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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.
Known For
Hellzapoppin'
(1941)
Louie
Another Thin Man
(1939)
Wacky (uncredited)
Buck Privates
(1941)
Chef
The Invisible Woman
(1940)
Frankie
Africa Screams
(1949)
Gunner
Arabian Nights
(1942)
Sinbad
Hold That Ghost
(1941)
Soda Jerk
Full Filmography
Acting
Spring Fever
(1919)
Soup to Nuts
(1930)
Fireman
Here Comes Flossie!
(1933)
Ezry
In the Dough
(1933)
Bugs
Gobs of Fun
(1933)
Club patron
Salt Water Daffy
(1933)
Wilbur the Kleptomaniac
Paul Revere, Jr.
(1933)
Attendant
Close Relations
(1933)
One of the Moles
Rambling 'Round Radio Row #9
(1934)
Songwriters' Representative
Pugs and Kisses
(1934)
Dopey Traynor
Mushrooms
(1934)
Thorndike
I Scream
(1934)
Moran's Henchman
Daredevil O'Dare
(1934)
Butch
Smoked Hams
(1934)
Henry Howard
Very Close Veins
(1934)
Sourdough
Corn on the Cop
(1934)
Reginald / Reggie
The Knife of the Party
(1934)
Shemp Howard
The Wrong, Wrong Trail
(1934)
Piano Mover
Art Trouble
(1934)
Short Painter
Dizzy & Daffy
(1934)
Lefty Howard
A Peach of a Pair
(1934)
Butler
So You Won't T-T-T-Talk
(1934)
Henry
Everybody Likes Music
(1934)
Shemp Howard
Pure Feud
(1934)
Clem McCarthy
Howd' Ya Like That?
(1934)
Sailor
Henry the Ache
(1934)
Artie - One of King Henry's Lackeys
My Mummy's Arms
(1934)
Kenneth
Convention Girl
(1935)
Dan Higgins
Serves You Right
(1935)
Johnny Spivens
His First Flame
(1935)
Smokey Moe
Why Pay Rent?
(1935)
Henry
On the Wagon
(1935)
Henry
The Officer's Mess
(1935)
Gus Doakes
The Blonde Bomber
(1936)
Knobby Walsh
For the Love of Pete
(1936)
Knobby Walsh
Punch and Beauty
(1936)
Knobby Walsh
The Choke's on You
(1936)
Knobby Walsh
Absorbing Junior
(1936)
Henry, the Husband
Here's Howe
(1936)
Knobby Walsh
While the Cat's Away
(1936)
Henry
Headin' East
(1937)
Windy Wylie
Kick Me Again
(1937)
Knobby Walsh
Taking the Count
(1937)
Knobby Walsh
Hollywood Round-Up
(1937)
Oscar Bush
Home on the Rage
(1938)
Happy
Not Guilty Enough
(1938)
Brother-in-Law
Glove Slingers
(1939)
Pat Patrick
Another Thin Man
(1939)
Wacky (uncredited)
Millionaires in Prison
(1940)
Professor
Money Squawks
(1940)
Shemp
Pleased to Mitt You
(1940)
Pat Patrick
The Invisible Woman
(1940)
Frankie
The Bank Dick
(1940)
Joe Guelpe
Give Us Wings
(1940)
Buzz Berger
The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady
(1940)
Joe - a Pickpocket
Murder Over New York
(1940)
Shorty McCoy alias Rashid the Fakir
Boobs in the Woods
(1940)
Gus
The Leather Pushers
(1940)
Sailor McNeill
Cracked Nuts
(1941)
Eddie / Ivan
Tight Shoes
(1941)
Okay
San Antonio Rose
(1941)
Benny the Bounce
Hellzapoppin'
(1941)
Louie
Mr. Dynamite
(1941)
'Abdullah'
Too Many Blondes
(1941)
Hotel Manager Ambrose Tripp
Meet the Chump
(1941)
Stinky Fink
Hit the Road
(1941)
Dingbat
Buck Privates
(1941)
Chef
Hold That Ghost
(1941)
Soda Jerk
Road Show
(1941)
Moe Parker (uncredited)
In the Navy
(1941)
Dizzy
Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga
(1941)
Gabby
The Three Stooges: Live and Hilarious
(1941)
Shemp
Private Buckaroo
(1942)
Sgt. 'Muggsy' Shavel
Butch Minds the Baby
(1942)
'Squinty' Sweeny
The Strange Case of Doctor Rx
(1942)
Det. Sgt. Sweeney
Pittsburgh
(1942)
Shorty (The Tailor)
Strictly in the Groove
(1942)
Pops
Arabian Nights
(1942)
Sinbad
Mississippi Gambler
(1942)
Milton Davis - Brooklyn Cab Driver
How's About It
(1943)
Alf
It Ain't Hay
(1943)
Umbrella Sam
Crazy House
(1943)
Mumbo
Keep 'Em Slugging
(1943)
Binky
Three of a Kind
(1944)
Shemp Howard
Crazy Knights
(1944)
Shemp
Strange Affair
(1944)
Laundry Truck Driver
Pick a Peck of Plumbers
(1944)
Elmer Peabody
Open Season for Saps
(1944)
Woodcock Q. Strinker
Moonlight and Cactus
(1944)
Punchy Carter
Off Again, On Again
(1945)
Woodcock Q. Strinker
Where the Pest Begins
(1945)
Shemp Howard
Trouble Chasers
(1945)
Shemp Howard
A Hit with a Miss
(1945)
Rameses - Prizefighter
One Exciting Week
(1946)
Marvin Lewis
Mr. Noisy
(1946)
Noisy
Society Mugs
(1946)
Shemp
Jiggers, My Wife
(1946)
Woodcock 'Woody' J. Strinker
The Gentleman Misbehaves
(1946)
Marty
Blondie Knows Best
(1946)
Jim Gray
Dangerous Business
(1946)
Monk
All Gummed Up
(1947)
Shemp
Out West
(1947)
Shemp
Fright Night
(1947)
Shemp
Brideless Groom
(1947)
Shemp
Sing a Song of Six Pants
(1947)
Shemp
Hold That Lion!
