Shemp Howard
Acting
Born March 11, 1895, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
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.
Filmography
- 2024Three Stooges Comedy Collection — (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2023Stooge O-Rama: The Men Behind the Mayhem - And Even More Mayhem! — (archive footage) (uncredited)
- The Three Stooges: Hey Moe! Hey Dad! — Shemp (archive footage)
- 2012The Three Stooges in 3D — Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2009The Three Stooges: Five of Their Greatest Shorts — (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2003Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special — Shemp (archive footage)
- 2001The Three Stooges Story — Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2001The Three Stooges: Kings Of Laughter — Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2000The Three Stooges - Simply Hilarious — Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1990The Lost Stooges — (archive footage)
- 1986Classic Comedy Teams — Shemp (archive footage)
- 1964Three Stooges: Greatest Routines — Shemp
- 1959Triple Crossed — Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1956Columbia Laff Hour — Shemp
- 1956Commotion on the Ocean — Shemp (archive footage)
- 1956Creeps — Shemp / Shemp's son
- 1956Flagpole Jitters — Shemp
- 1956For Crimin' Out Loud — Shemp
- 1956Hot Stuff — Shemp (archive footage)
- 1956Husbands Beware — Prof. Shemp Howard
- 1956Rumpus in the Harem — Shemp (archive footage)
- 1956Scheming Schemers — Shemp (archive footage)
- 1955Bedlam in Paradise — Shemp
- 1955Blunder Boys — Various Days
- 1955Fling in the Ring — Shemp
- 1955Gypped in the Penthouse — Shemp
- 1955Hot Ice — Shemp
- 1955Of Cash and Hash — Shemp
- 1955Stone Age Romeos — Shemp
- 1955Wham-Bam-Slam! — Shemp
- 1954Income Tax Sappy — Shemp
- 1954Knutzy Knights — Shemp
- 1954Musty Musketeers — Shemp
- 1954Pals and Gals — Shemp
- 1954Scotched in Scotland — Shemp
- 1954Shot in the Frontier — Shemp
- 1953Booty and the Beast — Shemp
- 1953Bubble Trouble — Shemp
- 1953Goof on the Roof — Shemp
- 1953Loose Loot — Shemp
- 1953Pardon My Backfire — Shemp
- 1953Rip, Sew and Stitch — Shemp
- 1953Spooks! — Shemp
- 1953Tricky Dicks — Shemp
- 1953Up in Daisy's Penthouse — Shemp / Shemp Howard Sr.
- 1952A Missed Fortune — Shemp
- 1952Corny Casanovas — Shemp
- 1952Cuckoo on a Choo Choo — Shemp
- 1952Gents in a Jam — Shemp
- 1952He Cooked His Goose — Shemp
- 1952Listen Judge — Shemp
- 1952Three Dark Horses — Shemp
- 1951Baby Sitters Jitters — Shemp
- 1951Don't Throw That Knife — Shemp
- 1951Gold Raiders — Shemp
- 1951Hula-La-La — Shemp
- 1951Merry Mavericks — Shemp
- 1951Pest Man Wins — Shemp
- 1951Scrambled Brains — Shemp
- 1951The Tooth Will Out — Shemp
- 1951Three Arabian Nuts — Shemp
- 1950A Snitch in Time — Shemp
- 1950Dopey Dicks — Shemp
- 1950Hugs and Mugs — Shemp
- 1950Love at First Bite — Shemp
- 1950Punchy Cowpunchers — Shemp
- 1950Self Made Maids — Shemp / Shempetta
- 1950Slaphappy Sleuths — Shemp
- 1950Studio Stoops — Shemp
- 1950Three Hams on Rye — Shemp
- 1949Africa Screams — Gunner
- 1949Dunked in the Deep — Shemp
- 1949Fuelin' Around — Shemp
- 1949Hokus Pokus — Shemp
- 1949Jerks of All Trades — Shemp
- 1949Malice in the Palace — Shemp
- 1949The Ghost Talks — Shemp
- 1949Vagabond Loafers — Shemp
- 1949Who Done It? — Shemp
- 1948Crime on Their Hands — Shemp
- 1948Fiddlers Three — Shemp
- 1948Heavenly Daze — Shemp
- 1948I'm a Monkey's Uncle — Shemp
- 1948Mummy's Dummies — Shemp
- 1948Pardon My Clutch — Shemp
- 1948Shivering Sherlocks — Shemp
- 1948Squareheads of the Round Table — Shemp
- 1948The Hot Scots — Shemp
- 1947All Gummed Up — Shemp
- 1947Bride and Gloom — Shemp
- 1947Brideless Groom — Shemp
- 1947Fright Night — Shemp
- 1947Hold That Lion! — Shemp
- 1947Out West — Shemp
- 1947Sing a Song of Six Pants — Shemp
- 1946Blondie Knows Best — Jim Gray
- 1946Dangerous Business — Monk
- 1946Jiggers, My Wife — Woodcock 'Woody' J. Strinker
- 1946Mr. Noisy — Noisy
- 1946One Exciting Week — Marvin Lewis
- 1946Society Mugs — Shemp
