Shemp Howard
Acting • Born 1895-03-11 – Died 1955-11-22
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.
Filmography
200 credits
The Bank Dick
Movie • 1940
Joe Guelpe
Blondie Knows Best
Movie • 1946
Jim Gray
Africa Screams
Movie • 1949
Gunner
In the Navy
Movie • 1941
Dizzy
Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special
Movie • 2003
Shemp (archive footage)
The Invisible Woman
Movie • 1940
Frankie
Buck Privates
Movie • 1941
Chef
Crazy House
Movie • 1943
Mumbo
Hold That Ghost
Movie • 1941
Soda Jerk
Arabian Nights
Movie • 1942
Sinbad
The Three Stooges Story
Movie • 2001
Shemp
Pittsburgh
Movie • 1942
Shorty (The Tailor)
Pardon My Backfire
Movie • 1953
Shemp
Hellzapoppin'
Movie • 1941
Louie
Soup to Nuts
Movie • 1930
Fireman
Mr. Dynamite
Movie • 1941
'Abdullah'
It Ain't Hay
Movie • 1943
Umbrella Sam
Malice in the Palace
Movie • 1949
Shemp
Sing a Song of Six Pants
Movie • 1947
Shemp
Brideless Groom
Movie • 1947
Shemp
Triple Crossed
Movie • 1959
Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Strange Case of Doctor Rx
Movie • 1942
Det. Sgt. Sweeney
The Three Stooges: Kings Of Laughter
Movie • 2001
Shemp
San Antonio Rose
Movie • 1941
Benny the Bounce
Everybody Likes Music
Movie • 1934
Shemp Howard
Not Guilty Enough
Movie • 1938
Brother-in-Law
The Three Stooges Greatest Hits!
Movie • 1997
Self / Shemp (archive footage)
Stooge O-Rama: The Men Behind the Mayhem - And Even More Mayhem!
Movie • 2023
Bedlam in Paradise
Movie • 1955
Shemp
Out West
Movie • 1947
Shemp
Hold That Lion!
Movie • 1947
Shemp
Fright Night
Movie • 1947
Shemp
All Gummed Up
Movie • 1947
Shemp
Shivering Sherlocks
Movie • 1948
Shemp
Pardon My Clutch
Movie • 1948
Shemp
Squareheads of the Round Table
Movie • 1948
Shemp
Fiddlers Three
Movie • 1948
Shemp
The Hot Scots
Movie • 1948
Shemp
Heavenly Daze
Movie • 1948
Shemp
I'm a Monkey's Uncle
Movie • 1948
Shemp
Mummy's Dummies
Movie • 1948
Shemp
Crime on Their Hands
Movie • 1948
Shemp
The Ghost Talks
Movie • 1949
Shemp
Who Done It?
Movie • 1949
Shemp
Hokus Pokus
Movie • 1949
Shemp
Fuelin' Around
Movie • 1949
Shemp
Vagabond Loafers
Movie • 1949
Shemp
Dunked in the Deep
Movie • 1949
Shemp
Punchy Cowpunchers
Movie • 1950
Shemp
Hugs and Mugs
Movie • 1950
Shemp
Dopey Dicks
Movie • 1950
Shemp
Love at First Bite
Movie • 1950
Shemp
Self Made Maids
Movie • 1950
Shemp / Shempetta
Three Hams on Rye
Movie • 1950
Shemp
Studio Stoops
Movie • 1950
Shemp
Slaphappy Sleuths
Movie • 1950
Shemp
A Snitch in Time
Movie • 1950
Shemp
Three Arabian Nuts
Movie • 1951
Shemp
Baby Sitters Jitters
Movie • 1951
Shemp
Don't Throw That Knife
Movie • 1951
Shemp
Scrambled Brains
Movie • 1951
Shemp
Merry Mavericks
Movie • 1951
Shemp
The Tooth Will Out
Movie • 1951
Shemp
Hula-La-La
Movie • 1951
Shemp
Pest Man Wins
Movie • 1951
Shemp
A Missed Fortune
Movie • 1952
Shemp
Booty and the Beast
Movie • 1953
Shemp
Listen Judge
Movie • 1952
Shemp
Corny Casanovas
Movie • 1952
Shemp
He Cooked His Goose
Movie • 1952
Shemp
Gents in a Jam
Movie • 1952
Shemp
Three Dark Horses
Movie • 1952
Shemp
Up in Daisy's Penthouse
Movie • 1953
Shemp / Shemp Howard Sr.
