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