Shemp Howard

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

200

Gender

Male

Birthday

1895-03-11

Day of death

1955-11-22 (60 years old)

Place of Birth

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Shemp Howard

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.

Known For

  • The Colgate Comedy Hour

    The Colgate Comedy Hour

  • A Peach of a Pair

    A Peach of a Pair

  • Hokus Pokus

    Hokus Pokus

  • The Strange Case of Doctor Rx

    The Strange Case of Doctor Rx

  • Who Done It?

    Who Done It?

  • Heavenly Daze

    Heavenly Daze

  • Bedlam in Paradise

    Bedlam in Paradise

  • Shemp Cocktail: A Toast to the Original Stooge

    Shemp Cocktail: A Toast to the Original Stooge

  • Three Stooges: Greatest Routines

    Three Stooges: Greatest Routines

  • Strictly in the Groove

    Strictly in the Groove

  • Pleased to Mitt You

    Pleased to Mitt You

  • Mummy's Dummies

    Mummy's Dummies

  • Blunder Boys

    Blunder Boys

  • Vagabond Loafers

    Vagabond Loafers

  • Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special

    Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special

  • Scheming Schemers

    Scheming Schemers

  • Art Trouble

    Art Trouble

  • Sing a Song of Six Pants

    Sing a Song of Six Pants

  • Millionaires in Prison

    Millionaires in Prison

  • Hold That Ghost

    Hold That Ghost

  • Love at First Bite

    Love at First Bite

  • Hold That Lion!

    Hold That Lion!

  • Shot in the Frontier

    Shot in the Frontier

  • Absorbing Junior

    Absorbing Junior

  • Pardon My Clutch

    Pardon My Clutch

  • Mississippi Gambler

    Mississippi Gambler

  • Punch and Beauty

    Punch and Beauty

  • His First Flame

    His First Flame

  • In the Navy

    In the Navy

  • Here's Howe

    Here's Howe

  • Dangerous Business

    Dangerous Business

  • Wham-Bam-Slam!

    Wham-Bam-Slam!

  • Keep 'Em Slugging

    Keep 'Em Slugging

  • Hellzapoppin'

    Hellzapoppin'

  • Another Thin Man

    Another Thin Man

  • Strange Affair

    Strange Affair

  • A Snitch in Time

    A Snitch in Time

  • Three Hams on Rye

    Three Hams on Rye

  • Why Pay Rent?

    Why Pay Rent?

  • Glove Slingers

    Glove Slingers

  • Flagpole Jitters

    Flagpole Jitters

  • Murder Over New York

    Murder Over New York

  • The Three Stooges Story

    The Three Stooges Story

  • Three Dark Horses

    Three Dark Horses

  • Malice in the Palace

    Malice in the Palace

  • A Hit with a Miss

    A Hit with a Miss

  • Give Us Wings

    Give Us Wings

  • Husbands Beware

    Husbands Beware

  • Crazy Knights

    Crazy Knights

  • Pittsburgh

    Pittsburgh

  • Road Show

    Road Show

  • Private Buckaroo

    Private Buckaroo

  • The Wrong, Wrong Trail

    The Wrong, Wrong Trail

  • Triple Crossed

    Triple Crossed

  • Shivering Sherlocks

    Shivering Sherlocks

  • Salt Water Daffy

    Salt Water Daffy

  • Mr. Dynamite

    Mr. Dynamite

  • Pest Man Wins

    Pest Man Wins

  • Up in Daisy's Penthouse

    Up in Daisy's Penthouse

  • For the Love of Pete

    For the Love of Pete

  • Here Comes Flossie!

    Here Comes Flossie!

  • Soup to Nuts

    Soup to Nuts

  • Buck Privates

    Buck Privates

  • Close Relations

    Close Relations

  • Too Many Blondes

    Too Many Blondes

  • The Leather Pushers

    The Leather Pushers

  • Fuelin' Around

    Fuelin' Around

  • My Mummy's Arms

    My Mummy's Arms

  • Paul Revere, Jr.

    Paul Revere, Jr.

  • The Three Stooges Greatest Hits!

    The Three Stooges Greatest Hits!

  • Stone Age Romeos

    Stone Age Romeos

  • The Three Stooges: Hey Moe! Hey Dad!

    The Three Stooges: Hey Moe! Hey Dad!

  • Crime on Their Hands

    Crime on Their Hands

  • Dizzy & Daffy

    Dizzy & Daffy

  • Hit the Road

    Hit the Road

  • Scrambled Brains

    Scrambled Brains

  • Commotion on the Ocean

    Commotion on the Ocean

  • All Gummed Up

    All Gummed Up

  • Corny Casanovas

    Corny Casanovas

  • For Crimin' Out Loud

    For Crimin' Out Loud

  • Hollywood Round-Up

    Hollywood Round-Up

  • Corn on the Cop

    Corn on the Cop

  • Butch Minds the Baby

    Butch Minds the Baby

  • Of Cash and Hash

    Of Cash and Hash

  • The Ghost Talks

    The Ghost Talks

  • He Cooked His Goose

    He Cooked His Goose

  • Crazy House

    Crazy House

  • The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady

    The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady

  • Hula-La-La

    Hula-La-La

  • Mr. Noisy

    Mr. Noisy

  • While the Cat's Away

    While the Cat's Away

  • Pure Feud

    Pure Feud

  • Fiddlers Three

    Fiddlers Three

  • Cracked Nuts

    Cracked Nuts

  • Merry Mavericks

    Merry Mavericks

  • Africa Screams

    Africa Screams

  • Taking the Count

    Taking the Count

  • The Choke's on You

    The Choke's on You

  • Tricky Dicks

    Tricky Dicks

  • Squareheads of the Round Table

    Squareheads of the Round Table

  • The Invisible Woman

    The Invisible Woman

  • Musty Musketeers

    Musty Musketeers

  • The Blonde Bomber

    The Blonde Bomber

  • Gypped in the Penthouse

    Gypped in the Penthouse

  • Loose Loot

    Loose Loot

  • Howd' Ya Like That?

