Shemp Howard
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Shemp Howard | |
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Born | Samuel Horwitz March 11, 1895 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
Died | November 22, 1955 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged 60)
Resting place | Home of Peace Cemetery East Los Angeles, California |
Occupations |
|
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 |
Shemp Howard (born Samuel Horwitz; March 11, 1895
He is best known as the third Stooge in the
Early life
Howard was born Samuel Horwitz on March 11, 1895 in
Howard's first name, Shmuel, after his grandfather,[citation needed] was anglicized to Samuel, and his parents and brothers usually called him Sam.[citation needed]
Career
Show business
Shemp's brother Moe Howard started in show business as a youngster, on stage and in films. Moe and Shemp eventually tried their hands as minstrel-show-style "blackface" comedians with an act they called "Howard and Howard – A Study in Black". At the same time, they worked for a rival vaudeville circuit, without makeup.[citation needed]
By 1922, Moe had teamed up with his boyhood friend Ted Healy in a "roughhouse" act. One day Moe spotted his brother Shemp in the audience and yelled at him from the stage. Quick-witted Shemp yelled right back, and walked up onto the stage. From then on he was part of the act, usually known as "Ted Healy and His Stooges". The Howard brothers were the original Stooges; Larry Fine joined them in 1928.[2] On stage, Healy sang and told jokes while his three noisy stooges got in his way, and Healy retaliated with physical and verbal abuse. Shemp played a bumbling fireman in the Stooges' first film, Soup to Nuts (1930), the only film where he played one of Healy's gang.[citation needed]
After a disagreement with Healy in August 1930, Moe, Larry and Shemp left to launch their own act, "Howard, Fine & Howard", and joined the RKO vaudeville circuit. They premiered at Los Angeles's Paramount Theatre on August 28, 1930. In 1931 they added "Three Lost Soles" to the act's name, and took on Jack Walsh as their straight man. Moe, Larry and Shemp continued until July 1932, when Ted Healy approached them to team up again for the Shuberts' Broadway revue "Passing Show of 1932", and they accepted the offer. In spite of their past differences, Moe knew an association with the nationally known Healy would provide opportunities the three comics were not getting on their own.[citation needed]
On August 16, 1932, in a contract dispute, Healy walked out of the Shuberts' revue during rehearsals. Three days later, tired of what he considered Healy's domineering handling of the Stooges' career, Shemp left Healy's act to remain with "Passing Show", which closed in September during roadshow performances and after pan reviews in Detroit and Cincinnati. Shemp regrouped to form his own act and played on the road for a few months. He landed at Brooklyn's
Solo years
Shemp Howard, like many New York City-based performers, found work at Vitaphone. Originally playing bit roles in their Roscoe Arbuckle comedies, showing off his comical appearance, he was given speaking roles and supporting parts almost immediately. He was featured with studio comics Jack Haley, Ben Blue and Gus Shy; then co-starred with Harry Gribbon, Daphne Pollard, and Johnnie Berkes, and finally starred in his own two-reel comedies.[citation needed] The independently produced Convention Girl (1935) featured Shemp in a very rare straight role as a blackmailer and would-be murderer.[citation needed]
Shemp preferred to improvise dialogue and jokes, which became his trademark. In late 1935, Vitaphone was licensed to produce short comedies based on the "Joe Palooka" comic strip. Shemp was cast as "Knobby Walsh", and though only a supporting character, he became the comic focus of the series, with Johnnie Berkes and Lee Weber as his foils. He co-starred in the first seven shorts, released in 1936–1937. Nine of them were produced, the last two done after Shemp's departure from Vitaphone.[citation needed]
Howard unsuccessfully attempted to lead his own group of "stooges" in the
The Three Stooges: 1946–1955
From 1938 to 1940 and again from 1944 to 1946, Howard appeared in Columbia's two-reel comedies, co-starring with Columbia regulars
Shemp agreed to fill in for Curly in Columbia's popular Stooge shorts, knowing that if he refused, Moe and Larry would be out of work.[citation needed]He intended to stay only until Curly recovered, which never happened as Curly's health continued to worsen. Curly died on January 18, 1952, at the age of 48. Shemp agreed to remain with the group permanently.
Shemp's role as the third Stooge was much different from Curly's. His characterization was more relaxed as opposed to Curly's energetic persona. Unlike Curly, who had many distinct mannerisms, Shemp's 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 was a multipurpose effect: he emitted this sound when scared, sleeping (done as a form of snoring), overtly happy, or dazed. It became his trademark sound as the "nyuk nyuk" sound had become Curly's. Because of his established solo career, he was also given opportunities in the films to do some of his own comic routines.[citation needed]
During this period, The Three Stooges ventured into live television appearances, beginning on Tuesday, October 19, 1948, with
Shemp appeared with Moe and Larry in 77 short subjects, four of which were produced posthumously using stock footage. The trio also made the feature film Gold Raiders (1951). Shemp suffered a mild stroke in November 1952, but recovered within weeks. The medical episode had no noticeable effect on his remaining films with the Stooges, many of which were remakes of earlier films that also used recycled footage to reduce costs.[citation needed]
Personal life
In September 1925, Shemp married Gertrude Frank (1905–1982). They had one child, Morton (1927–1972).[citation needed]
Shemp had several phobias, including of airplanes, automobiles, dogs, and water. According to Moe's autobiography, Shemp was involved in a driving accident as a teenager and never obtained a driver's license.[4]
Death
On November 22, 1955, Shemp went out with associates Al Winston and Bobby Silverman to a boxing match, one of Shemp's favorite pastimes,[citation needed] at the Hollywood Legion Stadium. While returning home in a taxi that evening, Shemp died of a massive heart attack, at the age of 60.