Loose Loot
Movie • 1953
Shemp
Tricky Dicks
Movie • 1953
Shemp
Cuckoo on a Choo Choo
Movie • 1952
Shemp
Spooks!
Movie • 1953
Shemp
Goof on the Roof
Movie • 1953
Shemp
Income Tax Sappy
Movie • 1954
Shemp
Musty Musketeers
Movie • 1954
Shemp
Pals and Gals
Movie • 1954
Shemp
Knutzy Knights
Movie • 1954
Shemp
Shot in the Frontier
Movie • 1954
Shemp
Scotched in Scotland
Movie • 1954
Shemp
Rip, Sew and Stitch
Movie • 1953
Shemp
Bubble Trouble
Movie • 1953
Shemp
Fling in the Ring
Movie • 1955
Shemp
Of Cash and Hash
Movie • 1955
Shemp
Gypped in the Penthouse
Movie • 1955
Shemp
Stone Age Romeos
Movie • 1955
Shemp
Wham-Bam-Slam!
Movie • 1955
Shemp
Hot Ice
Movie • 1955
Shemp
Blunder Boys
Movie • 1955
Various Days
Husbands Beware
Movie • 1956
Prof. Shemp Howard
Creeps
Movie • 1956
Shemp / Shemp's son
Flagpole Jitters
Movie • 1956
Shemp
For Crimin' Out Loud
Movie • 1956
Shemp
Rumpus in the Harem
Movie • 1956
Shemp (archive footage)
Scheming Schemers
Movie • 1956
Shemp (archive footage)
Commotion on the Ocean
Movie • 1956
Shemp (archive footage)
Road Show
Movie • 1941
Moe Parker (uncredited)
The Three Stooges - Simply Hilarious
Movie • 2000
Shemp
Hot Stuff
Movie • 1956
Shemp (archive footage)
Corn on the Cop
Movie • 1934
Reginald / Reggie
Henry the Ache
Movie • 1934
Artie - One of King Henry's Lackeys
The Knife of the Party
Movie • 1934
Shemp Howard
Salt Water Daffy
Movie • 1933
Wilbur the Kleptomaniac
Smoked Hams
Movie • 1934
Henry Howard
Dizzy & Daffy
Movie • 1934
Lefty Howard
His First Flame
Movie • 1935
Smokey Moe
Spring Fever
Movie • 1919
Here Comes Flossie!
Movie • 1933
Ezry
Gold Raiders
Movie • 1951
Shemp
Convention Girl
Movie • 1935
Dan Higgins
Jerks of All Trades
Movie • 1949
Shemp
Hollywood Round-Up
Movie • 1937
Oscar Bush
The Wrong, Wrong Trail
Movie • 1934
Piano Mover
How's About It
Movie • 1943
Alf
In the Dough
Movie • 1933
Bugs
Art Trouble
Movie • 1934
Short Painter
A Peach of a Pair
Movie • 1934
Butler
The Officer's Mess
Movie • 1935
Gus Doakes
While the Cat's Away
Movie • 1936
Henry
On the Wagon
Movie • 1935
Henry
Millionaires in Prison
Movie • 1940
Professor
My Mummy's Arms
Movie • 1934
Kenneth
Daredevil O'Dare
Movie • 1934
Butch
The Lost Stooges
Movie • 1990
Himself
The Three Stooges in 3D
Movie • 2012
Shemp
Cracked Nuts
Movie • 1941
Eddie / Ivan
Gobs of Fun
Movie • 1933
Club patron
Another Thin Man
Movie • 1939
Wacky (uncredited)
Dangerous Business
Movie • 1946
Monk
Boobs in the Woods
Movie • 1940
Gus
Bride and Gloom
Movie • 1947
Shemp
Glove Slingers
Movie • 1939
Pat Patrick
A Hit with a Miss
Movie • 1945
Rameses - Prizefighter
Home on the Rage
Movie • 1938
Happy
Jiggers, My Wife
Movie • 1946
Woodcock 'Woody' J. Strinker
Money Squawks
Movie • 1940
Shemp
Mr. Noisy
Movie • 1946
Noisy
Off Again, On Again
Movie • 1945
Woodcock Q. Strinker
Open Season for Saps
Movie • 1944
