About

Known credits:
201
Birthday:
1895-03-11
Place of birth:
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Website:
N/A

Shemp Howard

Overview

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

Acting
2024 Three Stooges Comedy Collection Actor N/A
N/A
2023 Stooge O-Rama: The Men Behind the Mayhem - And Even More Mayhem! Actor N/A
N/A
2015 The Three Stooges: Hey Moe! Hey Dad! Actor Shemp 71
Good
2012 The Three Stooges in 3D Actor Shemp 59
Average
2010 The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 8: 1955-1959 Actor N/A
N/A
2009 The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 7: 1952-1954 Actor N/A
N/A
2009 The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 6: 1949-1951 Actor N/A
N/A
2009 The Three Stooges: Five of Their Greatest Shorts Actor N/A
N/A
2008 Shemp Cocktail: A Toast to the Original Stooge Actor Himself (archive footage) N/A
N/A
2003 Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special Actor Shemp (archive footage) 59
Average
2001 The Three Stooges Story Actor Shemp N/A
N/A
2001 The Three Stooges: Kings Of Laughter Actor Shemp N/A
N/A
2000 The Three Stooges - Simply Hilarious Actor Shemp 59
Average
1997 The Three Stooges Greatest Hits! Actor Self / Shemp (archive footage) N/A
N/A
1990 The Lost Stooges Actor Himself N/A
N/A
1964 Three Stooges: Greatest Routines Actor Shemp 59
Average
1959 Triple Crossed Actor Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited) 58
Average
1956 Commotion on the Ocean Actor Shemp (archive footage) 58
Average
1956 Scheming Schemers Actor Shemp (archive footage) 59
Average
1956 Hot Stuff Actor Shemp (archive footage) 58
Average
1956 Rumpus in the Harem Actor Shemp (archive footage) 58
Average
1956 For Crimin' Out Loud Actor Shemp 59
Average
1956 Flagpole Jitters Actor Shemp 59
Average
1956 Creeps Actor Shemp / Shemp's son 59
Average
1956 Husbands Beware Actor Prof. Shemp Howard 59
Average
1956 Columbia Laff Hour Actor Shemp 59
Average
1955 Blunder Boys Actor Various Days 59
Average
1955 Hot Ice Actor Shemp 59
Average
1955 Wham-Bam-Slam! Actor Shemp 59
Average
1955 Stone Age Romeos Actor Shemp 59
Average
1955 Gypped in the Penthouse Actor Shemp 59
Average
1955 Bedlam in Paradise Actor Shemp 59
Average
1955 Of Cash and Hash Actor Shemp 59
Average
1955 Fling in the Ring Actor Shemp 59
Average
1954 Scotched in Scotland Actor Shemp 58
Average
1954 Shot in the Frontier Actor Shemp 59
Average
1954 Knutzy Knights Actor Shemp 59
Average
1954 Pals and Gals Actor Shemp 59
Average
1954 Musty Musketeers Actor Shemp 59
Average
1954 Income Tax Sappy Actor Shemp 59
Average
1953 Goof on the Roof Actor Shemp 59
Average
1953 Bubble Trouble Actor Shemp 59
Average
1953 Rip, Sew and Stitch Actor Shemp 59
Average
1953 Pardon My Backfire Actor Shemp 59
Average
1953 Spooks! Actor Shemp 59
Average
1953 Tricky Dicks Actor Shemp 59
Average
1953 Loose Loot Actor Shemp 59
Average
1953 Booty and the Beast Actor Shemp 59
Average
1953 Up in Daisy's Penthouse Actor Shemp / Shemp Howard Sr. 59
Average
1952 Cuckoo on a Choo Choo Actor Shemp 58
Average
1952 Three Dark Horses Actor Shemp 59
Average
1952 Gents in a Jam Actor Shemp 59
Average
1952 He Cooked His Goose Actor Shemp 58
Average
1952 Listen Judge Actor Shemp 59
Average
1952 Corny Casanovas Actor Shemp 59
Average
1952 A Missed Fortune Actor Shemp 59
Average
1951 Pest Man Wins Actor Shemp 58
Average
1951 Hula-La-La Actor Shemp 58
Average
1951 The Tooth Will Out Actor Shemp 59
Average
1951 Gold Raiders Actor Shemp 59
Average
