Shemp Howard
Known For
Acting
Born
1895-03-11 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Died
1955-11-22
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.
Most Known For
The Colgate Comedy Hour
as Self
Mississippi Gambler
as Milton Davis - Brooklyn Cab Driver
Buck Privates
as Chef
Hot Ice
as Shemp
Musty Musketeers
as Shemp
Tricky Dicks
as Shemp
Hokus Pokus
as Shemp
Loose Loot
as Shemp
Merry Mavericks
as Shemp
Scrambled Brains
as Shemp
Convention Girl
as Dan Higgins
Hot Stuff
as Shemp (archive footage)
Husbands Beware
as Prof. Shemp Howard
The Three Stooges: Hey Moe! Hey Dad!
as Shemp
Everybody Likes Music
as Shemp Howard
Out West
as Shemp
Headin' East
as Windy Wylie
Another Thin Man
as Wacky (uncredited)
The Invisible Woman
as Frankie
Dopey Dicks
as Shemp