Shemp The American actor and comedian Howard is best known for playing the third Stooge in the Three Stooges comedy group. He first played this part when Ted Healy was still a part of the act, which was then known as “Ted Healy and his Stooges.” Between 1947 till the time of his death, he was once more linked to the act. In addition to his connection to the Stooges, Howard had a successful film career. He had numerous film appearances, including ‘Art Trouble’, ‘Millionaires in Prison’, ‘The Invisible Woman’, ‘Six Lessons from Madame La Zonga’, ‘The Strange Case of Doctor Rx’, ‘Strictly in the Groove’, and ‘One Exciting Week’, to mention a few. The man referred to as “the ugliest man in movies,” Howard was a master of comedy. Ad-libbed lines or wisecracks, which became a hallmark of the actor’s performances, might be used to liven up the moments. Howard was a huge boxing lover on a personal level. Huntz Hall and he were close pals. His favorite Stooges comedy was the boxing-themed one he performed with The Three Stooges for the very first time.
Early Childhood & Life
Samuel Horwitz, better known as Shemp Howard, was born on March 11, 1895, in Manhattan, New York City, America. He was one of his Jewish parents’ five boys and was raised in Brooklyn. His parents were Jennie and Solomon Horwitz. Moe and Jerome were his two younger siblings, and Irving and Benjamin were his two older brothers.
Shemp Howard’s Career
At first, Shemp Howard and his brother Moe performed as “blackface” comedians in the style of minstrel shows under the name “Howard and Howard—A Study in Black.” The pair performed sans makeup for a competing vaudeville tour around this time.
Following this, Shemp joined the group known as “Ted Healy and His Stooges.” The Howard brothers and other members who joined and left between 1925 and 1928 were among the stooges of this act.
After having an argument with Ted in August 1930, Shemp, his brother Moe, and their buddy Larry Fine formed their own group, “Howard, Fine & Howard,” and joined the RKO vaudeville tour. The three had their Paramount Theatre debut not long after that.
The Howard brothers changed the name of their act to “Three Lost Soles” in 1931. They also hired Jack Walsh to serve as their straight man. They carried on in this manner up until July 1932, when Healy asked them to work together once more for the “Passing Show of 1932.”
The brothers gladly accepted the invitation. However, on August 16, 1932, Healy left during a rehearsal because of a contract disagreement. Shemp became irate as a result and quit Healy’s performance to continue with “Passing Show.”
As a solo performer, Shemp Howard. At first, he performed in bit parts for comedies at the Brooklyn Vitaphone studio, showcasing his silliness. In addition to co-starring with Daphne Pollard, Johnnie Berkes, and Harry Gribbon, the comedian also appeared with Vitaphone comedians Jack Haley, Gus Shy, and Ben Blue. After appearing in his own two-reel comedy, Howard then got his big break in the 1934 feature “Art Trouble.”
Shemp joined Vitaphone’s ‘Joe Palooka’ comic strip in the latter half of 1935. In the first seven short films, which were released in 1936 and 1937, he played the lead role. The American comedian then relocated to the West Coast and appeared at a number of studios, including Columbia Pictures and Universal Studios.
He acted in the films “The Bank Dick,” “Millionaires in Prison,” and “The Invisible Woman” after making an appearance in the 1939 film “Another Thin Man.” Then, in 1943, Shemp appeared in the film “How’s About It.” He worked on a few movies the next year, including “Crazy Knights,” “Moonlight and Cactus,” “Strange Affair,” and “Three of a Kind.”
He appeared in the comedy movie “One Exciting Week” in the year 1946. Later, he appeared in the movies “Gold Raiders” (1951) and “Africa Screams” (1949).
Shemp’s Bigger Works
Shemp Howard produced a number of outstanding films in 1941, including “Tight Shoes,” “Six Lessons from Madame La Zonga,” “Hold That Ghost,” “Too Many Blondes,” “In the Navy,” “San Antonio Rose,” and “Hellzapoppin.”
He was cast in more fantastic big-screen productions the next year, including “Crazy House,” “Arabian Nights,” “Pittsburgh,” “Private Buckaroo,” “The Strange Case of Doctor Rx,” and “Strictly in the Groove.”
The American comic made appearances in Columbia’s two-reel comedies in 1938–1939 as well as 1944–1947, alongside Columbia regulars The Glove Slingers, Andy Clyde, Tom Kennedy, and El Brendel. In the renowned Stooge shorts produced by Columbia, he took Curly’s place.
Shemp Howard initially joined the Stooges on a temporary basis, but when Curly’s condition deteriorated, their relationship became permanent. He stood in for his brother on a few occasions in the early 1940s before taking Curly’s place in the movie series.
Recognition & Achievements
The Three Stooges were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 30, 1983. Shemp’s Personal Life Gertrude Frank and Howard were wed from 1925 till Howard’s passing. Mort Howard, the couple’s only child, was born on February 26, 1927.
Shemp and a few of his friends attended a boxing event at the former Hollywood Legion Stadium on November 22, 1955. He passed away from an unexpected, severe heart attack while riding home in a taxi. He was then 60 years old. The actor was laid to rest in East Los Angeles’ Home of Peace Cemetery’s Indoor Mausoleum.
The Howard brothers were honored in 2000 with the creation of the TV biographical movie “The Three Stooges.” ‘Fake Shemp’ Johnny Kassir played the part of Shemp Howard in this movie.
Fact Shemp Howard, who was injured in a car accident when he was a teenager, never got his driver’s license. Many people who knew the actor would quip that he was so terrified that he was afraid of his own shadow.
Of all the Stooges, he was the tallest. He was the Stooge Alex Trebek liked the most. Richard Arlen, Andy Devine, and Horace McMahon were three of Howard’s favorite actors. Patsy Kelly was his favorite actress, and Fred Allen was his favorite radio comic.
Estimated Net Worth
Shemp is one of the wealthiest American actors in movies. Shemp Howard has a net worth of $5 million, per our analysis of data from sources including Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.