Samuel Horwitz (March 11, 1895 â€" November 22, 1955), known
professionally as Shemp Howard, was an American actor and comedian. He
was called "Shemp" because "Sam" came out that way in his mother's
thick Litvak accent. He is best-known as the third Stooge in the Three
Stooges, a role he played when the act began in the early 1920s
(1923â€"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 series of
shorts by himself and with partners, and reluctantly returned to the
Stooges as a favor to his brothers Moe and Curly.Howard was born
Samuel Horwitz in Manhattan, New York on March 11, 1895, and raised in
Brooklyn. He was the third-born of the five Horwitz brothers born to
Lithuanian Jewish parents Solomon Horwitz (1872â€"1943) and Jennie
Horwitz (1870â€"1939). Irving and Jack were his older brothers; Moses
(Moe) and Jerome (Curly) were his younger brothers.Howard's first
name, Shmuel (after his grandfather), was anglicized to Samuel, and
his parents and brothers usually called him Sam.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 Howardâ€"A
Study In Black". At the same time, they worked for a rival vaudeville
circuit, without makeup.
professionally as Shemp Howard, was an American actor and comedian. He
was called "Shemp" because "Sam" came out that way in his mother's
thick Litvak accent. He is best-known as the third Stooge in the Three
Stooges, a role he played when the act began in the early 1920s
(1923â€"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 series of
shorts by himself and with partners, and reluctantly returned to the
Stooges as a favor to his brothers Moe and Curly.Howard was born
Samuel Horwitz in Manhattan, New York on March 11, 1895, and raised in
Brooklyn. He was the third-born of the five Horwitz brothers born to
Lithuanian Jewish parents Solomon Horwitz (1872â€"1943) and Jennie
Horwitz (1870â€"1939). Irving and Jack were his older brothers; Moses
(Moe) and Jerome (Curly) were his younger brothers.Howard's first
name, Shmuel (after his grandfather), was anglicized to Samuel, and
his parents and brothers usually called him Sam.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 Howardâ€"A
Study In Black". At the same time, they worked for a rival vaudeville
circuit, without makeup.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.