Shemp Howard

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.

Place of Birth: Not available

Birthday: March 11, 1895

Deathday: November 22, 1955

Popularity:

5.098

Known For

The Bank Dick
The Bank Dick

1940-11-29

Blondie Knows Best
Blondie Knows Best

1946-10-17

Africa Screams
Africa Screams

1949-05-04

In the Navy
In the Navy

1941-05-30

Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special
Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special

2003-04-29

The Invisible Woman
The Invisible Woman

1940-12-28

Buck Privates
Buck Privates

1941-01-31

Crazy House
Crazy House

1943-10-08

Hold That Ghost
Hold That Ghost

1941-08-08

Arabian Nights
Arabian Nights

1942-12-25

The Three Stooges Story
The Three Stooges Story

2001-05-02

Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh

1942-12-11

Pardon My Backfire
Pardon My Backfire

1953-08-15

Hellzapoppin'
Hellzapoppin'

1941-12-25

Soup to Nuts
Soup to Nuts

1930-09-28

Mr. Dynamite
Mr. Dynamite

1941-03-01

It Ain't Hay
It Ain't Hay

1943-03-10

Brideless Groom
Brideless Groom

1947-09-11

Malice in the Palace
Malice in the Palace

1949-09-01

Sing a Song of Six Pants
Sing a Song of Six Pants

1947-10-30

Triple Crossed
Triple Crossed

1959-02-02

The Strange Case of Doctor Rx
The Strange Case of Doctor Rx

1942-03-27

The Three Stooges: Kings Of Laughter
The Three Stooges: Kings Of Laughter

2001-05-02

San Antonio Rose
San Antonio Rose

1941-06-20

Everybody Likes Music
Everybody Likes Music

1934-03-09

Not Guilty Enough
Not Guilty Enough

1938-07-30

The Three Stooges Greatest Hits!
The Three Stooges Greatest Hits!

1997-05-15

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

2023-07-11

Bedlam in Paradise
Bedlam in Paradise

1955-04-14

Out West
Out West

1947-04-24

Fiddlers Three
Fiddlers Three

1948-05-06

All Gummed Up
All Gummed Up

1947-12-18

Pardon My Clutch
Pardon My Clutch

1948-02-26

Hold That Lion!
Hold That Lion!

1947-07-17

Squareheads of the Round Table
Squareheads of the Round Table

1948-03-04

Fright Night
Fright Night

1947-03-06

Shivering Sherlocks
Shivering Sherlocks

1948-01-08

The Hot Scots
The Hot Scots

1948-07-08

Heavenly Daze
Heavenly Daze

1948-09-02

Hugs and Mugs
Hugs and Mugs

1950-02-02

Hokus Pokus
Hokus Pokus

1949-05-05

The Ghost Talks
The Ghost Talks

1949-02-03

Who Done It?
Who Done It?

