Shemp Howard
Born
March 11, 1895
Died
November 22, 1955 (60 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
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.
Three Stooges Comedy Collection
2024
Stooge O-Rama: The Men Behind the Mayhem - And Even More Mayhem!
2023
The Three Stooges: Hey Moe! Hey Dad!
Shemp · (24 episodes)
2015
The Three Stooges in 3D
Shemp
2012
The Three Stooges: Five of Their Greatest Shorts
2009
Shemp Cocktail: A Toast to the Original Stooge
Self (archive footage)
2008
Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special
Shemp (archive footage)
2003
The Three Stooges Story
Shemp
2001
The Three Stooges: Kings Of Laughter
Shemp
2001
The Three Stooges - Simply Hilarious
Shemp
2000
The Three Stooges Greatest Hits!
Self / Shemp (archive footage)
1997
The Lost Stooges
Himself
1990
Three Stooges: Greatest Routines
Shemp
1964
Triple Crossed
Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
1959
Commotion on the Ocean
Shemp (archive footage)
1956
Scheming Schemers
Shemp (archive footage)
1956
Hot Stuff
Shemp (archive footage)
1956
Rumpus in the Harem
Shemp (archive footage)
1956
For Crimin' Out Loud
Shemp
1956
Flagpole Jitters
Shemp
1956
Creeps
Shemp / Shemp's son
1956
Husbands Beware
Prof. Shemp Howard
1956
Columbia Laff Hour
Shemp
1956
Blunder Boys
Various Days
1955
Hot Ice
Shemp
1955
Wham-Bam-Slam!
Shemp
1955
Stone Age Romeos
Shemp
1955
Gypped in the Penthouse
Shemp
1955
Bedlam in Paradise
Shemp
1955
Of Cash and Hash
Shemp
1955
Fling in the Ring
Shemp
1955
Scotched in Scotland
Shemp
1954
Shot in the Frontier
Shemp
1954
Knutzy Knights
Shemp
1954
Pals and Gals
Shemp
1954
Musty Musketeers
Shemp
1954
Income Tax Sappy
Shemp
1954
Goof on the Roof
Shemp
1953
Bubble Trouble
Shemp
1953
Rip, Sew and Stitch
Shemp
1953
Pardon My Backfire
Shemp
1953
Spooks!
Shemp
1953
Tricky Dicks
Shemp
1953
Loose Loot
Shemp
1953
Booty and the Beast
Shemp
1953
Up in Daisy's Penthouse
Shemp / Shemp Howard Sr.
1953
Cuckoo on a Choo Choo
Shemp
1952
Three Dark Horses
Shemp
1952
Gents in a Jam
Shemp
1952
He Cooked His Goose
Shemp
1952
Listen Judge
Shemp
1952
Corny Casanovas
Shemp
1952
A Missed Fortune
Shemp
1952
Pest Man Wins
Shemp
1951
Hula-La-La
Shemp
1951
The Tooth Will Out
Shemp
1951
Gold Raiders
Shemp
1951
Merry Mavericks
Shemp
1951
Scrambled Brains
Shemp
1951
Don't Throw That Knife
Shemp
1951
Baby Sitters Jitters
Shemp
1951
Three Arabian Nuts
Shemp
1951
A Snitch in Time
Shemp
1950
Slaphappy Sleuths
Shemp
1950
Studio Stoops
Shemp
1950
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self · (1 episode)
1950
Three Hams on Rye
Shemp
1950
Self Made Maids
Shemp / Shempetta
1950
Love at First Bite
Shemp
1950
Dopey Dicks
Shemp
1950
Hugs and Mugs
Shemp
1950
Punchy Cowpunchers
Shemp
1950
Jerks of All Trades
Shemp
1949
Dunked in the Deep
Shemp
1949
Vagabond Loafers
Shemp
1949
Malice in the Palace
Shemp
1949
Hokus Pokus
Shemp
1949
Africa Screams
Gunner
1949
Fuelin' Around
Shemp
1949
Who Done It?
Shemp
1949
The Ghost Talks
Shemp
1949
Crime on Their Hands
Shemp
1948
Mummy's Dummies
Shemp
1948
I'm a Monkey's Uncle
Shemp
1948
Heavenly Daze
Shemp
1948
The Hot Scots
Shemp
1948
Fiddlers Three
Shemp
1948
Squareheads of the Round Table
Shemp
1948
Pardon My Clutch
Shemp
1948
Shivering Sherlocks
Shemp
1948
All Gummed Up
Shemp
1947
Sing a Song of Six Pants
Shemp
1947
Brideless Groom
Shemp
1947
Hold That Lion!