(1947)
Shemp
Bride and Gloom
(1947)
Shemp
The Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Edition: Tales from the Three Stooges Vol. 1
(1947)
Himself
I'm a Monkey's Uncle
(1948)
Shemp
The Hot Scots
(1948)
Shemp
Crime on Their Hands
(1948)
Shemp
Heavenly Daze
(1948)
Shemp
Mummy's Dummies
(1948)
Shemp
Fiddlers Three
(1948)
Shemp
Squareheads of the Round Table
(1948)
Shemp
Pardon My Clutch
(1948)
Shemp
Shivering Sherlocks
(1948)
Shemp
Jerks of All Trades
(1949)
Shemp
Who Done It?
(1949)
Shemp
Dunked in the Deep
(1949)
Shemp
Fuelin' Around
(1949)
Shemp
Vagabond Loafers
(1949)
Shemp
Hokus Pokus
(1949)
Shemp
Malice in the Palace
(1949)
Shemp
Africa Screams
(1949)
Gunner
The Ghost Talks
(1949)
Shemp
A Snitch in Time
(1950)
Shemp
Three Hams on Rye
(1950)
Shemp
Studio Stoops
(1950)
Shemp
Slaphappy Sleuths
(1950)
Shemp
Love at First Bite
(1950)
Shemp
Dopey Dicks
(1950)
Shemp
Self Made Maids
(1950)
Shemp / Shempetta
Punchy Cowpunchers
(1950)
Shemp
Hugs and Mugs
(1950)
Shemp
Gold Raiders
(1951)
Shemp
The Tooth Will Out
(1951)
Shemp
Pest Man Wins
(1951)
Shemp
Three Arabian Nuts
(1951)
Shemp
Baby Sitters Jitters
(1951)
Shemp
Don't Throw That Knife
(1951)
Shemp
Merry Mavericks
(1951)
Shemp
Scrambled Brains
(1951)
Shemp
Hula-La-La
(1951)
Shemp
Cuckoo on a Choo Choo
(1952)
Shemp
Three Dark Horses
(1952)
Shemp
He Cooked His Goose
(1952)
Shemp
Listen Judge
(1952)
Shemp
Corny Casanovas
(1952)
Shemp
A Missed Fortune
(1952)
Shemp
Gents in a Jam
(1952)
Shemp
Rip, Sew and Stitch
(1953)
Shemp
Bubble Trouble
(1953)
Shemp
Spooks!
(1953)
Shemp
Goof on the Roof
(1953)
Shemp
Up in Daisy's Penthouse
(1953)
Shemp / Shemp Howard Sr.
Booty And The Beast
(1953)
Shemp
Loose Loot
(1953)
Shemp
Pardon My Backfire
(1953)
Shemp
Tricky Dicks
(1953)
Shemp
Shot in the Frontier
(1954)
Shemp
Income Tax Sappy
(1954)
Shemp
Musty Musketeers
(1954)
Shemp
Pals and Gals
(1954)
Shemp
Knutzy Knights
(1954)
Shemp
Scotched in Scotland
(1954)
Shemp
Blunder Boys
(1955)
Various Days
Fling in the Ring
(1955)
Shemp
Hot Ice
(1955)
Shemp
Gypped in the Penthouse
(1955)
Shemp
Wham-Bam-Slam!
(1955)
Shemp
Of Cash and Hash
(1955)
Shemp
Stone Age Romeos
(1955)
Shemp
Bedlam in Paradise
(1955)
Shemp
Scheming Schemers
(1956)
Shemp (archive footage)
Columbia Laff Hour
(1956)
Shemp
Hot Stuff
(1956)
Shemp (archive footage)
Creeps
(1956)
Shemp / Shemp's son
Flagpole Jitters
(1956)
Shemp
Rumpus in the Harem
(1956)
Shemp (archive footage)
Husbands Beware
(1956)
Prof. Shemp Howard
Commotion On The Ocean
(1956)
Shemp (archive footage)
For Crimin' Out Loud
(1956)
Shemp
Triple Crossed
(1959)
Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
Three Stooges: Greatest Routines
(1964)
Shemp
The Lost Stooges
(1990)
Himself
The Three Stooges Greatest Hits!
(1997)
Self / Shemp (archive footage)
The Three Stooges - Simply Hilarious
(2000)
Shemp
The Three Stooges Story
(2001)
Shemp
The Three Stooges: Kings Of Laughter
(2001)
Shemp
Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special
(2003)
Shemp (archive footage)
Shemp Cocktail: A Toast to the Original Stooge
(2008)
Himself (archive footage)
The Three Stooges: Five of Their Greatest Shorts
(2009)
The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 6: 1949-1951
(2009)
The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 7: 1952-1954
(2009)
The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 8: 1955-1959
(2010)
The Three Stooges in 3D
(2012)
Shemp
Stooge O-Rama: The Men Behind the Mayhem - And Even More Mayhem!
(2023)
Three Stooges Comedy Collection
(2024)