Joe Besser
Born
August 12, 1907
Died
March 1, 1988 (80 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
Joe Besser (born Jessel Besser, August 12, 1907 – March 1, 1988) was an American actor, comedian, and musician, known for his impish humor and wimpy characters. He is best known for his brief stint as a member of The Three Stooges in movie short subjects of 1957–59. He is also remembered for his television roles: Stinky, the bratty man-child in The Abbott and Costello Show, and Jillson, the maintenance man in The Joey Bishop The zany comedy team of Olsen and Johnson, whose Broadway revues were fast-paced collections of songs and blackouts, hired Joe Besser. His noisy intrusions were perfect for their anything-can-happen format. Besser's work caught the attention of the Shubert brothers, who signed him to a theatrical contract. Columbia Pictures hired Besser away from the Shuberts, and Besser relocated to Hollywood in 1944, where he brought his unique comic character to feature-length musical comedies. Besser also starred in short-subject comedies for Columbia from 1949 to 1956.
Besser had substituted for Lou Costello on radio, opposite Bud Abbott, and by the 1950s he was firmly established as one of the Abbott and Costello regulars. When the duo filmed The Abbott and Costello Show for television, they hired Joe Besser to play Oswald "Stinky" Davis, a bratty, loudmouthed child dressed in an oversized Little Lord Fauntleroy outfit, shorts, and a flat top hat with overhanging brim. He appeared during the first season of The Abbott and Costello Show. Besser was cast for the role of Yonkel, a chariot man in the low-budget biblical film Sins of Jezebel, which starred Paulette Goddard as the titular wicked queen.
After Shemp Howard died of a heart attack, Moe suggested he and teammate Larry Fine continue working as "The Two Stooges". Studio chief Harry Cohen rejected the proposal. Although Moe had legal approval to allow new members into the act, Columbia executives had the final say about any actor who would appear in the studio's films, and insisted on a performer already under contract to Columbia, Joe Besser. At the time, Besser was one of a few comedians still making comedy shorts at the studio.
Besser refrained from imitating Curly or Shemp. He continued to play the same whiny character he had developed over his long career. He had a clause in his contract prohibiting being hit excessively. Besser recalled, "I usually played the kind of character who would hit others back". The Stooges shorts with Besser were filmed from the spring of 1956 to the end of 1957. His Stooge tenure ended when Columbia shut down the two-reel-comedy department on December 20, 1957. Producer-director Jules White had shot enough film for 16 comedies, which were released a few months apart until June 1959, with Sappy Bull Fighters being the final release.
Joe Besser was found dead in his home, aged 80, and determined to have died of heart failure.
Known For
Mystery Reel
2022
The Three Stooges: Hey Moe! Hey Dad!
Joe · (24 episodes)
2015
The Abbott and Costello Show: Who's On First?
Stinky (archive footage)
2011
Phyllis Diller: Not Just Another Pretty Face
Self
2007
Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special
Curly-Joe (archive footage)
2003
The Three Stooges Story
Joe
2001
The Three Stooges: Kings Of Laughter
2001
The Three Stooges Greatest Hits!
(archive footage)
1997
Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld
Self (archive footage)
1994
My Smurfy Valentine
Cupid (voice)
1983
Yogi's Space Race
(13 episodes)
1978
Galaxy Goof-Ups
Scare Bear (voice) · (13 episodes)
1978
Scooby's Laff-A Lympics
(94 episodes)
1977
The Oddball Couple
(16 episodes)
1975
Jeannie
(16 episodes)
1973
The New Scooby-Doo Movies
Babu (voice) · (1 episode)
1972
The Houndcats
(13 episodes)
1972
Which Way to the Front?
Dock Master
1970
Hollywood Horror House
Bus Driver
1970
The Monk
Herbie
1969
Love, American Style
Tony · (1 episode)
1969
Love, American Style
Neighbor · (1 episode)
1969
My World and Welcome to It
(1 episode)
1969
That's Life
(1 episode)
1968
The Mothers-in-Law
Bandleader · (1 episode)
1967
The Mothers-in-Law
Joe · (1 episode)
1967
The Mothers-in-Law
Tramp · (1 episode)
1967
That Girl
(2 episodes)
1966
Batman
Penguin Supporter · (1 episode)
1966
The Hollywood Palace
Self · (1 episode)
1964
Hand of Death
Service station attendant
1962
The Errand Boy
Man Watching Rushes
1961
The Alvin Show
(26 episodes)
1961
The Joey Bishop Show
Mr. Jillson · (123 episodes)
1961
Let's Make Love
Charlie Lamont
1960
The Rookie
Soldier
1959
The Story on Page One
Gallagher (uncredited)
1959
Say One for Me
Joe Greb
1959
Sappy Bull Fighters
Joe
1959
Triple Crossed
Joe
1959
Plunderers of Painted Flats
Andy Heather
1959
Oil's Well That Ends Well
Joe
1958
Flying Saucer Daffy
Joe
1958
Sweet and Hot
Joe
1958
Pies and Guys
Joe
1958
Fifi Blows Her Top
Joe Besser
1958
Quiz Whizz
Himself
1958
Outer Space Jitters
Joe / Joe's Son
1957
Rusty Romeos
Joe
1957
Horsing Around
Joe
1957
Guns a Poppin!
Joe
1957
Space Ship Sappy
Joe
1957
A Merry Mix-Up
Joe / Jack / Jeff
1957
Muscle Up a Little Closer
Joe
1957
Hoofs and Goofs
Joe
1957
Army Daze
Pvt. Joe Besser
1956
Columbia Laff Hour
Joe (archive footage)
1956
It's a Dog's Life
Dog Catcher (uncredited)
1955
Hook a Crook
Joe Besser
1955
Two-Gun Lady
Doc McGinnis
1955
Headline Hunters
Coroner
1955
Mad at the World
Gas Station Attendant
1955
G.I. Dood It
Pvt. Joe Marblehead / Homer the Dog (voice)
1955
Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops
Hunter (uncredited)
1955
The Millionaire
Chester Pips · (1 episode)
1955
December Bride
(1 episode)
1954
The Fire Chaser
Eric Loudermilk Potts
1954
Sins of Jezebel
Yonkel
1953
I, the Jury
Pete, Elevator Operator
1953
Spies and Guys
Pvt. Joe Besser
1953
A Day in the Country
Narrator (voice)
1953
General Electric Theater
Manager · (1 episode)
1953
The Abbott and Costello Show
Stinky Davis · (12 episodes)
1952
Caught on the Bounce
Joe
1952
Aim, Fire, Scoot
Pvt. Joe Besser
1952
Fraidy Cat
Joe Besser
1951
The Desert Hawk
Prince Sinbad
1950
The Gene Autry Show
(1 episode)
1950
Dizzy Yardbird
Pvt. Rodney Marblehead
1950
Outside the Wall
The Cook (uncredited)
1950
Joe Palooka Meets Humphrey
Carlton
1950
Woman in Hiding
Salesman with Drum
1950
Waiting in the Lurch
Eric Loudermilk Potts
1949
Africa Screams
Harry
1949
Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin'
Sharkey Dolan
1948
Hour Glass
(1 episode)
1946
Talk About a Lady
Roly Q. Entwhistle
1946
Eadie Was a Lady
Professor Diogenes Dingle
1945
Hey, Rookie
Pendleton "Pudge" Pfeiffer
1944
Hot Steel
Siggie Landers
1940