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