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