    Howd' Ya Like That?

  • Smoked Hams

    Smoked Hams

  • Trouble Chasers

    Trouble Chasers

  • Hot Ice

    Hot Ice

  • Money Squawks

    Money Squawks

  • Hot Stuff

    Hot Stuff

  • Three of a Kind

    Three of a Kind

  • Out West

    Out West

  • On the Wagon

    On the Wagon

  • Listen Judge

    Listen Judge

  • Cuckoo on a Choo Choo

    Cuckoo on a Choo Choo

  • Studio Stoops

    Studio Stoops

  • Jiggers, My Wife

    Jiggers, My Wife

  • Arabian Nights

    Arabian Nights

  • Fling in the Ring

    Fling in the Ring

  • So You Won't T-T-T-Talk

    So You Won't T-T-T-Talk

  • Bubble Trouble

    Bubble Trouble

  • Kick Me Again

    Kick Me Again

  • The Three Stooges: Live and Hilarious

    The Three Stooges: Live and Hilarious

  • Serves You Right

    Serves You Right

  • Bride and Gloom

    Bride and Gloom

  • The Bank Dick

    The Bank Dick

  • Rambling 'Round Radio Row #9

    Rambling 'Round Radio Row #9

  • Convention Girl

    Convention Girl

  • One Exciting Week

    One Exciting Week

  • The Gentleman Misbehaves

    The Gentleman Misbehaves

  • Baby Sitters Jitters

    Baby Sitters Jitters

  • Knutzy Knights

    Knutzy Knights

  • Three Arabian Nuts

    Three Arabian Nuts

  • I'm a Monkey's Uncle

    I'm a Monkey's Uncle

  • The Hot Scots

    The Hot Scots

  • Gents in a Jam

    Gents in a Jam

  • A Missed Fortune

    A Missed Fortune

  • Three Stooges Comedy Collection

    Three Stooges Comedy Collection

  • The Tooth Will Out

    The Tooth Will Out

  • Columbia Laff Hour

    Columbia Laff Hour

  • Meet the Chump

    Meet the Chump

  • The Flame of New Orleans

    The Flame of New Orleans

  • It Ain't Hay

    It Ain't Hay

  • Punchy Cowpunchers

    Punchy Cowpunchers

  • Goof on the Roof

    Goof on the Roof

  • Scotched in Scotland

    Scotched in Scotland

  • Booty and the Beast

    Booty and the Beast

  • The Knife of the Party

    The Knife of the Party

  • Blondie Knows Best

    Blondie Knows Best

  • Dopey Dicks

    Dopey Dicks

  • Stooge O-Rama: The Men Behind the Mayhem - And Even More Mayhem!

    Stooge O-Rama: The Men Behind the Mayhem - And Even More Mayhem!

  • Spooks!

    Spooks!

  • Hugs and Mugs

    Hugs and Mugs

  • Headin' East

    Headin' East

  • Gold Raiders

    Gold Raiders

  • Home on the Rage

    Home on the Rage

  • The Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Edition: Tales from the Three Stooges Vol. 1

    The Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Edition: Tales from the Three Stooges Vol. 1

  • In the Dough

    In the Dough

  • Rip, Sew and Stitch

    Rip, Sew and Stitch

  • Everybody Likes Music

    Everybody Likes Music

  • Jerks of All Trades

    Jerks of All Trades

  • Rumpus in the Harem

    Rumpus in the Harem

  • Self Made Maids

    Self Made Maids

  • Gobs of Fun

    Gobs of Fun

  • Where the Pest Begins

    Where the Pest Begins

  • Fright Night

    Fright Night

  • Pugs and Kisses

    Pugs and Kisses

  • Classic Comedy Teams

    Classic Comedy Teams

  • The Three Stooges: Kings Of Laughter

    The Three Stooges: Kings Of Laughter

  • Brideless Groom

    Brideless Groom

  • Mushrooms

    Mushrooms

  • Slaphappy Sleuths

    Slaphappy Sleuths

  • The Three Stooges in 3D

    The Three Stooges in 3D

  • Income Tax Sappy

    Income Tax Sappy

  • Creeps

    Creeps

  • Open Season for Saps

    Open Season for Saps

  • Pals and Gals

    Pals and Gals

  • Don't Throw That Knife

    Don't Throw That Knife

  • Tight Shoes

    Tight Shoes

  • Off Again, On Again

    Off Again, On Again

  • Society Mugs

    Society Mugs

  • Boobs in the Woods

    Boobs in the Woods

  • I Scream

    I Scream

  • Dunked in the Deep

    Dunked in the Deep

  • Daredevil O'Dare

    Daredevil O'Dare

  • San Antonio Rose

    San Antonio Rose

  • The Three Stooges - Simply Hilarious

    The Three Stooges - Simply Hilarious

  • Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga

    Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga

  • The Lost Stooges

    The Lost Stooges

  • Pardon My Backfire

    Pardon My Backfire

  • How's About It

    How's About It

  • Pick a Peck of Plumbers

    Pick a Peck of Plumbers

  • Not Guilty Enough

    Not Guilty Enough

  • The Officer's Mess

    The Officer's Mess

  • Moonlight and Cactus

    Moonlight and Cactus

  • Henry the Ache

    Henry the Ache

  • The Three Stooges: Five of Their Greatest Shorts

    The Three Stooges: Five of Their Greatest Shorts

  • Spring Fever

    Spring Fever

  • Very Close Veins

    Very Close Veins