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.
Movies
The Bank Dick
Joe Guelpe
Blondie Knows Best
Jim Gray
Africa Screams
Gunner
In the Navy
Dizzy
Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special
Shemp (archive footage)
The Invisible Woman
Frankie
Buck Privates
Chef
Crazy House
Mumbo
Hold That Ghost
Soda Jerk
Arabian Nights
Sinbad
The Three Stooges Story
Shemp
Pittsburgh
Shorty (The Tailor)
Pardon My Backfire
Shemp
Hellzapoppin'
Louie
Soup to Nuts
Fireman
Mr. Dynamite
'Abdullah'
It Ain't Hay
Umbrella Sam
Malice in the Palace
Shemp
Sing a Song of Six Pants
Shemp
Brideless Groom
Shemp
Triple Crossed
Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Strange Case of Doctor Rx
Det. Sgt. Sweeney
The Three Stooges: Kings Of Laughter
Shemp
San Antonio Rose
Benny the Bounce
Everybody Likes Music
Shemp Howard
Not Guilty Enough
Brother-in-Law
The Three Stooges Greatest Hits!
Self / Shemp (archive footage)
Stooge O-Rama: The Men Behind the Mayhem - And Even More Mayhem!
Bedlam in Paradise
Shemp
Out West
Shemp
Hold That Lion!
Shemp
Fright Night
Shemp
All Gummed Up
Shemp
Shivering Sherlocks
Shemp
Pardon My Clutch
Shemp
Squareheads of the Round Table
Shemp
Fiddlers Three
Shemp
The Hot Scots
Shemp
Heavenly Daze
Shemp
I'm a Monkey's Uncle
Shemp
Mummy's Dummies
Shemp
Crime on Their Hands
Shemp
The Ghost Talks
Shemp
Who Done It?
Shemp
Hokus Pokus
Shemp
Fuelin' Around
Shemp
Vagabond Loafers
Shemp
Dunked in the Deep
Shemp
Punchy Cowpunchers
Shemp
Hugs and Mugs
Shemp
Dopey Dicks
Shemp
Love at First Bite
Shemp
Self Made Maids
Shemp / Shempetta
Three Hams on Rye
Shemp
Studio Stoops
Shemp
Slaphappy Sleuths
Shemp
A Snitch in Time
Shemp
Three Arabian Nuts
Shemp
Baby Sitters Jitters
Shemp
Don't Throw That Knife
Shemp
Scrambled Brains
Shemp
Merry Mavericks
Shemp
The Tooth Will Out
Shemp
Hula-La-La
Shemp
Pest Man Wins
Shemp
A Missed Fortune
Shemp
Booty and the Beast
Shemp
Listen Judge
Shemp
Corny Casanovas
Shemp
He Cooked His Goose
Shemp
Gents in a Jam
Shemp
Three Dark Horses
Shemp
Up in Daisy's Penthouse
Shemp / Shemp Howard Sr.
Loose Loot
Shemp
Tricky Dicks
Shemp
Cuckoo on a Choo Choo
Shemp
Spooks!
Shemp
Goof on the Roof
Shemp
Income Tax Sappy
Shemp
Musty Musketeers
Shemp
Pals and Gals
Shemp
Knutzy Knights
Shemp
Shot in the Frontier
Shemp
Scotched in Scotland
Shemp
Rip, Sew and Stitch
Shemp
Bubble Trouble
Shemp
Fling in the Ring
Shemp
Of Cash and Hash
Shemp
Gypped in the Penthouse
Shemp
Stone Age Romeos
Shemp
Wham-Bam-Slam!
Shemp
Hot Ice
Shemp
Blunder Boys
Various Days
Husbands Beware
Prof. Shemp Howard
Creeps
Shemp / Shemp's son
Flagpole Jitters
Shemp
For Crimin' Out Loud
Shemp
Rumpus in the Harem
Shemp (archive footage)
Scheming Schemers
Shemp (archive footage)
Commotion on the Ocean
Shemp (archive footage)
Road Show
Moe Parker (uncredited)
The Three Stooges - Simply Hilarious
Shemp
Hot Stuff
Shemp (archive footage)
Corn on the Cop
Reginald / Reggie
Henry the Ache
Artie - One of King Henry's Lackeys
The Knife of the Party
Shemp Howard
Salt Water Daffy
Wilbur the Kleptomaniac
Smoked Hams
Henry Howard
Dizzy & Daffy
Lefty Howard
His First Flame
Smokey Moe
Spring Fever
The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 7: 1952-1954
The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 8: 1955-1959
The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 6: 1949-1951
Here Comes Flossie!
