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Shemp Howard

Shemp Howard

Birthday: 1895-03-11 | Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 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.

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Known For

Acting

Year
Title

Role

2012
The Three Stooges in 3D

as    Shemp

1956
Hot Stuff

as    Shemp

1954
Musty Musketeers

as    Shemp

1954
Shot in the Frontier

as    Shemp

1953
Bubble Trouble

as    Shemp

1953
Spooks!

as    Shemp

1953
Up in Daisy's Penthouse

as    Shemp / Shemp Howard Sr.

1952
Gents in a Jam

as    Shemp

1951
Gold Raiders

as    Shemp

1950
Punchy Cowpunchers

as    Shemp

1950
Self Made Maids

as    Shemp / Shempetta

1949
Africa Screams

as    Gunner

1947
Brideless Groom

as    Shemp

1947
Sing a Song of Six Pants

as    Shemp

1946
One Exciting Week

as    Marvin Lewis

1944
Crazy Knights

as    Shemp

1944
Three of a Kind

as    Shemp Howard

1943
How's About It

as    Alf

1943
It Ain't Hay

as    Umbrella Sam

1942
The Strange Case of Doctor Rx

as    Det. Sgt. Sweeney

1942
Private Buckaroo

as    Sgt. 'Muggsy' Shavel

1942
Arabian Nights

as    Sinbad

1941
Mr. Dynamite

as    'Abdullah'

1941
San Antonio Rose

as    Benny the Bounce

1941
Hit the Road

as    Dingbat

1941
Too Many Blondes

as    Hotel Manager Ambrose Tripp

1940
Give Us Wings

as    Buzz Berger

1940
The Invisible Woman

as    Frankie

1940
The Bank Dick

as    Joe Guelpe