SH
Shemp Howard
Actor
Born March 11, 1895Died November 22, 1955 (60 years)
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.
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.
Known For
Featured Videos
Filmography
| 2024 | |
| 2015 | Hey Moe! Hey Dad! (TV Series) · as Shemp |
| 2012 | The Three Stooges in 3D · as Shemp |
| 2007 | Three Stooges: Greatest Routines · as Shemp |
| 2005 | The Three Stooges in Color · as Shemp |
| 2003 | The Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special · as Shemp (archive Footage) |
| 2001 | The Three Stooges Story · as Shemp |
| 1998 | The Three Stooges Family Album · as Cast |
| 1986 | Classic Comedy Teams · as Shemp |
| 1985 | Stoogemania · as Shemp |
| 1960 | The Three Stooges (TV Series) · as Shemp |
| 1956 | Hot Stuff · as Shemp (archive Footage) |
| 1954 | Shot in the Frontier · as Shemp |
| 1954 | Pals and Gals · as Shemp |
| 1953 | Spooks! · as Shemp |
| 1953 | Tricky Dicks · as Shemp |
| 1952 | Cuckoo on a Choo Choo · as Shemp |
| 1952 | Three Dark Horses · as Shemp |
| 1952 | Gents in a Jam · as Shemp |
| 1952 | A Missed Fortune · as Shemp |
| 1951 | Pest Man Wins · as Shemp |
| 1951 | The Tooth Will Out · as Shemp |
| 1951 | Gold Raiders · as Shemp |
| 1951 | Merry Mavericks · as Shemp |
| 1951 | Scrambled Brains · as Shemp |
| 1950 | The Frank Sinatra Show (TV Series) · as Servant |
| 1949 | The Ed Wynn Show (TV Series) · as Mr. S |
| 1949 | Malice in the Palace · as Shemp |
| 1949 | Africa Screams · as Gunner |
| 1949 | Who Done It? · as Shemp |
| 1949 | The Ghost Talks · as Shemp |
| 1948 | Fiddlers Three · as Shemp |
| 1948 | Shivering Sherlocks · as Shemp |
| 1947 | All Gummed Up · as Shemp |
| 1947 | Sing a Song of Six Pants · as Shemp |
| 1947 | Brideless Groom · as Shemp |
| 1947 | Hold That Lion! · as Shemp |
| 1947 | Fright Night · as Shemp |
| 1946 | Blondie Knows Best · as Jim Gray |
| 1944 | Crazy Knights · as Shemp |
| 1944 | Strange Affair · as Laundry Truck Driver |
| 1943 | Crazy House · as Mumbo |
| 1943 | It Ain't Hay · as Umbrella Sam |
| 1943 | Keep 'Em Slugging · as Binky |
| 1942 | Arabian Nights · as Sinbad |
| 1942 | Pittsburgh · as Shorty (the Tailor) |
| 1942 | Private Buckaroo · as Sgt. 'muggsy' Shavel |
| 1942 | The Strange Case of Doctor Rx · as Det. Sgt. Sweeney |
| 1942 | Butch Minds the Baby · as 'squinty' Sweeny |
| 1941 | Hellzapoppin' · as Louie |
| 1941 | The Three Stooges: Live and Hilarious · as Shemp |
| 1941 | Hold That Ghost · as Soda Jerk |
| 1941 | Cracked Nuts · as Eddie / Ivan |
| 1941 | Hit the Road · as Dingbat |
| 1941 | San Antonio Rose · as Benny The Bounce |
| 1941 | In the Navy · as Dizzy |
| 1941 | |
| 1941 | The Flame of New Orleans · as Oyster Bed Cafe Waiter (uncredited) |
| 1941 | Mr. Dynamite · as 'abdullah' |
| 1941 | Buck Privates · as Chef |
| 1941 | Six Lessons from Madame La Zonga · as Gabby |
| 1940 | The Invisible Woman · as Frankie |
| 1940 | Give Us Wings · as Buzz Berger |
| 1940 | Murder Over New York · as Shorty Mccoy Alias Rashid The Fakir |
| 1940 | The Bank Dick · as Joe Guelpe |
| 1940 | Millionaires in Prison · as Professor |
| 1940 | The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady · as Joe - A Pickpocket |
| 1940 | Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise · as Shorty Mccoy |
| 1939 | Another Thin Man · as Wacky (uncredited) |
| 1937 | Hollywood Round-Up · as Oscar Bush |
| 1936 | Absorbing Junior · as Henry, The Husband |
| 1935 | Convention Girl · as Dan Higgins |
| 1935 | Serves You Right · as Johnny Spivens |
| 1934 | A Peach of a Pair · as Butler |
| 1934 | Dizzy & Daffy · as Lefty Howard |
| 1934 | So You Won't T-T-T-Talk · as Henry |
| 1933 | Gobs of Fun · as Club Patron |
| 1933 | Salt Water Daffy · as Wilbur The Kleptomaniac |
| 1930 | Soup to Nuts · as Fireman |