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Shemp Howard

Shemp Howard

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.

The Three Stooges have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1560 Vine Street.

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

198

Gender

Male

Birthday

1895-03-11

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

Known For

The Bank Dick Blondie Knows Best Africa Screams In the Navy Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special The Invisible Woman Buck Privates Crazy House Hold That Ghost Arabian Nights The Three Stooges Story Pittsburgh Pardon My Backfire Hellzapoppin' Soup to Nuts Mr. Dynamite It Ain't Hay Malice in the Palace Brideless Groom Sing a Song of Six Pants Triple Crossed The Strange Case of Doctor Rx The Three Stooges: Kings Of Laughter San Antonio Rose Everybody Likes Music Not Guilty Enough The Three Stooges Greatest Hits! Stooge O-Rama: The Men Behind the Mayhem - And Even More Mayhem! Bedlam in Paradise Out West All Gummed Up Hold That Lion! Shivering Sherlocks Pardon My Clutch Fright Night Fiddlers Three Squareheads of the Round Table The Hot Scots Heavenly Daze Mummy's Dummies Crime on Their Hands I'm a Monkey's Uncle Fuelin' Around Hokus Pokus Love at First Bite Self Made Maids Vagabond Loafers Dopey Dicks Punchy Cowpunchers Hugs and Mugs Who Done It? The Ghost Talks Dunked in the Deep Three Hams on Rye Slaphappy Sleuths Pest Man Wins The Tooth Will Out Studio Stoops Baby Sitters Jitters Scrambled Brains Hula-La-La Three Arabian Nuts A Snitch in Time Don't Throw That Knife Merry Mavericks A Missed Fortune Gents in a Jam Booty and the Beast Corny Casanovas Up in Daisy's Penthouse Loose Loot He Cooked His Goose Listen Judge Three Dark Horses Tricky Dicks Knutzy Knights Musty Musketeers Goof on the Roof Bubble Trouble Cuckoo on a Choo Choo Pals and Gals Shot in the Frontier Scotched in Scotland Income Tax Sappy Spooks! Rip, Sew and Stitch Hot Ice Fling in the Ring Stone Age Romeos Flagpole Jitters Gypped in the Penthouse Wham-Bam-Slam! Of Cash and Hash Husbands Beware Blunder Boys Creeps For Crimin' Out Loud Rumpus in the Harem Commotion on the Ocean Scheming Schemers Road Show The Three Stooges - Simply Hilarious Hot Stuff Henry the Ache Corn on the Cop The Knife of the Party Salt Water Daffy Smoked Hams Dizzy & Daffy His First Flame Spring Fever Here Comes Flossie! Gold Raiders Convention Girl Jerks of All Trades Hollywood Round-Up The Wrong, Wrong Trail How's About It In the Dough Art Trouble A Peach of a Pair While the Cat's Away On the Wagon The Officer's Mess Millionaires in Prison My Mummy's Arms Daredevil O'Dare The Lost Stooges The Three Stooges in 3D Cracked Nuts Gobs of Fun Another Thin Man Dangerous Business Home on the Rage Bride and Gloom Boobs in the Woods Jiggers, My Wife Off Again, On Again Glove Slingers A Hit with a Miss Money Squawks Mr. Noisy Pleased to Mitt You Society Mugs Pick a Peck of Plumbers Open Season for Saps Where the Pest Begins The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady One Exciting Week Headin' East Three Stooges Comedy Collection Murder Over New York Butch Minds the Baby Hit the Road Meet the Chump Too Many Blondes The Leather Pushers Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga Trouble Chasers Crazy Knights Three of a Kind Moonlight and Cactus Private Buckaroo Strange Affair Absorbing Junior Three Stooges: Greatest Routines Give Us Wings Keep 'Em Slugging I Scream Howd' Ya Like That? Close Relations Paul Revere, Jr. Rambling 'Round Radio Row #9 Very Close Veins Pugs and Kisses Mushrooms Pure Feud Columbia Laff Hour Here's Howe Punch and Beauty Serves You Right For the Love of Pete Kick Me Again So You Won't T-T-T-Talk Taking the Count The Choke's on You The Blonde Bomber Why Pay Rent? Shemp Cocktail: A Toast to the Original Stooge Mississippi Gambler Tight Shoes The Three Stooges: Five of Their Greatest Shorts The Gentleman Misbehaves The Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Edition: Tales from the Three Stooges Vol. 1 Strictly in the Groove The Three Stooges: Live and Hilarious The Flame of New Orleans Classic Comedy Teams
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