Known For
Acting
Born
Mar 11, 1895
Died
Nov 22, 1955
Place of Birth
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Credits
202 titles
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.
Known For
Filmography
Three Stooges Comedy Collection
(archive footage) (uncredited)
Stooge O-Rama: The Men Behind the Mayhem - And Even More Mayhem!
(archive footage) (uncredited)
The Three Stooges: Hey Moe! Hey Dad!
Shemp (archive footage)
The Three Stooges in 3D
Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Three Stooges: Five of Their Greatest Shorts
(archive footage) (uncredited)
Shemp Cocktail: A Toast to the Original Stooge
Self (archive footage)
Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special
Shemp (archive footage)
The Three Stooges Story
Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Three Stooges: Kings Of Laughter
Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Three Stooges - Simply Hilarious
Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Three Stooges Greatest Hits!
Self / Shemp (archive footage)
The Lost Stooges
(archive footage)
Classic Comedy Teams
Shemp (archive footage)
Three Stooges: Greatest Routines
Shemp
Triple Crossed
Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
Commotion on the Ocean
Shemp (archive footage)
Scheming Schemers
Shemp (archive footage)
Hot Stuff
Shemp (archive footage)
Rumpus in the Harem
Shemp (archive footage)
For Crimin' Out Loud
Shemp
Flagpole Jitters
Shemp
Creeps
Shemp / Shemp's son
Husbands Beware
Prof. Shemp Howard
Columbia Laff Hour
Shemp
Blunder Boys
Various Days
Hot Ice
Shemp
Wham-Bam-Slam!
Shemp
Stone Age Romeos
Shemp
Gypped in the Penthouse
Shemp
Bedlam in Paradise
Shemp
Of Cash and Hash
Shemp
Fling in the Ring
Shemp
Scotched in Scotland
Shemp
Shot in the Frontier
Shemp
Knutzy Knights
Shemp
Pals and Gals
Shemp
Musty Musketeers
Shemp
Income Tax Sappy
Shemp
Goof on the Roof
Shemp
Bubble Trouble
Shemp
Rip, Sew and Stitch
Shemp
Pardon My Backfire
Shemp
Spooks!
Shemp
Tricky Dicks
Shemp
Loose Loot
Shemp
Booty and the Beast
Shemp
Up in Daisy's Penthouse
Shemp / Shemp Howard Sr.
Cuckoo on a Choo Choo
Shemp
Three Dark Horses
Shemp
Gents in a Jam
Shemp