- 1946The Gentleman Misbehaves — Marty
- 1945A Hit with a Miss — Rameses - Prizefighter
- 1945Off Again, On Again — Woodcock Q. Strinker
- 1945Trouble Chasers — Shemp Howard
- 1945Where the Pest Begins — Shemp Howard
- 1944Crazy Knights — Shemp
- 1944Moonlight and Cactus — Punchy Carter
- 1944Open Season for Saps — Woodcock Q. Strinker
- 1944Pick a Peck of Plumbers — Elmer Peabody
- 1944Strange Affair — Laundry Truck Driver
- 1944Three of a Kind — Shemp Howard
- 1943Crazy House — Mumbo
- 1943How's About It — Alf
- 1943It Ain't Hay — Umbrella Sam
- 1943Keep 'Em Slugging — Binky
- 1942Arabian Nights — Sinbad
- 1942Butch Minds the Baby — 'Squinty' Sweeny
- 1942Mississippi Gambler — Milton Davis - Brooklyn Cab Driver
- 1942Pittsburgh — Shorty (The Tailor)
- 1942Private Buckaroo — Sgt. 'Muggsy' Shavel
- 1942Strictly in the Groove — Pops
- 1942The Strange Case of Doctor Rx — Det. Sgt. Sweeney
- 1941Buck Privates — Chef
- 1941Cracked Nuts — Eddie / Ivan
- 1941Hellzapoppin' — Louie
- 1941Hit the Road — Dingbat
- 1941Hold That Ghost — Soda Jerk
- 1941In the Navy — Dizzy
- 1941Meet the Chump — Stinky Fink
- 1941Mr. Dynamite — 'Abdullah'
- 1941Road Show — Moe Parker (uncredited)
- 1941San Antonio Rose — Benny the Bounce
- 1941Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga — Gabby
- 1941The Flame of New Orleans — Oyster Bed Cafe Waiter (uncredited)
- 1941The Three Stooges: Live and Hilarious — Shemp
- 1941Tight Shoes — Okay
- 1941Too Many Blondes — Hotel Manager Ambrose Tripp
- 1940Boobs in the Woods — Gus
- 1940Give Us Wings — Buzz Berger
- 1940Millionaires in Prison — Professor
- 1940Money Squawks — Shemp
- 1940Murder Over New York — Shorty McCoy alias Rashid the Fakir
- 1940Pleased to Mitt You — Pat Patrick
- 1940The Bank Dick — Joe Guelpe
- 1940The Invisible Woman — Frankie
- 1940The Leather Pushers — Sailor McNeill
- 1940The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady — Joe - a Pickpocket
- 1939Another Thin Man — Wacky (uncredited)
- 1939Glove Slingers — Pat Patrick
- 1938Home on the Rage — Happy
- 1938Not Guilty Enough — Brother-in-Law
- 1937Headin' East — Windy Wylie
- 1937Hollywood Round-Up — Oscar Bush
- 1937Kick Me Again — Knobby Walsh
- 1937Taking the Count — Knobby Walsh
- 1936Absorbing Junior — Henry, the Husband
- 1936For the Love of Pete — Knobby Walsh
- 1936Here's Howe — Knobby Walsh
- 1936Punch and Beauty — Knobby Walsh
- 1936The Blonde Bomber — Knobby Walsh
- 1936The Choke's on You — Knobby Walsh
- 1936While the Cat's Away — Henry
- 1935Convention Girl — Dan Higgins
- 1935His First Flame — Smokey Moe
- 1935On the Wagon — Henry
- 1935Serves You Right — Johnny Spivens
- 1935The Officer's Mess — Gus Doakes
- 1935Why Pay Rent? — Henry
- 1934A Peach of a Pair — Butler
- 1934Art Trouble — Short Painter
- 1934Corn on the Cop — Reginald / Reggie
- 1934Daredevil O'Dare — Butch
- 1934Dizzy & Daffy — Lefty Howard
- 1934Everybody Likes Music — Shemp Howard
- 1934Henry the Ache — Artie - One of King Henry's Lackeys
- 1934Howd' Ya Like That? — Sailor
- 1934I Scream — Moran's Henchman
- 1934Mushrooms — Thorndike
- 1934My Mummy's Arms — Kenneth
- 1934Pugs and Kisses — Dopey Traynor
- 1934Pure Feud — Clem McCarthy
- 1934Rambling 'Round Radio Row #9 — Songwriters' Representative
- 1934Smoked Hams — Henry Howard
- 1934So You Won't T-T-T-Talk — Henry
- 1934The Knife of the Party — Shemp Howard
- The Three Stooges — Shemp
- 1934The Wrong, Wrong Trail — Piano Mover
- 1934Very Close Veins — Sourdough
- 1933Close Relations — One of the Moles
- 1933Gobs of Fun — Club patron
- 1933Here Comes Flossie! — Ezry
- 1933In the Dough — Bugs
- 1933Paul Revere, Jr. — Attendant
- 1933Salt Water Daffy — Wilbur the Kleptomaniac
- 1930Soup to Nuts — Fireman
- 1919Spring Fever
- The Three Stooges + Comedy Gold Standard — Shemp
Appearances as themselves (4)
- 2008Shemp Cocktail: A Toast to the Original Stooge — Self (archive footage)
- 1997The Three Stooges Greatest Hits! — Self / Shemp (archive footage)
- The Colgate Comedy Hour — Self
- 1947The Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Edition: Tales from the Three Stooges Vol. 1 — Himself