Moe's autobiography gives a death date of November 23, 1955, which became the date cited by other accounts. Much of that book was finished posthumously by his daughter and son-in-law, and some details were confused.[further explanation needed] The Los Angeles County Coroner's death certificate states that Shemp Howard died on Tuesday, November 22, 1955, at 11:35 [PM] PST. Howard's obituary appeared in the November 23 afternoon editions of Los Angeles newspapers, citing the death on the night of November 22.[5]
Shemp Howard is interred in a crypt in the Indoor Mausoleum at the
Tributes
The Three Stooges earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1560 Vine Street on August 30, 1983.[6]
The "Fake Shemps" and legacy
Columbia had promised exhibitors eight Three Stooges comedies for 1956, but only four were completed at the time of Shemp Howard's death. To fulfill the contract, producer Jules White filmed four more shorts posthumously by reusing old footage of Howard with new connecting scenes played by a body double, longtime Stooge supporting actor, Joe Palma, who is seen mostly from the back. He came to be known by Stooge fans as the "Fake Shemp", a term which director Sam Raimi later coined in reference to any body double replacing an actor.[citation needed]
The
When it was time to renew the Stooges's contract, Columbia hired comedian Joe Besser to replace Shemp. Columbia discontinued filming new Stooge short subject comedies in December 1957, releasing the last new short in June 1959, but kept the series going into the 1960s by reissuing Shemp's Stooge shorts to theaters. This, as well as a TV release of Stooge shorts, allowed Shemp Howard to remain a popular star for long after he died.[citation needed]
In the television biopic
Filmography (Non-Stooge)
- Features
- Soup to Nuts (1930)
- Convention Girl (1935)
- Hollywood Round-Up (1937)
- Headin' East (1937)
- Behind Prison Gates (1939)
- Another Thin Man (1939)
- The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady (1939)
- The Leather Pushers (1939)
- Give Us Wings (1939)
- The Bank Dick (1939)
- Murder Over New York (1939)
- Millionaires in Prison (1940)
- The Invisible Woman (1940)
- Six Lessons from Madame La Zonga (1941)
- Buck Privates (1941)
- Hold That Ghost (1941)
- Meet the Chump (1941)
- Road Show (1941)
- Mr. Dynamite (1941)
- The Flame of New Orleans (1941)
- Too Many Blondes (1941)
- In the Navy(1941)
- Tight Shoes (1941)
- San Antonio Rose (1941)
- Hit the Road (1941)
- Cracked Nuts (1941)
- Hellzapoppin' (1941)
- Butch Minds the Baby (1942)
- The Strange Case of Doctor Rx (1942)
- Mississippi Gambler (1942)
- Private Buckaroo (1942)
- Strictly in the Groove (1942)
- Arabian Nights (1942)
- How's About It (1942)
- Pittsburgh (1942)
- Keep 'Em Slugging (1943)
- Crazy House (1943)
- Three of a Kind (1943)
- Moonlight and Cactus (1943)
- Strange Affair (1944)
- Crazy Knights (1944)
- Trouble Chasers (1945)
- The Gentleman Misbehaves (1946)
- One Exciting Week (1946)
- Dangerous Business (1946)
- Blondie Knows Best (1946)
- Africa Screams (1949)
- Gold Raiders (1951)
- Two Reelers
- Salt Water Daffy (1933)
- Close Relations (1933)
- Paul Revere Jr. (1933)
- Gobs Of Fun (1933)
- In The Dough (1933)
- Here Comes Flossie! (1934)
- Howd' Ya Like That? (1934)
- Henry The Ache (1934)
- The Wrong, Wrong Trail (1934)
- Mushrooms (1934)
- The Knife Of The Party (1934)
- Everybody Likes Music (1934)
- Pugs and Kisses (1934)
- Very Close Veins (1934)
- Pure Feud (1934)
- Corn On The Cop (1934)
- I Scream (1934)
- Rambling 'Round Radio Row # 7 (Series 2 # 1) (1934)
- Art Trouble (1934)
- My Mummy's Arms (1934)
- Daredevil O'Dare (1934)
- Smoked Hams (1934)
- So You Won't T-T-T-Talk (1934)
- Dizzy & Daffy (1934)
- A Peach Of A Pair, (1934)
- His First Flame (1935)
- Convention Girl (1935)
- Why Pay Rent? (1935)
- Serves You Right (1935)
- On The Wagon (1935)
- The Officer's Mess (1935)
- While The Cat's Away (1936)
