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.
Acted in 190
2020s
- 2023
Stooge O-Rama: The Men Behind the Mayhem - And Even More Mayhem!
(archive footage) (uncredited)
2010s
- 2015
The Three Stooges: Hey Moe! Hey Dad!
Shemp (archive footage) · 24 episodes
- 2012
The Three Stooges in 3D
Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
2000s
- 2009
The Three Stooges: Five of Their Greatest Shorts
(archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2003
- 2001
The Three Stooges Story
Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Three Stooges: Kings Of Laughter
Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
1980s
- 1986
Classic Comedy Teams
Shemp (archive footage)
1950s
- 1959
Triple Crossed
Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1956
Commotion on the Ocean
Shemp (archive footage)
Scheming Schemers
Shemp (archive footage)
Hot Stuff
Shemp (archive footage)
Rumpus in the Harem
Shemp (archive footage)
For Crimin' Out Loud
Shemp
Flagpole Jitters
Shemp
Creeps
Shemp / Shemp's son
Husbands Beware
Prof. Shemp Howard
Columbia Laff Hour
Shemp
- 1955
Blunder Boys
Various Days
Hot Ice
Shemp
Wham-Bam-Slam!
Shemp
Stone Age Romeos
Shemp
Gypped in the Penthouse
Shemp
Bedlam in Paradise
Shemp
Of Cash and Hash
Shemp
Fling in the Ring
Shemp
- 1954
Scotched in Scotland
Shemp
Shot in the Frontier
Shemp
Knutzy Knights
Shemp
Pals and Gals
Shemp
Musty Musketeers
Shemp
Income Tax Sappy
Shemp
- 1953
Goof on the Roof
Shemp
Bubble Trouble
Shemp
Rip, Sew and Stitch
Shemp
Pardon My Backfire
Shemp
Spooks!
Shemp
Loose Loot
Shemp
Booty and the Beast
Shemp
Up in Daisy's Penthouse
Shemp / Shemp Howard Sr.
- 1952
Cuckoo on a Choo Choo
Shemp
Three Dark Horses
Shemp
Gents in a Jam
Shemp
He Cooked His Goose
Shemp
Listen Judge
Shemp
Corny Casanovas
Shemp
A Missed Fortune
Shemp
- 1951
Pest Man Wins
Shemp
Hula-La-La
Shemp
The Tooth Will Out
Shemp
Gold Raiders
Shemp
Scrambled Brains
Shemp
Don't Throw That Knife
Shemp
Baby Sitters Jitters
Shemp
Three Arabian Nuts
Shemp
- 1950
A Snitch in Time
Shemp
Slaphappy Sleuths
Shemp
Studio Stoops
Shemp
Three Hams on Rye
Shemp
Self Made Maids
Shemp / Shempetta
Love at First Bite
Shemp
Dopey Dicks
Shemp
Hugs and Mugs
Shemp
Punchy Cowpunchers
Shemp
1940s
- 1949
Jerks of All Trades
Shemp
Dunked in the Deep
Shemp
Vagabond Loafers
Shemp
Hokus Pokus
Shemp
Fuelin' Around
Shemp
Who Done It?
Shemp
The Ghost Talks
Shemp
- 1948
Crime on Their Hands
Shemp
Mummy's Dummies
Shemp
I'm a Monkey's Uncle
Shemp
Heavenly Daze
Shemp
The Hot Scots
Shemp
Fiddlers Three
Shemp
Squareheads of the Round Table
Shemp
Pardon My Clutch
Shemp
Shivering Sherlocks
Shemp
- 1947
All Gummed Up
Shemp
Sing a Song of Six Pants
Shemp
Brideless Groom
Shemp
Hold That Lion!