1951 Merry Mavericks Actor Shemp 58
Average
1951 Scrambled Brains Actor Shemp 59
Average
1951 Don't Throw That Knife Actor Shemp 58
Average
1951 Baby Sitters Jitters Actor Shemp 59
Average
1951 Three Arabian Nuts Actor Shemp 59
Average
1950 A Snitch in Time Actor Shemp 58
Average
1950 Slaphappy Sleuths Actor Shemp 59
Average
1950 Studio Stoops Actor Shemp 58
Average
1950 Three Hams on Rye Actor Shemp 59
Average
1950 Self Made Maids Actor Shemp / Shempetta 58
Average
1950 Love at First Bite Actor Shemp 58
Average
1950 Dopey Dicks Actor Shemp 59
Average
1950 Hugs and Mugs Actor Shemp 59
Average
1950 Punchy Cowpunchers Actor Shemp 58
Average
1949 Jerks of All Trades Actor Shemp 59
Average
1949 Dunked in the Deep Actor Shemp 58
Average
1949 Vagabond Loafers Actor Shemp 59
Average
1949 Malice in the Palace Actor Shemp 58
Average
1949 Hokus Pokus Actor Shemp 59
Average
1949 Africa Screams Actor Gunner 58
Average
1949 Fuelin' Around Actor Shemp 59
Average
1949 Who Done It? Actor Shemp 59
Average
1949 The Ghost Talks Actor Shemp 59
Average
1948 Crime on Their Hands Actor Shemp 59
Average
1948 Mummy's Dummies Actor Shemp 59
Average
1948 I'm a Monkey's Uncle Actor Shemp 58
Average
1948 Heavenly Daze Actor Shemp 59
Average
1948 The Hot Scots Actor Shemp 59
Average
1948 Fiddlers Three Actor Shemp 59
Average
1948 Squareheads of the Round Table Actor Shemp 58
Average
1948 Pardon My Clutch Actor Shemp 58
Average
1948 Shivering Sherlocks Actor Shemp 59
Average
1947 All Gummed Up Actor Shemp 58
Average
1947 Sing a Song of Six Pants Actor Shemp 58
Average
1947 Brideless Groom Actor Shemp 59
Average
1947 Hold That Lion! Actor Shemp 59
Average
1947 Out West Actor Shemp 59
Average
1947 Bride and Gloom Actor Shemp N/A
N/A
1947 Fright Night Actor Shemp 59
Average
1947 The Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Edition: Tales from the Three Stooges Vol. 1 Actor Himself 59
Average
1946 Blondie Knows Best Actor Jim Gray 59
Average
1946 Society Mugs Actor Shemp N/A
N/A
1946 Dangerous Business Actor Monk N/A
N/A
1946 One Exciting Week Actor Marvin Lewis 59
Average
1946 Jiggers, My Wife Actor Woodcock 'Woody' J. Strinker N/A
N/A
1946 Mr. Noisy Actor Noisy N/A
N/A
1946 The Gentleman Misbehaves Actor Marty N/A
N/A
1945 A Hit with a Miss Actor Rameses - Prizefighter N/A
N/A
1945 Where the Pest Begins Actor Shemp Howard N/A
N/A
1945 Trouble Chasers Actor Shemp Howard N/A
N/A
1945 Off Again, On Again Actor Woodcock Q. Strinker N/A
N/A
1944 Crazy Knights Actor Shemp 58
Average
1944 Open Season for Saps Actor Woodcock Q. Strinker N/A
N/A
1944 Strange Affair Actor Laundry Truck Driver 59
Average
1944 Moonlight and Cactus Actor Punchy Carter 58
Average
1944 Pick a Peck of Plumbers Actor Elmer Peabody N/A
N/A
1944 Three of a Kind Actor Shemp Howard N/A
N/A
1943 Crazy House Actor Mumbo 58
Average
1943 It Ain't Hay Actor Umbrella Sam 59
Average
1943 Keep 'Em Slugging Actor Binky 58
Average
1943 How's About It Actor Alf 58
Average
1942 Arabian Nights Actor Sinbad 59
Average
1942 Pittsburgh Actor Shorty (The Tailor) 58
Average
1942 Strictly in the Groove Actor Pops N/A
N/A
1942 Private Buckaroo Actor Sgt. 'Muggsy' Shavel 58
Average
1942 Mississippi Gambler Actor Milton Davis - Brooklyn Cab Driver 59
Average
1942 The Strange Case of Doctor Rx Actor Det. Sgt. Sweeney 58
Average
1942 Butch Minds the Baby Actor 'Squinty' Sweeny N/A
N/A
1941 Hellzapoppin' Actor Louie 60
Fair
1941 The Three Stooges: Live and Hilarious Actor Shemp N/A
N/A
1941 Hold That Ghost Actor Soda Jerk 59
Average