Ezry
Gold Raiders
Shemp
Convention Girl
Dan Higgins
Jerks of All Trades
Shemp
Hollywood Round-Up
Oscar Bush
The Wrong, Wrong Trail
Piano Mover
How's About It
Alf
In the Dough
Bugs
Art Trouble
Short Painter
A Peach of a Pair
Butler
The Officer's Mess
Gus Doakes
While the Cat's Away
Henry
On the Wagon
Henry
Millionaires in Prison
Professor
My Mummy's Arms
Kenneth
Daredevil O'Dare
Butch
The Lost Stooges
Himself
The Three Stooges in 3D
Shemp
Cracked Nuts
Eddie / Ivan
Gobs of Fun
Club patron
Another Thin Man
Wacky (uncredited)
Dangerous Business
Monk
Boobs in the Woods
Gus
Bride and Gloom
Shemp
Glove Slingers
Pat Patrick
A Hit with a Miss
Rameses - Prizefighter
Home on the Rage
Happy
Jiggers, My Wife
Woodcock 'Woody' J. Strinker
Money Squawks
Shemp
Mr. Noisy
Noisy
Off Again, On Again
Woodcock Q. Strinker
Open Season for Saps
Woodcock Q. Strinker
Pick a Peck of Plumbers
Elmer Peabody
Pleased to Mitt You
Pat Patrick
Society Mugs
Shemp
Where the Pest Begins
Shemp Howard
The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady
Joe - a Pickpocket
One Exciting Week
Marvin Lewis
Headin' East
Windy Wylie
Three Stooges Comedy Collection
Murder Over New York
Shorty McCoy alias Rashid the Fakir
Butch Minds the Baby
'Squinty' Sweeny
Hit the Road
Dingbat
Meet the Chump
Stinky Fink
The Leather Pushers
Sailor McNeill
Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga
Gabby
Too Many Blondes
Hotel Manager Ambrose Tripp
Three of a Kind
Shemp Howard
Crazy Knights
Shemp
Trouble Chasers
Shemp Howard
Moonlight and Cactus
Punchy Carter
Private Buckaroo
Sgt. 'Muggsy' Shavel
Strange Affair
Laundry Truck Driver
Absorbing Junior
Henry, the Husband
Three Stooges: Greatest Routines
Shemp
Give Us Wings
Buzz Berger
Keep 'Em Slugging
Binky
Close Relations
One of the Moles
Paul Revere, Jr.
Attendant
Howd' Ya Like That?
Sailor
I Scream
Moran's Henchman
Pugs and Kisses
Dopey Traynor
Mushrooms
Thorndike
Pure Feud
Clem McCarthy
Rambling 'Round Radio Row #9
Songwriters' Representative
Very Close Veins
Sourdough
Columbia Laff Hour
Shemp
For the Love of Pete
Knobby Walsh
Here's Howe
Knobby Walsh
Kick Me Again
Knobby Walsh
Punch and Beauty
Knobby Walsh
Serves You Right
Johnny Spivens
So You Won't T-T-T-Talk
Henry
Taking the Count
Knobby Walsh
The Blonde Bomber
Knobby Walsh
The Choke's on You
Knobby Walsh
Why Pay Rent?
Henry
Shemp Cocktail: A Toast to the Original Stooge
Self (archive footage)
Mississippi Gambler
Milton Davis - Brooklyn Cab Driver
Tight Shoes
Okay
The Three Stooges: Five of Their Greatest Shorts
The Gentleman Misbehaves
Marty
The Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Edition: Tales from the Three Stooges Vol. 1
Himself
Strictly in the Groove
Pops
The Three Stooges: Live and Hilarious
Shemp
Shows
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self
The Three Stooges: Hey Moe! Hey Dad!
Shemp
The Three Stooges
Shemp