
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
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.

as Louie

as Self
1950

as Shemp Howard
1945

as Louie
1941

as Sinbad
1942

as Chef
1941

as Shemp
1954

as Mumbo
1943

as Frankie
1940

as Shemp
1953

as Shemp
1953

as Shemp
1955

as Gabby
1941

as (archive footage) (uncredited)
2009
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
2024

as (archive footage) (uncredited)
2023

as Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
2012

as (archive footage) (uncredited)
2009

as Self (archive footage)
2008

as Shemp (archive footage)
2003

as Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
2001

as Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
2001
as Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
2000

as Self / Shemp (archive footage)
1997
as (archive footage)
1990

as Shemp (archive footage)
1986
as Shemp
1964

as Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited)
1959

as Shemp (archive footage)
1956

as Shemp (archive footage)
1956

as Shemp (archive footage)
1956

as Shemp (archive footage)
1956

as Shemp
1956

as Shemp
1956

as Shemp / Shemp's son
1956

as Prof. Shemp Howard
1956

as Shemp
1956

as Various Days
1955
as Shemp
1 ep.