Shemp
1947
Out West
Shemp
1947
Bride and Gloom
Shemp
1947
Fright Night
Shemp
1947
The Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Edition: Tales from the Three Stooges Vol. 1
Himself
1947
Blondie Knows Best
Jim Gray
1946
Society Mugs
Shemp
1946
Dangerous Business
Monk
1946
One Exciting Week
Marvin Lewis
1946
Jiggers, My Wife
Woodcock 'Woody' J. Strinker
1946
Mr. Noisy
Noisy
1946
The Gentleman Misbehaves
Marty
1946
A Hit with a Miss
Rameses - Prizefighter
1945
Where the Pest Begins
Shemp Howard
1945
Trouble Chasers
Shemp Howard
1945
Off Again, On Again
Woodcock Q. Strinker
1945
Crazy Knights
Shemp
1944
Open Season for Saps
Woodcock Q. Strinker
1944
Strange Affair
Laundry Truck Driver
1944
Moonlight and Cactus
Punchy Carter
1944
Pick a Peck of Plumbers
Elmer Peabody
1944
Three of a Kind
Shemp Howard
1944
Crazy House
Mumbo
1943
It Ain't Hay
Umbrella Sam
1943
Keep 'Em Slugging
Binky
1943
How's About It
Alf
1943
Arabian Nights
Sinbad
1942
Pittsburgh
Shorty (The Tailor)
1942
Strictly in the Groove
Pops
1942
Private Buckaroo
Sgt. 'Muggsy' Shavel
1942
Mississippi Gambler
Milton Davis - Brooklyn Cab Driver
1942
The Strange Case of Doctor Rx
Det. Sgt. Sweeney
1942
Butch Minds the Baby
'Squinty' Sweeny
1942
Hellzapoppin'
Louie
1941
The Three Stooges: Live and Hilarious
Shemp
1941
Hold That Ghost
Soda Jerk
1941
Too Many Blondes
Hotel Manager Ambrose Tripp
1941
The Flame of New Orleans
Oyster Bed Cafe Waiter (uncredited)
1941
Cracked Nuts
Eddie / Ivan
1941
Hit the Road
Dingbat
1941
San Antonio Rose
Benny the Bounce
1941
Tight Shoes
Okay
1941
In the Navy
Dizzy
1941
Mr. Dynamite
'Abdullah'
1941
Road Show
Moe Parker (uncredited)
1941
Meet the Chump
Stinky Fink
1941
Buck Privates
Chef
1941
Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga
Gabby
1941
The Invisible Woman
Frankie
1940
Give Us Wings
Buzz Berger
1940
Murder Over New York
Shorty McCoy alias Rashid the Fakir
1940
The Bank Dick
Joe Guelpe
1940
The Leather Pushers
Sailor McNeill
1940
Pleased to Mitt You
Pat Patrick
1940
Millionaires in Prison
Professor
1940
Boobs in the Woods
Gus
1940
The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady
Joe - a Pickpocket
1940
Money Squawks
Shemp
1940
Glove Slingers
Pat Patrick
1939
Another Thin Man
Wacky (uncredited)
1939
Home on the Rage
Happy
1938
Not Guilty Enough
Brother-in-Law
1938
Headin' East
Windy Wylie
1937
Hollywood Round-Up
Oscar Bush
1937
Taking the Count
Knobby Walsh
1937
Kick Me Again
Knobby Walsh
1937
The Blonde Bomber
Knobby Walsh
1936
The Choke's on You
Knobby Walsh
1936
Punch and Beauty
Knobby Walsh
1936
Here's Howe
Knobby Walsh
1936
Absorbing Junior
Henry, the Husband
1936
For the Love of Pete
Knobby Walsh
1936
While the Cat's Away
Henry
1936
The Officer's Mess
Gus Doakes
1935
Convention Girl
Dan Higgins
1935
On the Wagon
Henry
1935
Serves You Right
Johnny Spivens
1935
Why Pay Rent?
Henry
1935
His First Flame
Smokey Moe
1935
A Peach of a Pair
Butler
1934
Dizzy & Daffy
Lefty Howard
1934
So You Won't T-T-T-Talk
Henry
1934
Smoked Hams
Henry Howard
1934
Daredevil O'Dare
Butch
1934
My Mummy's Arms
Kenneth
1934
Art Trouble
Short Painter
1934
I Scream
Moran's Henchman
1934
Rambling 'Round Radio Row #9
Songwriters' Representative
1934
Corn on the Cop
Reginald / Reggie
1934
Pure Feud
Clem McCarthy
1934
Very Close Veins
Sourdough
1934
Everybody Likes Music
Shemp Howard
1934
Pugs and Kisses
Dopey Traynor
1934
The Knife of the Party
Shemp Howard
1934
Mushrooms
Thorndike
1934
The Wrong, Wrong Trail
Piano Mover
1934
Henry the Ache
Artie - One of King Henry's Lackeys
1934
Howd' Ya Like That?
Sailor
1934
Here Comes Flossie!
Ezry
1933
In the Dough
Bugs
1933
Gobs of Fun
Club patron
1933
Paul Revere, Jr.
Attendant
1933
Close Relations
One of the Moles
1933
Salt Water Daffy
Wilbur the Kleptomaniac
1933
Soup to Nuts
Fireman
1930
Spring Fever
1919