Shemp Howard
Acting
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
Acting202
Three Stooges Comedy Collection
2024
(archive footage) (uncredited)
movieStooge O-Rama: The Men Behind the Mayhem - And Even More Mayhem!
2023
(archive footage) (uncredited)
tvThe Three Stooges: Hey Moe! Hey Dad!
2015
Shemp (archive footage)
movieThe Three Stooges in 3D
2012
Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieThe Three Stooges: Five of Their Greatest Shorts
2009
(archive footage) (uncredited)
movieShemp Cocktail: A Toast to the Original Stooge
2008
Self (archive footage)
movieThree Stooges 75th Anniversary Special
2003
Shemp (archive footage)
movieThe Three Stooges Story
2001
Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieThe Three Stooges: Kings Of Laughter
2001
Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Three Stooges - Simply Hilarious
2000
Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieThe Three Stooges Greatest Hits!
1997
Self / Shemp (archive footage)
The Lost Stooges
1990
(archive footage)
movieClassic Comedy Teams
1986
Shemp (archive footage)
movieTriple Crossed
1959
Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieCommotion on the Ocean
1956
Shemp (archive footage)
movieScheming Schemers
1956
Shemp (archive footage)
movieHot Stuff
1956
Shemp (archive footage)
movieRumpus in the Harem
1956
Shemp (archive footage)
movieCreeps
1956
Shemp / Shemp's son
movieHusbands Beware
1956
Prof. Shemp Howard
movieBlunder Boys
1955
Various Days
movieHot Ice
1955
Shemp
movieSpooks!
1953
Shemp
movieLoose Loot
1953
Shemp
movieUp in Daisy's Penthouse
1953
Shemp / Shemp Howard Sr.
movieHula-La-La
1951
Shemp
movieSelf Made Maids
1950
Shemp / Shempetta
movieDopey Dicks
1950
Shemp
movieHokus Pokus
1949
Shemp
movieAfrica Screams
1949
Gunner
movieOut West
1947
Shemp
movieBlondie Knows Best
1946
Jim Gray
movieOne Exciting Week
1946
Marvin Lewis
movieJiggers, My Wife
1946
Woodcock 'Woody' J. Strinker
movieMr. Noisy
1946
Noisy
movieA Hit with a Miss
1945
Rameses - Prizefighter
movieWhere the Pest Begins
1945
Shemp Howard
movieTrouble Chasers
1945
Shemp Howard
movieOff Again, On Again
1945
Woodcock Q. Strinker
movieOpen Season for Saps
1944
Woodcock Q. Strinker
movieStrange Affair
1944
Laundry Truck Driver
movieMoonlight and Cactus
1944
Punchy Carter
moviePick a Peck of Plumbers
1944
Elmer Peabody
movieThree of a Kind
1944
Shemp Howard
movieCrazy House
1943
Mumbo
movieIt Ain't Hay
1943
Umbrella Sam
movieArabian Nights
1942
Sinbad
moviePittsburgh
1942
Shorty (The Tailor)
moviePrivate Buckaroo
1942
Sgt. 'Muggsy' Shavel
movieMississippi Gambler
1942
Milton Davis - Brooklyn Cab Driver
movieThe Strange Case of Doctor Rx
1942
Det. Sgt. Sweeney
movieButch Minds the Baby
1942
'Squinty' Sweeny
movieHold That Ghost
1941
Soda Jerk
Too Many Blondes
1941
Hotel Manager Ambrose Tripp
movieThe Flame of New Orleans
1941
Oyster Bed Cafe Waiter (uncredited)
movieCracked Nuts
1941
Eddie / Ivan
movieHit the Road
1941
Dingbat
movieSan Antonio Rose
1941
Benny the Bounce
movieIn the Navy
1941
Dizzy
movieMr. Dynamite
1941
'Abdullah'
movieRoad Show
1941
Moe Parker (uncredited)
Meet the Chump
1941
Stinky Fink
movieThe Invisible Woman
1940
Frankie
movieGive Us Wings
1940
Buzz Berger
movieMurder Over New York
1940
Shorty McCoy alias Rashid the Fakir
movieThe Bank Dick
1940
Joe Guelpe
movieThe Leather Pushers
1940
Sailor McNeill
moviePleased to Mitt You
1940
Pat Patrick
movieMillionaires in Prison
1940
Professor
movieThe Lone Wolf Meets a Lady
1940
Joe - a Pickpocket
movieGlove Slingers
1939
Pat Patrick
movieAnother Thin Man
1939
Wacky (uncredited)
Not Guilty Enough
1938
Brother-in-Law
movieHeadin' East
1937
Windy Wylie
movieHollywood Round-Up
1937
Oscar Bush
movieTaking the Count
1937
Knobby Walsh
movieKick Me Again
1937
Knobby Walsh
movieThe Blonde Bomber
1936
Knobby Walsh
movieThe Choke's on You
1936
Knobby Walsh
moviePunch and Beauty
1936
Knobby Walsh
movieHere's Howe
1936
Knobby Walsh
movieAbsorbing Junior
1936
Henry, the Husband
movieFor the Love of Pete
1936
Knobby Walsh
movieThe Officer's Mess
1935
Gus Doakes
movieConvention Girl
1935
Dan Higgins
movieServes You Right
1935
Johnny Spivens
movieHis First Flame
1935
Smokey Moe
movieDizzy & Daffy
1934
Lefty Howard
movieSmoked Hams
1934
Henry Howard
movieMy Mummy's Arms
1934
Kenneth
movieArt Trouble
1934
Short Painter
movieI Scream
1934
Moran's Henchman
movieRambling 'Round Radio Row #9
1934
Songwriters' Representative
movieCorn on the Cop
1934
Reginald / Reggie
moviePure Feud
1934
Clem McCarthy
movieVery Close Veins
1934
Sourdough
movieEverybody Likes Music
1934
Shemp Howard
moviePugs and Kisses
1934
Dopey Traynor
movieThe Knife of the Party
1934
Shemp Howard
movieMushrooms
1934
Thorndike
movieThe Wrong, Wrong Trail
1934
Piano Mover
movieHenry the Ache
1934
Artie - One of King Henry's Lackeys
movieGobs of Fun
1933
Club patron
moviePaul Revere, Jr.
1933
Attendant
movieClose Relations
1933
One of the Moles
movieSalt Water Daffy
1933
Wilbur the Kleptomaniac
movieSoup to Nuts
1930
Fireman