1949-03-03

I'm a Monkey's Uncle
I'm a Monkey's Uncle

1948-10-07

Fuelin' Around
Fuelin' Around

1949-04-07

Mummy's Dummies
Mummy's Dummies

1948-11-04

Vagabond Loafers
Vagabond Loafers

1949-10-06

Crime on Their Hands
Crime on Their Hands

1948-12-09

Punchy Cowpunchers
Punchy Cowpunchers

1950-01-05

Dopey Dicks
Dopey Dicks

1950-03-02

Dunked in the Deep
Dunked in the Deep

1949-11-03

Love at First Bite
Love at First Bite

1950-05-04

Self Made Maids
Self Made Maids

1950-07-06

Scrambled Brains
Scrambled Brains

1951-06-07

Three Hams on Rye
Three Hams on Rye

1950-09-07

The Tooth Will Out
The Tooth Will Out

1951-10-04

Baby Sitters Jitters
Baby Sitters Jitters

1951-02-01

Three Arabian Nuts
Three Arabian Nuts

1951-01-04

Hula-La-La
Hula-La-La

1951-11-01

Studio Stoops
Studio Stoops

1950-10-05

Don't Throw That Knife
Don't Throw That Knife

1951-05-03

Pest Man Wins
Pest Man Wins

1951-12-06

Slaphappy Sleuths
Slaphappy Sleuths

1950-11-09

A Snitch in Time
A Snitch in Time

1950-12-07

Merry Mavericks
Merry Mavericks

1951-09-06

Loose Loot
Loose Loot

1953-04-02

Booty and the Beast
Booty and the Beast

1953-03-05

Listen Judge
Listen Judge

1952-05-06

Up in Daisy's Penthouse
Up in Daisy's Penthouse

1953-02-05

He Cooked His Goose
He Cooked His Goose

1952-07-03

A Missed Fortune
A Missed Fortune

1952-01-03

Three Dark Horses
Three Dark Horses

1952-10-16

Gents in a Jam
Gents in a Jam

1952-07-04

Corny Casanovas
Corny Casanovas

1952-05-01

Tricky Dicks
Tricky Dicks

1953-05-07

Income Tax Sappy
Income Tax Sappy

1954-02-04

Shot in the Frontier
Shot in the Frontier

1954-10-07

Cuckoo on a Choo Choo
Cuckoo on a Choo Choo

1952-12-04

Scotched in Scotland
Scotched in Scotland

1954-11-04

Goof on the Roof
Goof on the Roof

1953-12-03

Knutzy Knights
Knutzy Knights

1954-09-02

Musty Musketeers
Musty Musketeers

1954-05-13

Spooks!
Spooks!

1953-06-15

Rip, Sew and Stitch
Rip, Sew and Stitch

1953-09-03

Bubble Trouble
Bubble Trouble

1953-10-08

Pals and Gals
Pals and Gals

1954-06-03

Husbands Beware
Husbands Beware

1956-01-05

Fling in the Ring
Fling in the Ring

1955-01-06

Wham-Bam-Slam!
Wham-Bam-Slam!

1955-09-01

Flagpole Jitters
Flagpole Jitters

1956-04-05

Hot Ice
Hot Ice

1955-10-06

Gypped in the Penthouse
Gypped in the Penthouse

1955-05-10

Blunder Boys
Blunder Boys

1955-11-03

Stone Age Romeos
Stone Age Romeos

1955-06-02

Creeps
Creeps

1956-02-02

Of Cash and Hash
Of Cash and Hash

1955-02-03

For Crimin' Out Loud
For Crimin' Out Loud

1956-05-03

Commotion on the Ocean
Commotion on the Ocean

1956-11-08

Scheming Schemers
Scheming Schemers

1956-10-04

Rumpus in the Harem
Rumpus in the Harem

1956-06-21

Road Show
Road Show

1941-02-18

The Three Stooges - Simply Hilarious
The Three Stooges - Simply Hilarious

2000-01-01

Hot Stuff
Hot Stuff

1956-09-06

Corn on the Cop
Corn on the Cop

1934-04-28

Henry the Ache
Henry the Ache

1934-01-25

The Knife of the Party
The Knife of the Party

1934-02-15

Salt Water Daffy
Salt Water Daffy

1933-09-16

Smoked Hams
Smoked Hams

1934-10-20

Dizzy & Daffy
Dizzy & Daffy

1934-12-14

His First Flame
His First Flame

1935-03-08

Spring Fever
Spring Fever

1919-01-01

The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 7: 1952-1954
The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 7: 1952-1954

2009-10-11

The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 8: 1955-1959
The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 8: 1955-1959

2010-06-01

The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 6: 1949-1951
The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 6: 1949-1951

2009-06-16

Here Comes Flossie!
Here Comes Flossie!

