Actor, Comedian. He achieved legend status as a member of the "Three Stooges" comedy team. Born Samuel Horwitz in Brooklyn, New York in 1895, he was nicknamed "Shemp" at an early age due to his mother's accent. He worked with his brother Moses "Moe" Horowitz in various amateur and vaudeville performance acts until 1922, when a former school mate and vaudeville comedian, Ted Healy, was playing at the Brooklyn Prospect Theater and needed a replacement in his current act. Moe and Shemp Howard joined the act, and were later joined by Philadelphia, Pennsylvania comedian Larry Fine in 1927. In 1930, he co-star in "Soup to Nuts", the Ted Healy film that marked the debut of "The Three Stooges". A short time later, Healy left the "JJ Shubert Broadway Review", taking Moe and Larry with him. Shemp Howard decided to stay with the show. On his own, he went on to star in countless comedies for Vitaphone in 1932 and he later played the role of 'Knobby Walsh' in the "Joe Palooka" series. After Curly Howard had to leave the act because of his illness, Shemp Howard became one of the Three Stooges. He not only made 77 Stooges shorts, but also a feature film, "Gold Raiders" 1951. On November 22, 1955, he went out with his friends to a boxing match at the Hollywood Legion Stadium. After the fights were over, Shemp hailed a taxicab to take him to his North Hollywood home with friend Al Winston. He sat back and lit up his cigar, then suddenly he slumped over. He had a heart attack and died at the age of 60.
Actor, Comedian. He achieved legend status as a member of the "Three Stooges" comedy team. Born Samuel Horwitz in Brooklyn, New York in 1895, he was nicknamed "Shemp" at an early age due to his mother's accent. He worked with his brother Moses "Moe" Horowitz in various amateur and vaudeville performance acts until 1922, when a former school mate and vaudeville comedian, Ted Healy, was playing at the Brooklyn Prospect Theater and needed a replacement in his current act. Moe and Shemp Howard joined the act, and were later joined by Philadelphia, Pennsylvania comedian Larry Fine in 1927. In 1930, he co-star in "Soup to Nuts", the Ted Healy film that marked the debut of "The Three Stooges". A short time later, Healy left the "JJ Shubert Broadway Review", taking Moe and Larry with him. Shemp Howard decided to stay with the show. On his own, he went on to star in countless comedies for Vitaphone in 1932 and he later played the role of 'Knobby Walsh' in the "Joe Palooka" series. After Curly Howard had to leave the act because of his illness, Shemp Howard became one of the Three Stooges. He not only made 77 Stooges shorts, but also a feature film, "Gold Raiders" 1951. On November 22, 1955, he went out with his friends to a boxing match at the Hollywood Legion Stadium. After the fights were over, Shemp hailed a taxicab to take him to his North Hollywood home with friend Al Winston. He sat back and lit up his cigar, then suddenly he slumped over. He had a heart attack and died at the age of 60.
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