Shemp Howard
Known for Acting · 201 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 (3)
Movies (198)
The Invisible Woman
1940
as Frankie
Another Thin Man
1939
as Wacky (uncredited)
Arabian Nights
1942
as Sinbad
Hellzapoppin'
1941
as Louie
Africa Screams
1949
as Gunner
Murder Over New York
1940
as Shorty McCoy alias Rashid the Fakir
The Flame of New Orleans
1941
as Oyster Bed Cafe Waiter (uncredited)
Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special
2003
as Shemp (archive footage)
Buck Privates
1941
as Chef
Brideless Groom
1947
as Shemp
Road Show
1941
as Moe Parker (uncredited)
Mr. Dynamite
1941
as 'Abdullah'
Crazy House
1943
as Mumbo
Pittsburgh
1942
as Shorty (The Tailor)
Tight Shoes
1941
as Okay
Private Buckaroo
1942
as Sgt. 'Muggsy' Shavel
Keep 'Em Slugging
1943
as Binky
Hold That Ghost
1941
as Soda Jerk
Strange Affair
1944
as Laundry Truck Driver
The Bank Dick
1940
as Joe Guelpe
The Three Stooges Greatest Hits!
1997
as Self / Shemp (archive footage)
In the Navy
1941
as Dizzy
Too Many Blondes
1941
as Hotel Manager Ambrose Tripp
Dangerous Business
1946
as Monk
Hokus Pokus
1949
as Shemp
How's About It
1943
as Alf
It Ain't Hay
1943
as Umbrella Sam
Blunder Boys
1955
as Various Days
Close Relations
1933
as One of the Moles
Love at First Bite
1950
as Shemp
Hollywood Round-Up
1937
as Oscar Bush
Soup to Nuts
1930
as Fireman
Millionaires in Prison
1940
as Professor
Merry Mavericks
1951
as Shemp
Crazy Knights
1944
as Shemp
Cracked Nuts
1941
as Eddie / Ivan
One Exciting Week
1946
as Marvin Lewis
Scheming Schemers
1956
as Shemp (archive footage)
Society Mugs
1946
as Shemp
Shemp Cocktail: A Toast to the Original Stooge
2008
as Self (archive footage)
Classic Comedy Teams
1986
as Shemp (archive footage)
The Leather Pushers
1940
as Sailor McNeill
Blondie Knows Best
1946
as Jim Gray
Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga
1941
as Gabby
Columbia Laff Hour
1956
as Shemp
Butch Minds the Baby
1942
as 'Squinty' Sweeny
The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady
1940
as Joe - a Pickpocket
Spooks!
1953
as Shemp
Trouble Chasers
1945
as Shemp Howard
Hold That Lion!
1947
as Shemp
Musty Musketeers
1954
as Shemp
For Crimin' Out Loud
1956
as Shemp
The Strange Case of Doctor Rx
1942
as Det. Sgt. Sweeney
Boobs in the Woods
1940
as Gus
Rumpus in the Harem
1956
as Shemp (archive footage)
Malice in the Palace
1949
as Shemp
Shot in the Frontier
1954
as Shemp
Knutzy Knights
1954
as Shemp
All Gummed Up
1947
as Shemp
San Antonio Rose
1941
as Benny the Bounce
Baby Sitters Jitters
1951
as Shemp
Serves You Right
1935
as Johnny Spivens
Corny Casanovas
1952
as Shemp
Fling in the Ring
1955
as Shemp
Hit the Road
1941
as Dingbat
Fiddlers Three
1948
as Shemp
Strictly in the Groove
1942
as Pops
Not Guilty Enough
1938
as Brother-in-Law
A Snitch in Time
1950
as Shemp
Bubble Trouble
1953
as Shemp
Income Tax Sappy
1954
as Shemp
Pick a Peck of Plumbers
1944
as Elmer Peabody
Sing a Song of Six Pants
1947
as Shemp
Hot Ice
1955
as Shemp
Headin' East
1937
as Windy Wylie
Flagpole Jitters
1956
as Shemp
Fright Night
1947
as Shemp
Three Hams on Rye
1950
as Shemp
Out West
1947
as Shemp
Who Done It?
1949
as Shemp
Commotion on the Ocean
1956
as Shemp (archive footage)
Scrambled Brains
1951
as Shemp
Convention Girl
1935
as Dan Higgins
Heavenly Daze
1948
as Shemp
Shivering Sherlocks
1948
as Shemp
Pugs and Kisses
1934
as Dopey Traynor
Art Trouble
1934
as Short Painter
Pure Feud
1934
as Clem McCarthy
Give Us Wings
1940
as Buzz Berger
My Mummy's Arms
1934
as Kenneth
Triple Crossed
1959
as Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
Glove Slingers
1939
as Pat Patrick
Squareheads of the Round Table
1948
as Shemp
Three Dark Horses
1952
as Shemp
Mississippi Gambler
1942
as Milton Davis - Brooklyn Cab Driver
Dunked in the Deep
1949
as Shemp
Gold Raiders
1951
as Shemp
Self Made Maids
1950
as Shemp / Shempetta
Loose Loot
1953
as Shemp
Fuelin' Around
1949
as Shemp
Salt Water Daffy
1933
as Wilbur the Kleptomaniac
Tricky Dicks
1953
as Shemp
Husbands Beware
1956
as Prof. Shemp Howard
Cuckoo on a Choo Choo
1952
as Shemp
Mummy's Dummies
1948
as Shemp
Creeps
1956
as Shemp / Shemp's son
Three Stooges Comedy Collection
2024
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Gentleman Misbehaves
1946
as Marty
Goof on the Roof
1953
as Shemp
On the Wagon
1935
as Henry
Everybody Likes Music
1934
as Shemp Howard
Pals and Gals
1954
as Shemp
Scotched in Scotland
1954
as Shemp
A Peach of a Pair
1934
as Butler
Mr. Noisy
1946
as Noisy
Punchy Cowpunchers
1950
as Shemp
Three Stooges: Greatest Routines
1964
as Shemp
Open Season for Saps
1944
as Woodcock Q. Strinker
Where the Pest Begins
1945
as Shemp Howard
He Cooked His Goose
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 201 credits spanning from 1919 to 2024, Shemp Howard has appeared in 198 films and 3 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
- The Invisible Woman (1940) — as Frankie
- Another Thin Man (1939) — as Wacky (uncredited)
- Arabian Nights (1942) — as Sinbad
- Hellzapoppin' (1941) — as Louie
- Africa Screams (1949) — as Gunner
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.