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