Shemp Howard

Acting

Born Mar 11, 1895

From Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Died Nov 22, 1955

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.

Shemp Howard

Known For

In the Navy

Keep 'Em Slugging

Arabian Nights

Another Thin Man

Crazy House

Hold That Ghost

Hellzapoppin'

Pittsburgh

The Invisible Woman

Murder Over New York

Filmography — Acting

In the Navy

Keep 'Em Slugging

Arabian Nights

Another Thin Man

Crazy House

Hold That Ghost

Hellzapoppin'

Pittsburgh

The Invisible Woman

Murder Over New York

The Strange Case of Doctor Rx

Road Show

Soup to Nuts

Africa Screams

The Bank Dick

It Ain't Hay

Buck Privates

Butch Minds the Baby

Out West

Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special

The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady

Private Buckaroo

Tight Shoes

Blondie Knows Best

The Flame of New Orleans

Shemp Cocktail: A Toast to the Original Stooge

Dopey Dicks

Stone Age Romeos

Classic Comedy Teams

Pals and Gals

Listen Judge

Too Many Blondes

Moonlight and Cactus

Gypped in the Penthouse

Gold Raiders

Millionaires in Prison

Strange Affair

Hit the Road

Hula-La-La

Malice in the Palace

A Missed Fortune

One Exciting Week

Hokus Pokus

The Three Stooges: Live and Hilarious

Cracked Nuts

Hot Stuff

Squareheads of the Round Table

Merry Mavericks

Mississippi Gambler

Art Trouble

Punchy Cowpunchers

San Antonio Rose

Loose Loot

The Leather Pushers

Hollywood Round-Up

Booty and the Beast

My Mummy's Arms

Dangerous Business

Three Dark Horses

Pardon My Backfire

The Three Stooges Greatest Hits!

Shot in the Frontier

Fiddlers Three

Society Mugs

Off Again, On Again

Hot Ice

Pest Man Wins