- For The Love Of Pete (1936)
- Absorbing Junior (1936)
- Here's Howe (1936)
- Punch And Beauty (1936)
- The Choke's On You (1936)
- The Blonde Bomber (1936)
- Kick Me Again (1937)
- Taking The Count (1937)
- Hollywood Round-Up (1937)
- Headin' East (1937)
- The Leather Pushers (1938)
- Home On The Rage (1938)
- Glove Slingers (1939)
- Money Squawks (1940)
- The Lone Wolf Meets A Lady (1940)
- Boobs In The Woods (1940)
- Pleased To Mitt You (1940)
- Pick A Peck Of Plumbers (1944)
- Open Season For Saps (1944)
- Off Again, On Again (1945)
- Where The Pest Begins (1945)
- A Hit With A Miss (1945)
- Mr. Noisy (1946)
- Jiggers, My Wife (1946)
- Society Mugs (1946)
- Bride And Gloom (1947)
- with The Three Stooges
- Fright Night (1947)
- Out West (1947)
- Hold That Lion! (1947) (His brother Curly Howard in a cameo)
- Brideless Groom (1947)
- Sing a Song of Six Pants (1947)
- All Gummed Up (1947)
- Shivering Sherlocks (1948)
- Pardon My Clutch (1948)
- Squareheads of the Round Table (1948)
- Fiddlers Three (1948)
- The Hot Scots (1948)
- Heavenly Daze (1948)
- I'm a Monkey's Uncle (1948)
- Mummy's Dummies (1948)
- Crime on Their Hands (1948)
- The Ghost Talks! (1949)
- Who Done It? (1949)
- Hokus Pokus (1949)
- Fuelin' Around (1949)
- Malice in the Palace (1949) (brother Curly Howard's second cameo as a Chef filmed but not used)
- Vagabond Loafers (1949)
- Dunked in the Deep (1949)
- Punchy Cowpunchers (1950)
- Hugs and Mugs (1950)
- Dopey Dicks (1950)
- Love at First Bite (1950)
- Self-Made Maids (1950)
- Three Hams on Rye (1950)
- Studio Stoops (1950)
- Slaphappy Sleuths (1950)
- A Snitch in Time (1950)
- Three Arabian Nuts (1951)
- Baby Sitters Jitters (1951)
- Don't Throw That Knife (1951)
- Scrambled Brains (1951)
- Merry Mavericks (1951)
- The Tooth Will Out (1951)
- Hula-La-La (1951)
- Pest Man Wins (1951)
- A Missed Fortune (1952)
- Listen, Judge (1952)
- Corny Casanovas (1952)
- He Cooked His Goose (1952)
- Gents in a Jam (1952)
- Three Dark Horses (1952)
- Cuckoo on a Choo Choo (1952)
- Up in Daisy's Penthouse (1953)
- Booty and the Beast (1953)
- Loose Loot (1953)
- Tricky Dicks (1953)
- Spooks! (1953) (first flat widescreen short)
- Pardon My Backfire (1953)
- Rip, Sew and Stitch (1953)
- Bubble Trouble (1953)
- Goof on the Roof (1953)
- Income Tax Sappy (1954)
- Musty Musketeers (1954)
- Pals and Gals (1954)
- Knutzy Knights (1954)
- Shot in the Frontier (1954)
- Scotched in Scotland (1954)
- Fling in the Ring (1955)
- Of Cash and Hash (1955)
- Gypped in the Penthouse (1955)
- Bedlam in Paradise (1955)
- Stone Age Romeos (1955)
- Wham-Bam-Slam! (1955)
- Hot Ice (1955)
- Blunder Boys (1955)
- Husbands Beware (1956)
- Creeps (1956)
- Flagpole Jitters (1956)
- For Crimin' Out Loud (1956)
- Rumpus in the Harem (1956) (“Fake Shemp”; filmed after his death)
- Hot Stuff (1956) (“Fake Shemp”; filmed after his death)
- Scheming Schemers (1956) (“Fake Shemp”; filmed after his death)
- Commotion on the Ocean (1956) (“Fake Shemp”; filmed after his death)
References
- ^ a b "Shemp's Birth Certificate". Threestooges.net. Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ^ Davidson, Robert. "ThreeStooges.net :: The Three Stooges Journal – Issue No. 155".
- ^ Deezen, Eddie (January 18, 2012). "The Final Years of Curly (of Three Stooges Fame)". Mental Floss. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
- ISBN 978-0-8065-0723-1.
- ^ "Comic Shemp Howard of 3 Stooges Dies. Veteran Actor, 60, Stricken by Heart Attack in Auto". Los Angeles Times. November 24, 1955. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
Shemp Howard, 60, veteran stage and screen comedian and one of 'The Three Stooges,' died Tuesday of a heart attack.
- ^ "The Three Stooges". walkoffame.com. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
- ISBN 0-9715801-0-3.
External links
- Shemp Howard at IMDb
- Shemp Howard at Turner Classic Movies
- Shemp Howard at the Internet Broadway Database