Cast

Shemp Howard

Acting

Cast

Shemp Howard

Known for

Acting

Born

1895-03-11

From

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Died

1955-11-22

Also known as Samuel Horwitz, Shemp, Shemp Howard and His Stooges

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.

Shemp Howard

Shemp Howard

Biography

Knutzy Knights

Slaphappy Sleuths

Husbands Beware

Spooks!

Mississippi Gambler

Out West

Wham-Bam-Slam!

Fright Night

Musty Musketeers

Society Mugs

Tricky Dicks

Bubble Trouble

Trouble Chasers

Buck Privates

Stone Age Romeos

I Scream

Hokus Pokus

Hold That Ghost

Don't Throw That Knife

Hot Ice

Brideless Groom

Another Thin Man

Bedlam in Paradise

Goof on the Roof

Arabian Nights

The Ghost Talks

Pardon My Backfire

Dunked in the Deep

Rip, Sew and Stitch

Where the Pest Begins

The Invisible Woman

Dopey Dicks

I'm a Monkey's Uncle

Rumpus in the Harem

Baby Sitters Jitters

He Cooked His Goose

The Flame of New Orleans

Too Many Blondes

The Hot Scots

A Snitch in Time

Merry Mavericks

Fling in the Ring

In the Dough

Gents in a Jam

The Tooth Will Out

Hellzapoppin'

Not Guilty Enough

Gold Raiders

Three Arabian Nuts

Self Made Maids

Pardon My Clutch

The Bank Dick

Income Tax Sappy

A Missed Fortune

Bride and Gloom

Open Season for Saps

Hugs and Mugs

Henry the Ache

Loose Loot

Give Us Wings

The Blonde Bomber

Everybody Likes Music

In the Navy

Three of a Kind

Classic Comedy Teams

Blondie Knows Best

Pugs and Kisses

Africa Screams

Booty and the Beast

Pittsburgh

Boobs in the Woods

Paul Revere, Jr.

Studio Stoops

Creeps

Meet the Chump

Millionaires in Prison

Punchy Cowpunchers