Woodcock Q. Strinker
Pick a Peck of Plumbers
Movie • 1944
Elmer Peabody
Pleased to Mitt You
Movie • 1940
Pat Patrick
Society Mugs
Movie • 1946
Shemp
Where the Pest Begins
Movie • 1945
Shemp Howard
The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady
Movie • 1940
Joe - a Pickpocket
One Exciting Week
Movie • 1946
Marvin Lewis
Headin' East
Movie • 1937
Windy Wylie
Three Stooges Comedy Collection
Movie • 2024
Murder Over New York
Movie • 1940
Shorty McCoy alias Rashid the Fakir
Butch Minds the Baby
Movie • 1942
'Squinty' Sweeny
Hit the Road
Movie • 1941
Dingbat
Meet the Chump
Movie • 1941
Stinky Fink
The Leather Pushers
Movie • 1940
Sailor McNeill
Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga
Movie • 1941
Gabby
Too Many Blondes
Movie • 1941
Hotel Manager Ambrose Tripp
Three of a Kind
Movie • 1944
Shemp Howard
Crazy Knights
Movie • 1944
Shemp
Trouble Chasers
Movie • 1945
Shemp Howard
Moonlight and Cactus
Movie • 1944
Punchy Carter
Private Buckaroo
Movie • 1942
Sgt. 'Muggsy' Shavel
Strange Affair
Movie • 1944
Laundry Truck Driver
Absorbing Junior
Movie • 1936
Henry, the Husband
Three Stooges: Greatest Routines
Movie • 1964
Shemp
Give Us Wings
Movie • 1940
Buzz Berger
Keep 'Em Slugging
Movie • 1943
Binky
Close Relations
Movie • 1933
One of the Moles
Paul Revere, Jr.
Movie • 1933
Attendant
Howd' Ya Like That?
Movie • 1934
Sailor
I Scream
Movie • 1934
Moran's Henchman
Pugs and Kisses
Movie • 1934
Dopey Traynor
Mushrooms
Movie • 1934
Thorndike
Pure Feud
Movie • 1934
Clem McCarthy
Rambling 'Round Radio Row #9
Movie • 1934
Songwriters' Representative
Very Close Veins
Movie • 1934
Sourdough
Columbia Laff Hour
Movie • 1956
Shemp
For the Love of Pete
Movie • 1936
Knobby Walsh
Here's Howe
Movie • 1936
Knobby Walsh
Kick Me Again
Movie • 1937
Knobby Walsh
Punch and Beauty
Movie • 1936
Knobby Walsh
Serves You Right
Movie • 1935
Johnny Spivens
So You Won't T-T-T-Talk
Movie • 1934
Henry
Taking the Count
Movie • 1937
Knobby Walsh
The Blonde Bomber
Movie • 1936
Knobby Walsh
The Choke's on You
Movie • 1936
Knobby Walsh
Why Pay Rent?
Movie • 1935
Henry
Shemp Cocktail: A Toast to the Original Stooge
Movie • 2008
Self (archive footage)
Mississippi Gambler
Movie • 1942
Milton Davis - Brooklyn Cab Driver
Tight Shoes
Movie • 1941
Okay
The Three Stooges: Five of Their Greatest Shorts
Movie • 2009
The Gentleman Misbehaves
Movie • 1946
Marty
The Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Edition: Tales from the Three Stooges Vol. 1
Movie • 1947
Himself
Strictly in the Groove
Movie • 1942
Pops
The Three Stooges: Live and Hilarious
Movie • 1941
Shemp
The Flame of New Orleans
Movie • 1941
Oyster Bed Cafe Waiter (uncredited)
Classic Comedy Teams
Movie • 1986
Shemp (archive footage)
The Colgate Comedy Hour
TV • 1950
Self
The Three Stooges: Hey Moe! Hey Dad!
TV • 2015
Shemp