manhattan, New York and raised in Brooklyn, the third-born of five Horwitz brothers, sons of Lithuanian Jewish parents. Moses - professionally known as Moe Howard - and Jerome - professionally known as Curly Howard - were his younger brothers.
Throughout his career Shemp seldom stuck to the script and would liven up scenes with ad-libbed incidental dialogue or wisecracks. This became a trademark of his performances. His most notable characteristic as a Stooge was a high-pitched "bee-bee-bee-bee-bee-bee!" sound, a sort of soft screech done by inhaling. It became his signature sound. He used his somewhat homely appearance for comic effect, often mugging grotesquely or allowing his hair to fall in disarray.
Shemp was married to the former Gertrude Frank, whom he wed in September 1925. The couple had one child, Morton (1926–1972).
On November 22, 1955, while returning home in a taxicab following attending a boxing match with friends, Shemp, age 60, died of a sudden massive heart attack.
The Three Stooges have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1560 Vine Street.
Acted in
Three Stooges Comedy Collection
2024
Stooge O-Rama: The Men Behind the Mayhem - And Even More Mayhem!
2023
The Three Stooges: Hey Moe! Hey Dad!
2015
as Shemp
The Three Stooges in 3D
2012
as Shemp
The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 8: 1955-1959
2010
The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 7: 1952-1954
2009
The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 6: 1949-1951
2009
The Three Stooges: Five of Their Greatest Shorts
2009
Shemp Cocktail: A Toast to the Original Stooge
2008
as Himself (archive footage)
Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special
2003
as Shemp (archive footage)
The Three Stooges Story
2001
as Shemp
The Three Stooges: Kings Of Laughter
2001
as Shemp
The Three Stooges - Simply Hilarious
2000
as Shemp
The Three Stooges Greatest Hits!
1997
as Self / Shemp (archive footage)
The Lost Stooges
1990
as Himself
Three Stooges: Greatest Routines
1964
as Shemp
Triple Crossed
1959
as Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
Commotion on the Ocean
1956
as Shemp (archive footage)
Scheming Schemers
1956
as Shemp (archive footage)
Hot Stuff
1956
as Shemp (archive footage)
Rumpus in the Harem
1956
as Shemp (archive footage)
For Crimin' Out Loud
1956
as Shemp
Flagpole Jitters
1956
as Shemp
Creeps
1956
as Shemp / Shemp's son
Husbands Beware
1956
as Prof. Shemp Howard
Columbia Laff Hour
1956
as Shemp
Blunder Boys
1955
as Various Days
Hot Ice
1955
as Shemp
Wham-Bam-Slam!
1955
as Shemp
Stone Age Romeos
1955
as Shemp
Gypped in the Penthouse
1955
as Shemp
Bedlam in Paradise
1955
as Shemp
Of Cash and Hash
1955
as Shemp
Fling in the Ring
1955
as Shemp
Scotched in Scotland
1954
as Shemp
Shot in the Frontier
1954
as Shemp
Knutzy Knights
1954
as Shemp
Pals and Gals
1954
as Shemp
Musty Musketeers
1954
as Shemp
Income Tax Sappy
1954
as Shemp
Goof on the Roof
1953
as Shemp
Bubble Trouble
1953
as Shemp
Rip, Sew and Stitch
1953
as Shemp
Pardon My Backfire
1953
as Shemp
Spooks!
1953
as Shemp
Tricky Dicks
1953
as Shemp
Loose Loot
1953
as Shemp
Booty and the Beast
1953
as Shemp
Up in Daisy's Penthouse
1953
as Shemp / Shemp Howard Sr.
Cuckoo on a Choo Choo
1952
as Shemp
Three Dark Horses
1952
as Shemp
Gents in a Jam
1952
as Shemp
He Cooked His Goose
1952
as Shemp
Listen Judge
1952
as Shemp
Corny Casanovas
1952
as Shemp
A Missed Fortune
1952
as Shemp
Pest Man Wins
1951
as Shemp
Hula-La-La
1951
as Shemp
The Tooth Will Out
1951
as Shemp
Gold Raiders
1951
as Shemp
Merry Mavericks
1951
as Shemp
Scrambled Brains
1951
as Shemp
Don't Throw That Knife
1951
as Shemp
Baby Sitters Jitters
1951
as Shemp
Three Arabian Nuts
1951
as Shemp
A Snitch in Time
1950
as Shemp
Slaphappy Sleuths
1950
as Shemp
Studio Stoops
1950
as Shemp
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
as Self
Three Hams on Rye
1950
as Shemp
Self Made Maids
1950
as Shemp / Shempetta
Love at First Bite
1950
as Shemp
Dopey Dicks
1950
as Shemp
Hugs and Mugs
1950
as Shemp
Punchy Cowpunchers
1950
as Shemp
Jerks of All Trades
1949
as Shemp
Dunked in the Deep
1949
as Shemp
Vagabond Loafers
1949
as Shemp
Malice in the Palace
1949
as Shemp
Hokus Pokus
1949
as Shemp
Africa Screams
1949
as Gunner
Fuelin' Around
1949
as Shemp
Who Done It?
1949
as Shemp
The Ghost Talks
1949
as Shemp
Crime on Their Hands
1948
as Shemp
Mummy's Dummies
1948
as Shemp
I'm a Monkey's Uncle
1948
as Shemp
Heavenly Daze
1948
as Shemp
The Hot Scots
1948
as Shemp
Fiddlers Three
1948
as Shemp
Squareheads of the Round Table
1948
as Shemp
Pardon My Clutch
1948
as Shemp
Shivering Sherlocks
1948
as Shemp
All Gummed Up
1947
as Shemp
Sing a Song of Six Pants
1947
as Shemp
Brideless Groom
1947
as Shemp
Hold That Lion!