Shemp
Out West
Shemp
Bride and Gloom
Shemp
Fright Night
Shemp
- 1946
Blondie Knows Best
Jim Gray
Society Mugs
Shemp
Dangerous Business
Monk
One Exciting Week
Marvin Lewis
Jiggers, My Wife
Woodcock 'Woody' J. Strinker
Mr. Noisy
Noisy
The Gentleman Misbehaves
Marty
- 1945
A Hit with a Miss
Rameses - Prizefighter
Where the Pest Begins
Shemp Howard
Off Again, On Again
Woodcock Q. Strinker
- 1944
Crazy Knights
Shemp
Open Season for Saps
Woodcock Q. Strinker
Strange Affair
Laundry Truck Driver
Moonlight and Cactus
Punchy Carter
Pick a Peck of Plumbers
Elmer Peabody
Three of a Kind
Shemp Howard
- 1943
Crazy House
Mumbo
Keep 'Em Slugging
Binky
How's About It
Alf
- 1942
Pittsburgh
Shorty (The Tailor)
Strictly in the Groove
Pops
The Strange Case of Doctor Rx
Det. Sgt. Sweeney
Butch Minds the Baby
'Squinty' Sweeny
- 1941
Hellzapoppin'
Louie
The Three Stooges: Live and Hilarious
Shemp
The Flame of New Orleans
Oyster Bed Cafe Waiter (uncredited)
Cracked Nuts
Eddie / Ivan
Hit the Road
Dingbat
San Antonio Rose
Benny the Bounce
Tight Shoes
Okay
In the Navy
Dizzy
Road Show
Moe Parker (uncredited)
Buck Privates
Chef
Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga
Gabby
- 1940
The Invisible Woman
Frankie
Give Us Wings
Buzz Berger
Murder Over New York
Shorty McCoy alias Rashid the Fakir
The Bank Dick
Joe Guelpe
The Leather Pushers
Sailor McNeill
Pleased to Mitt You
Pat Patrick
Millionaires in Prison
Professor
Boobs in the Woods
Gus
The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady
Joe - a Pickpocket
Money Squawks
Shemp
1930s
- 1939
Glove Slingers
Pat Patrick
Another Thin Man
Wacky (uncredited)
- 1938
Home on the Rage
Happy
- 1937
Headin' East
Windy Wylie
Hollywood Round-Up
Oscar Bush
Taking the Count
Knobby Walsh
Kick Me Again
Knobby Walsh
- 1936
The Blonde Bomber
Knobby Walsh
The Choke's on You
Knobby Walsh
Punch and Beauty
Knobby Walsh
Here's Howe
Knobby Walsh
Absorbing Junior
Henry, the Husband
For the Love of Pete
Knobby Walsh
While the Cat's Away
Henry
- 1935
The Officer's Mess
Gus Doakes
Convention Girl
Dan Higgins
On the Wagon
Henry
Serves You Right
Johnny Spivens
Why Pay Rent?
Henry
His First Flame
Smokey Moe
- 1934
A Peach of a Pair
Butler
Dizzy & Daffy
Lefty Howard
So You Won't T-T-T-Talk
Henry
Smoked Hams
Henry Howard
Daredevil O'Dare
Butch
My Mummy's Arms
Kenneth
Art Trouble
Short Painter
I Scream
Moran's Henchman
Rambling 'Round Radio Row #9
Songwriters' Representative
Corn on the Cop
Reginald / Reggie
Pure Feud
Clem McCarthy
Very Close Veins
Sourdough
Everybody Likes Music
Shemp Howard
Pugs and Kisses
Dopey Traynor
The Knife of the Party
Shemp Howard
Mushrooms
Thorndike
The Wrong, Wrong Trail
Piano Mover
Henry the Ache
Artie - One of King Henry's Lackeys
Howd' Ya Like That?
Sailor
- 1933
Here Comes Flossie!
Ezry
In the Dough
Bugs
Gobs of Fun
Club patron
Paul Revere, Jr.
Attendant
Close Relations
One of the Moles
Salt Water Daffy
Wilbur the Kleptomaniac
- 1930
Soup to Nuts
Fireman
1910s
- 1919
Spring Fever
Movie
No release date
The Three Stooges + Comedy Gold Standard
Shemp · 1 episode
Appearances3
2000s
- 2008
Shemp Cocktail: A Toast to the Original Stooge
Self (archive footage)
1990s
- 1997
The Three Stooges Greatest Hits!
Self / Shemp (archive footage)
1950s
- 1950
