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)
Where the Pest Begins
1945
as Shemp Howard
Buck Privates
1941
as Chef
Hellzapoppin'
1941
as Louie
Dangerous Business
1946
as Monk
Crazy House
1943
as Mumbo
Jiggers, My Wife
1946
as Woodcock 'Woody' J. Strinker
Road Show
1941
as Moe Parker (uncredited)
Pure Feud
1934
as Clem McCarthy
Cracked Nuts
1941
as Eddie / Ivan
Musty Musketeers
1954
as Shemp
Arabian Nights
1942
as Sinbad
Tight Shoes
1941
as Okay
Another Thin Man
1939
as Wacky (uncredited)
Murder Over New York
1940
as Shorty McCoy alias Rashid the Fakir
Hold That Ghost
1941
as Soda Jerk
Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga
1941
as Gabby
The Flame of New Orleans
1941
as Oyster Bed Cafe Waiter (uncredited)
Out West
1947
as Shemp
Africa Screams
1949
as Gunner
The Invisible Woman
1940
as Frankie
Spooks!
1953
as Shemp
Butch Minds the Baby
1942
as 'Squinty' Sweeny
Hot Ice
1955
as Shemp
Classic Comedy Teams
1986
as Shemp (archive footage)
In the Navy
1941
as Dizzy
One Exciting Week
1946
as Marvin Lewis
Keep 'Em Slugging
1943
as Binky
Open Season for Saps
1944
as Woodcock Q. Strinker
The Strange Case of Doctor Rx
1942
as Det. Sgt. Sweeney
Headin' East
1937
as Windy Wylie
Fuelin' Around
1949
as Shemp
Soup to Nuts
1930
as Fireman
Loose Loot
1953
as Shemp
Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special
2003
as Shemp (archive footage)
It Ain't Hay
1943
as Umbrella Sam
The Bank Dick
1940
as Joe Guelpe
Not Guilty Enough
1938
as Brother-in-Law
Brideless Groom
1947
as Shemp
Strange Affair
1944
as Laundry Truck Driver
Who Done It?
1949
as Shemp
Private Buckaroo
1942
as Sgt. 'Muggsy' Shavel
Rumpus in the Harem
1956
as Shemp (archive footage)
Fiddlers Three
1948
as Shemp
Three of a Kind
1944
as Shemp Howard
Pittsburgh
1942
as Shorty (The Tailor)
Mr. Dynamite
1941
as 'Abdullah'
Bubble Trouble
1953
as Shemp
Goof on the Roof
1953
as Shemp
Mississippi Gambler
1942
as Milton Davis - Brooklyn Cab Driver
Give Us Wings
1940
as Buzz Berger
The Hot Scots
1948
as Shemp
Hokus Pokus
1949
as Shemp
Three Stooges: Greatest Routines
1964
as Shemp
Blunder Boys
1955
as Various Days
Paul Revere, Jr.
1933
as Attendant
For Crimin' Out Loud
1956
as Shemp
The Three Stooges Greatest Hits!
1997
as Self / Shemp (archive footage)
Trouble Chasers
1945
as Shemp Howard
Scrambled Brains
1951
as Shemp
Millionaires in Prison
1940
as Professor
Too Many Blondes
1941
as Hotel Manager Ambrose Tripp
Tricky Dicks
1953
as Shemp
Merry Mavericks
1951
as Shemp
Husbands Beware
1956
as Prof. Shemp Howard
Close Relations
1933
as One of the Moles
The Gentleman Misbehaves
1946
as Marty
Heavenly Daze
1948
as Shemp
Pick a Peck of Plumbers
1944
as Elmer Peabody
Hollywood Round-Up
1937
as Oscar Bush
Commotion on the Ocean
1956
as Shemp (archive footage)
A Snitch in Time
1950
as Shemp
Hit the Road
1941
as Dingbat
How's About It
1943
as Alf
Punchy Cowpunchers
1950
as Shemp
Stone Age Romeos
1955
as Shemp
Scheming Schemers
1956
as Shemp (archive footage)
Pardon My Backfire
1953
as Shemp
Corny Casanovas
1952
as Shemp
Dopey Dicks
1950
as Shemp
Creeps
1956
as Shemp / Shemp's son
Art Trouble
1934
as Short Painter
Boobs in the Woods
1940
as Gus
Blondie Knows Best
1946
as Jim Gray
Shot in the Frontier
1954
as Shemp
Studio Stoops
1950
as Shemp
The Wrong, Wrong Trail
1934
as Piano Mover
Hula-La-La
1951
as Shemp
Shemp Cocktail: A Toast to the Original Stooge
2008
as Self (archive footage)
Bride and Gloom
1947
as Shemp
Moonlight and Cactus
1944
as Punchy Carter
Meet the Chump
1941
as Stinky Fink
Three Hams on Rye
1950
as Shemp
The Leather Pushers
1940
as Sailor McNeill
Mummy's Dummies
1948
as Shemp
In the Dough
1933
as Bugs
Pest Man Wins
1951
as Shemp
A Peach of a Pair
1934
as Butler
Gobs of Fun
1933
as Club patron
Wham-Bam-Slam!
1955
as Shemp
A Hit with a Miss
1945
as Rameses - Prizefighter
Crime on Their Hands
1948
as Shemp
Crazy Knights
1944
as Shemp
Hot Stuff
1956
as Shemp (archive footage)
Pugs and Kisses
1934
as Dopey Traynor
Bedlam in Paradise
1955
as Shemp
Flagpole Jitters
1956
as Shemp
Punch and Beauty
1936
as Knobby Walsh
Malice in the Palace
1949
as Shemp
Serves You Right
1935
as Johnny Spivens
Three Dark Horses
1952
as Shemp
Home on the Rage
1938
as Happy
Shivering Sherlocks
1948
as Shemp
I'm a Monkey's Uncle
1948
as Shemp
Fling in the Ring
1955
as Shemp
Triple Crossed
1959
as Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
Listen Judge
1952
as Shemp
The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady
1940
as Joe - a Pickpocket
Gypped in the Penthouse
1955
as Shemp
Here Comes Flossie!
1933
as Ezry
Mr. Noisy
1946
as Noisy
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 CineFlixo, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Shemp Howard Movies
- Where the Pest Begins (1945) — as Shemp Howard
- Buck Privates (1941) — as Chef
- Hellzapoppin' (1941) — as Louie
- Dangerous Business (1946) — as Monk
- Crazy House (1943) — as Mumbo
Where to Watch Shemp Howard Films
Most Shemp Howard movies and series are available to stream on CineFlixo 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.