Shemp Howard
Known for Acting · 202 credits
- Born
- 1895-03-11
- Died
- 1955-11-22
- Place of birth
- Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
- Also known as
- Samuel Horwitz · Shemp · Shemp Howard and His Stooges · The Three Stooges · Shmuel Horwitz
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.
Known For
TV Shows (4)
Movies (198)
Knutzy Knights
1954
as Shemp
Slaphappy Sleuths
1950
as Shemp
Husbands Beware
1956
as Prof. Shemp Howard
Spooks!
1953
as Shemp
Mississippi Gambler
1942
as Milton Davis - Brooklyn Cab Driver
Out West
1947
as Shemp
Wham-Bam-Slam!
1955
as Shemp
Fright Night
1947
as Shemp
Musty Musketeers
1954
as Shemp
Society Mugs
1946
as Shemp
Tricky Dicks
1953
as Shemp
Bubble Trouble
1953
as Shemp
Trouble Chasers
1945
as Shemp Howard
Buck Privates
1941
as Chef
Stone Age Romeos
1955
as Shemp
I Scream
1934
as Moran's Henchman
Hokus Pokus
1949
as Shemp
Hold That Ghost
1941
as Soda Jerk
Don't Throw That Knife
1951
as Shemp
Hot Ice
1955
as Shemp
Brideless Groom
1947
as Shemp
Another Thin Man
1939
as Wacky (uncredited)
Bedlam in Paradise
1955
as Shemp
Goof on the Roof
1953
as Shemp
Arabian Nights
1942
as Sinbad
The Ghost Talks
1949
as Shemp
Pardon My Backfire
1953
as Shemp
Dunked in the Deep
1949
as Shemp
Rip, Sew and Stitch
1953
as Shemp
Where the Pest Begins
1945
as Shemp Howard
The Invisible Woman
1940
as Frankie
Dopey Dicks
1950
as Shemp
I'm a Monkey's Uncle
1948
as Shemp
Rumpus in the Harem
1956
as Shemp (archive footage)
Baby Sitters Jitters
1951
as Shemp
He Cooked His Goose
1952
as Shemp
The Flame of New Orleans
1941
as Oyster Bed Cafe Waiter (uncredited)
Too Many Blondes
1941
as Hotel Manager Ambrose Tripp
The Hot Scots
1948
as Shemp
A Snitch in Time
1950
as Shemp
Merry Mavericks
1951
as Shemp
Fling in the Ring
1955
as Shemp
In the Dough
1933
as Bugs
Gents in a Jam
1952
as Shemp
The Tooth Will Out
1951
as Shemp
Hellzapoppin'
1941
as Louie
Not Guilty Enough
1938
as Brother-in-Law
Gold Raiders
1951
as Shemp
Three Arabian Nuts
1951
as Shemp
Self Made Maids
1950
as Shemp / Shempetta
Pardon My Clutch
1948
as Shemp
The Bank Dick
1940
as Joe Guelpe
Income Tax Sappy
1954
as Shemp
A Missed Fortune
1952
as Shemp
Bride and Gloom
1947
as Shemp
Open Season for Saps
1944
as Woodcock Q. Strinker
Hugs and Mugs
1950
as Shemp
Henry the Ache
1934
as Artie - One of King Henry's Lackeys
Loose Loot
1953
as Shemp
Give Us Wings
1940
as Buzz Berger
The Blonde Bomber
1936
as Knobby Walsh
Everybody Likes Music
1934
as Shemp Howard
In the Navy
1941
as Dizzy
Three of a Kind
1944
as Shemp Howard
Classic Comedy Teams
1986
as Shemp (archive footage)
Blondie Knows Best
1946
as Jim Gray
Pugs and Kisses
1934
as Dopey Traynor
Africa Screams
1949
as Gunner
Booty and the Beast
1953
as Shemp
Pittsburgh
1942
as Shorty (The Tailor)
Boobs in the Woods
1940
as Gus
Paul Revere, Jr.
1933
as Attendant
Studio Stoops
1950
as Shemp
Creeps
1956
as Shemp / Shemp's son
Meet the Chump
1941
as Stinky Fink
Millionaires in Prison
1940
as Professor
Punchy Cowpunchers
1950
as Shemp
It Ain't Hay
1943
as Umbrella Sam
Of Cash and Hash
1955
as Shemp
Squareheads of the Round Table
1948
as Shemp
Crazy House
1943
as Mumbo
Tight Shoes
1941
as Okay
Butch Minds the Baby
1942
as 'Squinty' Sweeny
Cuckoo on a Choo Choo
1952
as Shemp
Pals and Gals
1954
as Shemp
Scotched in Scotland
1954
as Shemp
Fuelin' Around
1949
as Shemp
The Three Stooges - Simply Hilarious
2000
as Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
Malice in the Palace
1949
as Shemp
Private Buckaroo
1942
as Sgt. 'Muggsy' Shavel
The Strange Case of Doctor Rx
1942
as Det. Sgt. Sweeney
Jiggers, My Wife
1946
as Woodcock 'Woody' J. Strinker
San Antonio Rose
1941
as Benny the Bounce
One Exciting Week
1946
as Marvin Lewis
Road Show
1941
as Moe Parker (uncredited)
Spring Fever
1919
Three Stooges Comedy Collection
2024
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Lost Stooges
1990
as (archive footage)
The Knife of the Party
1934
as Shemp Howard
Soup to Nuts
1930
as Fireman
All Gummed Up
1947
as Shemp
The Gentleman Misbehaves
1946
as Marty
Moonlight and Cactus
1944
as Punchy Carter
Headin' East
1937
as Windy Wylie
Murder Over New York
1940
as Shorty McCoy alias Rashid the Fakir
Fiddlers Three
1948
as Shemp
Shivering Sherlocks
1948
as Shemp
Home on the Rage
1938
as Happy
Vagabond Loafers
1949
as Shemp
Triple Crossed
1959
as Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
Scrambled Brains
1951
as Shemp
Up in Daisy's Penthouse
1953
as Shemp / Shemp Howard Sr.
Commotion on the Ocean
1956
as Shemp (archive footage)
Shot in the Frontier
1954
as Shemp
Hold That Lion!
1947
as Shemp
Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga
1941
as Gabby
Who Done It?
1949
as Shemp
Love at First Bite
1950
as Shemp
Mummy's Dummies
1948
as Shemp
Corny Casanovas
1952
as Shemp
About Shemp Howard
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 Ma… With 202 credits spanning from 1919 to 2024, Shemp Howard has appeared in 198 films and 4 TV shows.
Fans searching for Shemp Howard movies, Shemp Howard filmography, or the latest projects starring Shemp Howard can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Shemp Howard Movies
- Knutzy Knights (1954) — as Shemp
- Slaphappy Sleuths (1950) — as Shemp
- Husbands Beware (1956) — as Prof. Shemp Howard
- Spooks! (1953) — as Shemp
- Mississippi Gambler (1942) — as Milton Davis - Brooklyn Cab Driver
Where to Watch Shemp Howard Films
Most Shemp Howard movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Shemp Howard, check our movies catalogue and browse page.