Shemp Howard
Acting
🎂 1895-03-11
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.
Cast credits(199)
Self
1950
Shemp
2015
Gunner
1949
Shorty (The Tailor)
1942
Wacky (uncredited)
1939
Frankie
1940
Sinbad
1942
Soda Jerk
1941
Joe Guelpe
1940
Shemp
1949
Chef
1941
Louie
1941
Moe Parker (uncredited)
1941
Mumbo
1943
Shorty McCoy alias Rashid the Fakir
1940
Laundry Truck Driver
1944
Shemp (archive footage)
2003
Shemp (archive footage)
1956
Dizzy
1941
Binky
1943
Alf
1943
Oyster Bed Cafe Waiter (uncredited)
1941
Fireman
1930
Marty
1946
Hotel Manager Ambrose Tripp
1941
Henry
1934
Johnny Spivens
1935
Shemp (archive footage)
1956
Shemp
1949
Various Days
1955
Self (archive footage)
2008
Knobby Walsh
1936
Reginald / Reggie
1934
Shemp
1951
Shemp
1952
Shemp
1940
Sgt. 'Muggsy' Shavel
1942
Shemp
1951
Shemp
1952
Shemp
1947
Professor
1940
Henry Howard
1934
Eddie / Ivan
1941
Shemp (archive footage)
1956
Joe - a Pickpocket
1940
Benny the Bounce
1941
Umbrella Sam
1943
Shemp
1953
'Squinty' Sweeny
1942
Shemp
1952
Shemp
1949
Shemp
1951
Shemp
1955
Pat Patrick
1940
Shemp
1950
2009
Shemp
1948
Punchy Carter
1944
Monk
1946
Shemp
1953
Shemp
1952
Butler
1934
Sailor
1934
Shemp
1949
Shemp
1950
Noisy
1946
Shemp
1956
Shemp
2001
Shemp
1950
Shemp
1951
Shemp
1950
Shemp
1951
Shemp
1948
Shemp
1954
Himself
1990
Shemp
1950
Det. Sgt. Sweeney
1942
Shemp
1953
Shemp
1955
Shemp / Shemp's son
1956
Shemp
1951
Shemp
1948
Sailor McNeill
1940
Self / Shemp (archive footage)
1997
Shemp
1953
Shemp
1947
Shemp
1950
Rameses - Prizefighter
1945
Woodcock Q. Strinker
1944
Henry
1935
Pops
1942
Shemp Howard
1944
Shemp
1955
Shemp
1951
Shemp
1952
Shemp
1954
Shemp
1949
'Abdullah'
1941
Shemp
1952
Gabby
1941
Shemp
2000
Shemp (archive footage)
1956
Shemp
1947
Dingbat
1941
Short Painter
1934
Ezry
1933
Knobby Walsh
1936
One of the Moles
1933
Shemp
1951
Shemp
1953
Shemp
1950
Shemp
1948
Shemp
1950
Marvin Lewis
1946
Shemp
1947
Shemp
1951
Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
1959
Dan Higgins
1935
Shemp
1948
Shemp
1948
Shemp
1948
Knobby Walsh
1937
Buzz Berger
1940
Shemp
1941
Shemp
1949
Shemp
1955
Shemp
1955
Shemp
1947
Shemp
1949
Smokey Moe
1935
Windy Wylie
1937
Clem McCarthy
1934
Shemp
1954
Shemp
1946
Shemp
1953
Shemp
1955
Shemp
1954
Moran's Henchman
1934
Knobby Walsh
1936
Gus Doakes
1935
Shemp
2001
Shemp
1952
Shemp
1953
Gus
1940
Thorndike
1934
Himself
1947
Shemp
1949
Shemp
1953
Okay
1941
Shemp
1947
Shemp
1954
Shemp
1948
Shemp Howard
1945
Bugs
1933
Shemp
1944
2024
Shemp / Shemp Howard Sr.
1953
Milton Davis - Brooklyn Cab Driver
1942
Shemp / Shempetta
1950
Attendant
1933
Sourdough
1934
Henry
1935
Shemp
2012
Shemp Howard
1945
Stinky Fink
1941
Woodcock 'Woody' J. Strinker
1946
Elmer Peabody
1944
Knobby Walsh
1936
Brother-in-Law
1938
Henry
1936
Pat Patrick
1939
Wilbur the Kleptomaniac
1933
Shemp
1956
Shemp
1955
Prof. Shemp Howard
1956
Lefty Howard
1934
Woodcock Q. Strinker
1945
Artie - One of King Henry's Lackeys
1934
Henry, the Husband
1936
Knobby Walsh
1936
Shemp
1954
Kenneth
1934
Oscar Bush
1937
Jim Gray
1946
Shemp
1947
Dopey Traynor
1934
Happy
1938
2023
Shemp Howard
1934
Shemp
1964
Club patron
1933
Shemp
1948
Knobby Walsh
1937
Butch
1934
Songwriters' Representative
1934
1919
Piano Mover
1934
Shemp
1956
Shemp Howard
1934