Acting
Shemp Howard
EN cinema · 198 credits
Born
11 March 1895
Died
22 November 1955 (aged 60)
Birthplace
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Also known as Samuel Horwitz · Shemp · Shemp Howard and His Stooges · The Three Stooges · Shmuel Horwitz
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
Filmography
Three Stooges Comedy Collection
2024
Three Stooges Comedy Collection
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
Stooge O-Rama: The Men Behind the Mayhem - And Even More Mayhem!
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Three Stooges in 3D
as Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Three Stooges: Five of Their Greatest Shorts
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
Shemp Cocktail: A Toast to the Original Stooge
as Self (archive footage)
Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special
as Shemp (archive footage)
The Three Stooges Story
as Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Three Stooges: Kings Of Laughter
as Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Three Stooges - Simply Hilarious
2000
The Three Stooges - Simply Hilarious
as Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Three Stooges Greatest Hits!
as Self / Shemp (archive footage)
The Lost Stooges
1990
The Lost Stooges
as (archive footage)
Classic Comedy Teams
as Shemp (archive footage)
Triple Crossed
as Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
Flagpole Jitters
as Shemp
Husbands Beware
as Prof. Shemp Howard
Creeps
as Shemp / Shemp's son
For Crimin' Out Loud
as Shemp
Rumpus in the Harem
as Shemp (archive footage)
Commotion on the Ocean
as Shemp (archive footage)
Scheming Schemers
as Shemp (archive footage)
Hot Stuff
as Shemp (archive footage)
Columbia Laff Hour
as Shemp
Bedlam in Paradise
as Shemp
Hot Ice
as Shemp
Fling in the Ring
as Shemp
Stone Age Romeos
as Shemp
Wham-Bam-Slam!
as Shemp
Of Cash and Hash
as Shemp
Blunder Boys
as Various Days
Knutzy Knights
as Shemp
Musty Musketeers
as Shemp
Pals and Gals
as Shemp
Shot in the Frontier
as Shemp
Scotched in Scotland
as Shemp
Income Tax Sappy
as Shemp
Pardon My Backfire
as Shemp
Booty and the Beast
as Shemp
Up in Daisy's Penthouse
as Shemp / Shemp Howard Sr.
Loose Loot
as Shemp
Tricky Dicks
as Shemp
Goof on the Roof
as Shemp
Bubble Trouble
as Shemp
Spooks!
as Shemp
Rip, Sew and Stitch
as Shemp
A Missed Fortune
as Shemp
Gents in a Jam
as Shemp
Corny Casanovas
as Shemp
He Cooked His Goose
as Shemp
Listen Judge
as Shemp
Three Dark Horses
as Shemp
Pest Man Wins
as Shemp
The Tooth Will Out
as Shemp
Baby Sitters Jitters
as Shemp
Scrambled Brains
as Shemp
Hula-La-La
as Shemp
Three Arabian Nuts
as Shemp
Merry Mavericks
as Shemp
Gold Raiders
as Shemp
Love at First Bite
as Shemp
Self Made Maids
as Shemp / Shempetta
Dopey Dicks
as Shemp
Punchy Cowpunchers
as Shemp
Hugs and Mugs
as Shemp
Three Hams on Rye
as Shemp
Slaphappy Sleuths
as Shemp
Studio Stoops
as Shemp
A Snitch in Time
as Shemp
Africa Screams
as Gunner
Malice in the Palace
as Shemp
Fuelin' Around
as Shemp
Hokus Pokus
as Shemp
Vagabond Loafers
as Shemp
Who Done It?
as Shemp
The Ghost Talks
as Shemp
Dunked in the Deep
as Shemp
Jerks of All Trades
as Shemp
Shivering Sherlocks
as Shemp
Pardon My Clutch
as Shemp
Fiddlers Three
as Shemp
The Hot Scots
as Shemp
Heavenly Daze
as Shemp
Mummy's Dummies
as Shemp
Crime on Their Hands
as Shemp
I'm a Monkey's Uncle
as Shemp
Brideless Groom
as Shemp
Out West
as Shemp
All Gummed Up
as Shemp
Hold That Lion!
