Shemp Howard
Biography
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.
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (49)
Three Stooges Comedy Collection
2024
Stooge O-Rama: The Men Behind the Mayhem - And Even More Mayhem!
2023
The Three Stooges in 3D
as Shemp
2012
The Three Stooges: Five of Their Greatest Shorts
2009
Shemp Cocktail: A Toast to the Original Stooge
as Self (archive footage)
2008
Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special
as Shemp (archive footage)
2003
The Three Stooges Story
as Shemp
2001
The Three Stooges: Kings Of Laughter
as Shemp
2001
The Three Stooges - Simply Hilarious
as Shemp
2000
The Three Stooges Greatest Hits!
as Self / Shemp (archive footage)
1997
The Lost Stooges
as Himself
1990
Classic Comedy Teams
as Shemp (archive footage)
1986
Three Stooges: Greatest Routines
as Shemp
1964
Triple Crossed
as Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
1959
Commotion on the Ocean
as Shemp (archive footage)
1956
Scheming Schemers
as Shemp (archive footage)
1956
Hot Stuff
as Shemp (archive footage)
1956
Rumpus in the Harem
as Shemp (archive footage)
1956
For Crimin' Out Loud
as Shemp
1956
Flagpole Jitters
as Shemp
1956
Creeps
as Shemp / Shemp's son
1956
Husbands Beware
as Prof. Shemp Howard
1956
Columbia Laff Hour
as Shemp
1956
Blunder Boys
as Various Days
1955
Hot Ice
as Shemp
1955
Wham-Bam-Slam!
as Shemp
1955
Stone Age Romeos
as Shemp
1955
Gypped in the Penthouse
as Shemp
1955
Bedlam in Paradise
as Shemp
1955
Of Cash and Hash
as Shemp
1955
Fling in the Ring
as Shemp
1955
Scotched in Scotland
as Shemp
1954
Shot in the Frontier
as Shemp
1954
Knutzy Knights
as Shemp
1954
Pals and Gals
as Shemp
1954
Musty Musketeers
as Shemp
1954
Income Tax Sappy
as Shemp
1954
Goof on the Roof
as Shemp
1953
Bubble Trouble
as Shemp
1953
Rip, Sew and Stitch
as Shemp
1953
Pardon My Backfire
as Shemp
1953
Spooks!
as Shemp
1953
Tricky Dicks
as Shemp
1953
Loose Loot
as Shemp
1953
Booty and the Beast
as Shemp
1953
Up in Daisy's Penthouse
as Shemp / Shemp Howard Sr.
1953
Cuckoo on a Choo Choo
as Shemp
1952
Three Dark Horses
as Shemp
1952
Gents in a Jam
as Shemp
1952
