Shemp Howard
Shemp Howard (born Samuel Horwitz; March 11, 1895 – November 22, 1955), was an American comedian and actor. He was called "Shemp" because "Sam" came out that way in his mother's thick Litvak accent.
Shemp Howard | |
|---|---|
Howard in Brideless Groom in 1947 | |
| Born | Samuel Horwitz March 11, 1895 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Died | November 22, 1955 (aged 60) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Home of Peace Cemetery East Los Angeles, California |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1923–1955 |
| Known for | The Three Stooges |
| Spouse |
Gertrude Frank (m. 1925) |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Moe Howard (brother) Curly Howard (brother) Joan Howard Maurer (niece) |
| Website | ThreeStooges.com |
He is best known as the third Stooge in the Three Stooges, a role he played when the act began in the early 1920s (1923–1932), while it was still associated with Ted Healy and known as "Ted Healy and his Stooges"; and again from 1946 until his death in 1955. During the fourteen years between his times with the Stooges, he had a successful solo career as a film comedian, including a series of shorts by himself and with partners. He reluctantly returned to the Stooges as a favor to his brother Moe and friend Larry Fine to replace his brother Curly as the third Stooge after Curly's illness.