as Shemp
Fright Night
as Shemp
Bride and Gloom
as Shemp
Blondie Knows Best
as Jim Gray
Jiggers, My Wife
as Woodcock 'Woody' J. Strinker
Mr. Noisy
as Noisy
Society Mugs
as Shemp
One Exciting Week
as Marvin Lewis
Off Again, On Again
as Woodcock Q. Strinker
A Hit with a Miss
as Rameses - Prizefighter
Where the Pest Begins
as Shemp Howard
Trouble Chasers
as Shemp Howard
Pick a Peck of Plumbers
as Elmer Peabody
Open Season for Saps
as Woodcock Q. Strinker
Crazy Knights
as Shemp
Three of a Kind
as Shemp Howard
Moonlight and Cactus
as Punchy Carter
Strange Affair
as Laundry Truck Driver
Crazy House
as Mumbo
It Ain't Hay
as Umbrella Sam
Keep 'Em Slugging
as Binky
Arabian Nights
as Sinbad
Pittsburgh
as Shorty (The Tailor)
The Strange Case of Doctor Rx
as Det. Sgt. Sweeney
Butch Minds the Baby
as 'Squinty' Sweeny
Private Buckaroo
as Sgt. 'Muggsy' Shavel
Mississippi Gambler
as Milton Davis - Brooklyn Cab Driver
In the Navy
as Dizzy
Buck Privates
as Chef
Hold That Ghost
as Soda Jerk
Hellzapoppin'
as Louie
Mr. Dynamite
as 'Abdullah'
San Antonio Rose
as Benny the Bounce
Road Show
as Moe Parker (uncredited)
Cracked Nuts
as Eddie / Ivan
Hit the Road
as Dingbat
Meet the Chump
1941
Meet the Chump
as Stinky Fink
Too Many Blondes
1941
Too Many Blondes
as Hotel Manager Ambrose Tripp
Tight Shoes
as Okay
The Flame of New Orleans
as Oyster Bed Cafe Waiter (uncredited)
The Bank Dick
as Joe Guelpe
The Invisible Woman
as Frankie
Millionaires in Prison
as Professor
Money Squawks
as Shemp
Pleased to Mitt You
as Pat Patrick
The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady
as Joe - a Pickpocket
Murder Over New York
as Shorty McCoy alias Rashid the Fakir
The Leather Pushers
as Sailor McNeill
Give Us Wings
as Buzz Berger
Another Thin Man
as Wacky (uncredited)
Glove Slingers
as Pat Patrick
Not Guilty Enough
1938
Not Guilty Enough
as Brother-in-Law
Home on the Rage
as Happy
Hollywood Round-Up
as Oscar Bush
Headin' East
as Windy Wylie
Kick Me Again
as Knobby Walsh
Taking the Count
as Knobby Walsh
Absorbing Junior
as Henry, the Husband
Here's Howe
as Knobby Walsh
Punch and Beauty
as Knobby Walsh
For the Love of Pete
as Knobby Walsh
The Choke's on You
as Knobby Walsh
The Blonde Bomber
as Knobby Walsh
His First Flame
as Smokey Moe
Convention Girl
as Dan Higgins
On the Wagon
as Henry
The Officer's Mess
as Gus Doakes
Serves You Right
as Johnny Spivens
Why Pay Rent?
as Henry
Everybody Likes Music
as Shemp Howard
Henry the Ache
as Artie - One of King Henry's Lackeys
Corn on the Cop
as Reginald / Reggie
The Knife of the Party
as Shemp Howard
Smoked Hams
as Henry Howard
Dizzy & Daffy
as Lefty Howard
The Wrong, Wrong Trail
as Piano Mover
Art Trouble
as Short Painter
A Peach of a Pair
as Butler
My Mummy's Arms
as Kenneth
Daredevil O'Dare
as Butch
I Scream
as Moran's Henchman
Howd' Ya Like That?
as Sailor
Rambling 'Round Radio Row #9
as Songwriters' Representative
Very Close Veins
as Sourdough
Pugs and Kisses
as Dopey Traynor
Mushrooms
as Thorndike
Pure Feud
as Clem McCarthy
Salt Water Daffy
as Wilbur the Kleptomaniac
In the Dough
as Bugs
Gobs of Fun
as Club patron
Close Relations
as One of the Moles
Paul Revere, Jr.
as Attendant
Soup to Nuts
as Fireman