1941 Too Many Blondes Actor Hotel Manager Ambrose Tripp N/A
N/A
1941 The Flame of New Orleans Actor Oyster Bed Cafe Waiter (uncredited) 58
Average
1941 Cracked Nuts Actor Eddie / Ivan N/A
N/A
1941 Hit the Road Actor Dingbat N/A
N/A
1941 San Antonio Rose Actor Benny the Bounce 59
Average
1941 Tight Shoes Actor Okay N/A
N/A
1941 In the Navy Actor Dizzy 59
Average
1941 Mr. Dynamite Actor 'Abdullah' N/A
N/A
1941 Road Show Actor Moe Parker (uncredited) 59
Average
1941 Meet the Chump Actor Stinky Fink N/A
N/A
1941 Buck Privates Actor Chef 59
Average
1941 Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga Actor Gabby 58
Average
1940 The Invisible Woman Actor Frankie 58
Average
1940 Give Us Wings Actor Buzz Berger 59
Average
1940 Murder Over New York Actor Shorty McCoy alias Rashid the Fakir 59
Average
1940 The Bank Dick Actor Joe Guelpe 60
Fair
1940 The Leather Pushers Actor Sailor McNeill N/A
N/A
1940 Pleased to Mitt You Actor Pat Patrick N/A
N/A
1940 Millionaires in Prison Actor Professor 59
Average
1940 Boobs in the Woods Actor Gus N/A
N/A
1940 The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady Actor Joe - a Pickpocket 59
Average
1940 Money Squawks Actor Shemp N/A
N/A
1939 Glove Slingers Actor Pat Patrick N/A
N/A
1939 Another Thin Man Actor Wacky (uncredited) 61
Fair
1938 Home on the Rage Actor Happy N/A
N/A
1938 Not Guilty Enough Actor Brother-in-Law N/A
N/A
1937 Headin' East Actor Windy Wylie N/A
N/A
1937 Hollywood Round-Up Actor Oscar Bush 59
Average
1937 Taking the Count Actor Knobby Walsh N/A
N/A
1937 Kick Me Again Actor Knobby Walsh N/A
N/A
1936 The Blonde Bomber Actor Knobby Walsh N/A
N/A
1936 The Choke's on You Actor Knobby Walsh N/A
N/A
1936 Punch and Beauty Actor Knobby Walsh N/A
N/A
1936 Here's Howe Actor Knobby Walsh N/A
N/A
1936 Absorbing Junior Actor Henry, the Husband N/A
N/A
1936 For the Love of Pete Actor Knobby Walsh N/A
N/A
1936 While the Cat's Away Actor Henry N/A
N/A
1935 The Officer's Mess Actor Gus Doakes N/A
N/A
1935 Convention Girl Actor Dan Higgins 59
Average
1935 On the Wagon Actor Henry N/A
N/A
1935 Serves You Right Actor Johnny Spivens N/A
N/A
1935 Why Pay Rent? Actor Henry N/A
N/A
1935 His First Flame Actor Smokey Moe N/A
N/A
1934 A Peach of a Pair Actor Butler N/A
N/A
1934 Dizzy & Daffy Actor Lefty Howard N/A
N/A
1934 So You Won't T-T-T-Talk Actor Henry 58
Average
1934 Smoked Hams Actor Henry Howard N/A
N/A
1934 Daredevil O'Dare Actor Butch N/A
N/A
1934 My Mummy's Arms Actor Kenneth N/A
N/A
1934 Art Trouble Actor Short Painter 58
Average
1934 I Scream Actor Moran's Henchman N/A
N/A
1934 Rambling 'Round Radio Row #9 Actor Songwriters' Representative 59
Average
1934 Corn on the Cop Actor Reginald / Reggie 59
Average
1934 Pure Feud Actor Clem McCarthy N/A
N/A
1934 Very Close Veins Actor Sourdough N/A
N/A
1934 Everybody Likes Music Actor Shemp Howard N/A
N/A
1934 Pugs and Kisses Actor Dopey Traynor N/A
N/A
1934 The Knife of the Party Actor Shemp Howard 58
Average
1934 Mushrooms Actor Thorndike N/A
N/A
1934 The Wrong, Wrong Trail Actor Piano Mover N/A
N/A
1934 Henry the Ache Actor Artie - One of King Henry's Lackeys 58
Average
1934 Howd' Ya Like That? Actor Sailor N/A
N/A
1933 Here Comes Flossie! Actor Ezry N/A
N/A
1933 In the Dough Actor Bugs 58
Average
1933 Gobs of Fun Actor Club patron N/A
N/A
1933 Paul Revere, Jr. Actor Attendant N/A
N/A
1933 Close Relations Actor One of the Moles N/A
N/A
1933 Salt Water Daffy Actor Wilbur the Kleptomaniac 58
Average
1930 Soup to Nuts Actor Fireman 59
Average
1919 Spring Fever Actor N/A
N/A