1947
as Shemp
Out West
1947
as Shemp
Bride and Gloom
1947
as Shemp
Fright Night
1947
as Shemp
The Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Edition: Tales from the Three Stooges Vol. 1
1947
as Himself
Blondie Knows Best
1946
as Jim Gray
Society Mugs
1946
as Shemp
Dangerous Business
1946
as Monk
One Exciting Week
1946
as Marvin Lewis
Jiggers, My Wife
1946
as Woodcock 'Woody' J. Strinker
Mr. Noisy
1946
as Noisy
The Gentleman Misbehaves
1946
as Marty
A Hit with a Miss
1945
as Rameses - Prizefighter
Where the Pest Begins
1945
as Shemp Howard
Trouble Chasers
1945
as Shemp Howard
Off Again, On Again
1945
as Woodcock Q. Strinker
Crazy Knights
1944
as Shemp
Open Season for Saps
1944
as Woodcock Q. Strinker
Strange Affair
1944
as Laundry Truck Driver
Moonlight and Cactus
1944
as Punchy Carter
Pick a Peck of Plumbers
1944
as Elmer Peabody
Three of a Kind
1944
as Shemp Howard
Crazy House
1943
as Mumbo
It Ain't Hay
1943
as Umbrella Sam
Keep 'Em Slugging
1943
as Binky
How's About It
1943
as Alf
Arabian Nights
1942
as Sinbad
Pittsburgh
1942
as Shorty (The Tailor)
Strictly in the Groove
1942
as Pops
Private Buckaroo
1942
as Sgt. 'Muggsy' Shavel
Mississippi Gambler
1942
as Milton Davis - Brooklyn Cab Driver
The Strange Case of Doctor Rx
1942
as Det. Sgt. Sweeney
Butch Minds the Baby
1942
as 'Squinty' Sweeny
Hellzapoppin'
1941
as Louie
The Three Stooges: Live and Hilarious
1941
as Shemp
Hold That Ghost
1941
as Soda Jerk
Too Many Blondes
1941
as Hotel Manager Ambrose Tripp
Cracked Nuts
1941
as Eddie / Ivan
Hit the Road
1941
as Dingbat
San Antonio Rose
1941
as Benny the Bounce
Tight Shoes
1941
as Okay
In the Navy
1941
as Dizzy
Mr. Dynamite
1941
as 'Abdullah'
Road Show
1941
as Moe Parker (uncredited)
Meet the Chump
1941
as Stinky Fink
Buck Privates
1941
as Chef
Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga
1941
as Gabby
The Invisible Woman
1940
as Frankie
Give Us Wings
1940
as Buzz Berger
Murder Over New York
1940
as Shorty McCoy alias Rashid the Fakir
The Bank Dick
1940
as Joe Guelpe
The Leather Pushers
1940
as Sailor McNeill
Pleased to Mitt You
1940
as Pat Patrick
Millionaires in Prison
1940
as Professor
Boobs in the Woods
1940
as Gus
The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady
1940
as Joe - a Pickpocket
Money Squawks
1940
as Shemp
Glove Slingers
1939
as Pat Patrick
Another Thin Man
1939
as Wacky (uncredited)
Home on the Rage
1938
as Happy
Not Guilty Enough
1938
as Brother-in-Law
Headin' East
1937
as Windy Wylie
Hollywood Round-Up
1937
as Oscar Bush
Taking the Count
1937
as Knobby Walsh
Kick Me Again
1937
as Knobby Walsh
The Blonde Bomber
1936
as Knobby Walsh
The Choke's on You
1936
as Knobby Walsh
Punch and Beauty
1936
as Knobby Walsh
Here's Howe
1936
as Knobby Walsh
Absorbing Junior
1936
as Henry, the Husband
For the Love of Pete
1936
as Knobby Walsh
While the Cat's Away
1936
as Henry
The Officer's Mess
1935
as Gus Doakes
Convention Girl
1935
as Dan Higgins
On the Wagon
1935
as Henry
Serves You Right
1935
as Johnny Spivens
Why Pay Rent?
1935
as Henry
His First Flame
1935
as Smokey Moe
A Peach of a Pair
1934
as Butler
Dizzy & Daffy
1934
as Lefty Howard
So You Won't T-T-T-Talk
1934
as Henry
Smoked Hams
1934
as Henry Howard
Daredevil O'Dare
1934
as Butch
My Mummy's Arms
1934
as Kenneth
Art Trouble
1934
as Short Painter
I Scream
1934
as Moran's Henchman
Rambling 'Round Radio Row #9
1934
as Songwriters' Representative
Corn on the Cop
1934
as Reginald / Reggie
Pure Feud
1934
as Clem McCarthy
Very Close Veins
1934
as Sourdough
Everybody Likes Music
1934
as Shemp Howard
Pugs and Kisses
1934
as Dopey Traynor
The Knife of the Party
1934
as Shemp Howard
Mushrooms
1934
as Thorndike
The Wrong, Wrong Trail
1934
as Piano Mover
Henry the Ache
1934
as Artie - One of King Henry's Lackeys
Howd' Ya Like That?
1934
as Sailor
Here Comes Flossie!
1933
as Ezry
In the Dough
1933
as Bugs
Gobs of Fun
1933
as Club patron
Paul Revere, Jr.
1933
as Attendant
Close Relations
1933
as One of the Moles
Salt Water Daffy
1933
as Wilbur the Kleptomaniac
Soup to Nuts
1930
as Fireman
Spring Fever
1919