1933-12-09

Gold Raiders
Gold Raiders

1951-09-09

Convention Girl
Convention Girl

1935-10-30

Jerks of All Trades
Jerks of All Trades

1949-11-15

Hollywood Round-Up
Hollywood Round-Up

1937-11-06

The Wrong, Wrong Trail
The Wrong, Wrong Trail

1934-02-13

How's About It
How's About It

1943-01-01

In the Dough
In the Dough

1933-11-15

Art Trouble
Art Trouble

1934-06-23

A Peach of a Pair
A Peach of a Pair

1934-12-29

While the Cat's Away
While the Cat's Away

1936-01-04

The Officer's Mess
The Officer's Mess

1935-11-09

On the Wagon
On the Wagon

1935-08-24

Millionaires in Prison
Millionaires in Prison

1940-07-12

My Mummy's Arms
My Mummy's Arms

1934-06-28

Daredevil O'Dare
Daredevil O'Dare

1934-08-11

The Lost Stooges
The Lost Stooges

1990-01-01

The Three Stooges in 3D
The Three Stooges in 3D

2012-10-30

Cracked Nuts
Cracked Nuts

1941-07-02

Gobs of Fun
Gobs of Fun

1933-10-20

Another Thin Man
Another Thin Man

1939-11-17

Dangerous Business
Dangerous Business

1946-06-20

Boobs in the Woods
Boobs in the Woods

1940-05-31

Home on the Rage
Home on the Rage

1938-12-09

Glove Slingers
Glove Slingers

1939-11-24

A Hit with a Miss
A Hit with a Miss

1945-12-13

Bride and Gloom
Bride and Gloom

1947-03-27

Money Squawks
Money Squawks

1940-04-05

Open Season for Saps
Open Season for Saps

1944-10-27

Pick a Peck of Plumbers
Pick a Peck of Plumbers

1944-07-23

Mr. Noisy
Mr. Noisy

1946-03-22

Pleased to Mitt You
Pleased to Mitt You

1940-09-06

Jiggers, My Wife
Jiggers, My Wife

1946-04-11

Off Again, On Again
Off Again, On Again

1945-02-16

Where the Pest Begins
Where the Pest Begins

1945-10-04

Society Mugs
Society Mugs

1946-09-19

The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady
The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady

1940-05-30

One Exciting Week
One Exciting Week

1946-06-08

Headin' East
Headin' East

1937-12-13

Three Stooges Comedy Collection
Three Stooges Comedy Collection

2024-01-06

Murder Over New York
Murder Over New York

1940-12-13

Butch Minds the Baby
Butch Minds the Baby

1942-03-20

The Leather Pushers
The Leather Pushers

1940-09-13

Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga
Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga

1941-01-17

Hit the Road
Hit the Road

1941-06-27

Meet the Chump
Meet the Chump

1941-02-14

Too Many Blondes
Too Many Blondes

1941-08-01

Trouble Chasers
Trouble Chasers

1945-05-02

Crazy Knights
Crazy Knights

1944-12-08

Three of a Kind
Three of a Kind

1944-07-22

Moonlight and Cactus
Moonlight and Cactus

1944-09-08

Private Buckaroo
Private Buckaroo

1942-06-12

Strange Affair
Strange Affair

1944-10-05

Absorbing Junior
Absorbing Junior

1936-05-08

Three Stooges: Greatest Routines
Three Stooges: Greatest Routines

1964-12-01

Give Us Wings
Give Us Wings

1940-12-20

Keep 'Em Slugging
Keep 'Em Slugging

1943-03-01

Close Relations
Close Relations

1933-09-30

Howd' Ya Like That?
Howd' Ya Like That?

1934-01-13

Paul Revere, Jr.
Paul Revere, Jr.

1933-10-07

I Scream
I Scream

1934-05-19

Very Close Veins
Very Close Veins

1934-04-14

Rambling 'Round Radio Row #9
Rambling 'Round Radio Row #9

1934-05-19

Pugs and Kisses
Pugs and Kisses

1934-02-17

Mushrooms
Mushrooms

1934-02-14

Pure Feud
Pure Feud

1934-04-20

Columbia Laff Hour
Columbia Laff Hour

1956-01-01

For the Love of Pete
For the Love of Pete

1936-03-14

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

1934-11-01

Here's Howe
Here's Howe

1936-06-06

Serves You Right
Serves You Right

1935-06-15

Taking the Count
Taking the Count

1937-04-24

The Choke's on You
The Choke's on You

1936-09-12

Kick Me Again
Kick Me Again

1937-02-06

The Blonde Bomber
The Blonde Bomber

1936-11-28

Why Pay Rent?
Why Pay Rent?

1935-05-04

Punch and Beauty
Punch and Beauty

1936-08-15

Shemp Cocktail: A Toast to the Original Stooge
Shemp Cocktail: A Toast to the Original Stooge

2008-03-18

Mississippi Gambler
Mississippi Gambler

1942-04-17

Tight Shoes
Tight Shoes

1941-06-13

The Three Stooges: Five of Their Greatest Shorts
The Three Stooges: Five of Their Greatest Shorts

2009-01-01

The Gentleman Misbehaves
The Gentleman Misbehaves

1946-02-28

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

1947-01-01

Strictly in the Groove
Strictly in the Groove

1942-11-20

The Three Stooges: Live and Hilarious
The Three Stooges: Live and Hilarious

1941-12-16

The Flame of New Orleans
The Flame of New Orleans

1941-07-07