1895-03-11 Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Samuel (born Shmuel) Horwitz (March 11, 1895 – November 22, 1955), known professionally as Shemp Howard, was an American actor and comedian. He is best known today for his role as the third stooge in the Three Stooges, a role he first portrayed at the beginning of the act in the early 1920s (1923–1932) while the act was still associated with Ted Healy and known as "Ted Healy and his Stooges", and again from 1946 until his death in 1955. Between his times with the Stooges, Shemp had a successful film career as a solo comedian. He was born in Manhattan, New York and raised in Brooklyn, the third-born of five Horwitz brothers, sons of Lithuanian Jewish parents. Moses - professionally known as Moe Howard - and Jerome - professionally known as Curly Howard - were his younger brothers. Throughout his career Shemp seldom stuck to the script and would liven up scenes with ad-libbed incidental dialogue or wisecracks. This became a trademark of his performances. His 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 became his signature sound. He used his somewhat homely appearance for comic effect, often mugging grotesquely or allowing his hair to fall in disarray. Shemp was married to the former Gertrude Frank, whom he wed in September 1925. The couple had one child, Morton (1926–1972). On November 22, 1955, while returning home in a taxicab following attending a boxing match with friends, Shemp, age 60, died of a sudden massive heart attack. The Three Stooges have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1560 Vine Street.
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Three Stooges Comedy Collection | (archive footage) (uncredited) | 2024-01-06 |
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Stooge O-Rama: The Men Behind the Mayhem - And Even More Mayhem! | (archive footage) (uncredited) | 2023-07-11 |
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The Three Stooges in 3D | Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited) | 2012-10-30 |
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The Three Stooges: Five of Their Greatest Shorts | (archive footage) (uncredited) | 2009-01-01 |
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Shemp Cocktail: A Toast to the Original Stooge | Self (archive footage) | 2008-03-18 |
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Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special | Shemp (archive footage) | 2003-04-29 |
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The Three Stooges: Kings Of Laughter | Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited) | 2001-05-02 |
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The Three Stooges Story | Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited) | 2001-05-02 |
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The Three Stooges - Simply Hilarious | Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited) | 2000-01-01 |
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The Three Stooges Greatest Hits! | Self / Shemp (archive footage) | 1997-05-15 |
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The Lost Stooges | (archive footage) | 1990-01-01 |
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Classic Comedy Teams | Shemp (archive footage) | 1986-01-01 |
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Three Stooges: Greatest Routines | Shemp | 1964-12-01 |
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Triple Crossed | Shemp (archive footage) (uncredited) | 1959-02-02 |
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Flagpole Jitters | Shemp | 1956-04-05 |
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Husbands Beware | Prof. Shemp Howard | 1956-01-05 |
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Rumpus in the Harem | Shemp (archive footage) | 1956-06-21 |
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Columbia Laff Hour | Shemp | 1956-01-01 |
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Hot Stuff | Shemp (archive footage) | 1956-09-06 |
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Scheming Schemers | Shemp (archive footage) | 1956-10-04 |
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For Crimin' Out Loud | Shemp | 1956-05-03 |
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Creeps | Shemp / Shemp's son | 1956-02-02 |
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Commotion on the Ocean | Shemp (archive footage) | 1956-11-08 |
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Stone Age Romeos | Shemp | 1955-06-02 |
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Fling in the Ring | Shemp | 1955-01-06 |
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Gypped in the Penthouse | Shemp | 1955-05-10 |
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Wham-Bam-Slam! | Shemp | 1955-09-01 |
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Of Cash and Hash | Shemp | 1955-02-03 |
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Hot Ice | Shemp | 1955-10-06 |
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Blunder Boys | Various Days | 1955-11-03 |
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Bedlam in Paradise | Shemp | 1955-04-14 |
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Scotched in Scotland | Shemp | 1954-11-04 |
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Shot in the Frontier | Shemp | 1954-10-07 |
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Pals and Gals | Shemp | 1954-06-03 |
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Income Tax Sappy | Shemp | 1954-02-04 |
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Knutzy Knights | Shemp | 1954-09-02 |
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Musty Musketeers | Shemp | 1954-05-13 |
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Pardon My Backfire | Shemp | 1953-08-15 |
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Tricky Dicks | Shemp | 1953-05-07 |
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Spooks! | Shemp | 1953-06-15 |
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Up in Daisy's Penthouse | Shemp / Shemp Howard Sr. | 1953-02-05 |
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Booty and the Beast | Shemp | 1953-03-05 |
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Goof on the Roof | Shemp | 1953-12-03 |
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Rip, Sew and Stitch | Shemp | 1953-09-03 |
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Loose Loot | Shemp | 1953-04-02 |
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Bubble Trouble | Shemp | 1953-10-08 |
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A Missed Fortune | Shemp | 1952-01-03 |
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Gents in a Jam | Shemp | 1952-07-04 |
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Corny Casanovas | Shemp | 1952-05-01 |
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Listen Judge | Shemp | 1952-05-06 |
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He Cooked His Goose | Shemp | 1952-07-03 |
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Cuckoo on a Choo Choo | Shemp | 1952-12-04 |
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Three Dark Horses | Shemp | 1952-10-16 |
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Three Arabian Nuts | Shemp | 1951-01-04 |
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Don't Throw That Knife | Shemp | 1951-05-03 |
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Gold Raiders | Shemp | 1951-09-09 |
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Scrambled Brains | Shemp | 1951-06-07 |
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Merry Mavericks | Shemp | 1951-09-06 |
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Hula-La-La | Shemp | 1951-11-01 |
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Pest Man Wins | Shemp | 1951-12-06 |
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Baby Sitters Jitters | Shemp | 1951-02-01 |
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The Tooth Will Out | Shemp | 1951-10-04 |
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Punchy Cowpunchers | Shemp | 1950-01-05 |
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Dopey Dicks | Shemp | 1950-03-02 |
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Self Made Maids | Shemp / Shempetta | 1950-07-06 |
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Hugs and Mugs | Shemp | 1950-02-02 |
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Love at First Bite | Shemp | 1950-05-04 |
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Slaphappy Sleuths | Shemp | 1950-11-09 |
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A Snitch in Time | Shemp | 1950-12-07 |
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Three Hams on Rye | Shemp | 1950-09-07 |
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Studio Stoops | Shemp | 1950-10-05 |
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Fuelin' Around | Shemp | 1949-04-07 |
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Africa Screams | Gunner | 1949-05-04 |
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Dunked in the Deep | Shemp | 1949-11-03 |
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Jerks of All Trades | Shemp | 1949-11-15 |
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Who Done It? | Shemp | 1949-03-03 |
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Hokus Pokus | Shemp | 1949-05-05 |
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The Ghost Talks | Shemp | 1949-02-03 |
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Malice in the Palace | Shemp | 1949-09-01 |
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Vagabond Loafers | Shemp | 1949-10-06 |
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Fiddlers Three | Shemp | 1948-05-06 |
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Pardon My Clutch | Shemp | 1948-02-26 |
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Shivering Sherlocks | Shemp | 1948-01-08 |
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Crime on Their Hands | Shemp | 1948-12-09 |
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I'm a Monkey's Uncle | Shemp | 1948-10-07 |
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Squareheads of the Round Table | Shemp | 1948-03-04 |
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Mummy's Dummies | Shemp | 1948-11-04 |
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Heavenly Daze | Shemp | 1948-09-02 |
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The Hot Scots | Shemp | 1948-07-08 |
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All Gummed Up | Shemp | 1947-12-18 |
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The Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Edition: Tales from the Three Stooges Vol. 1 | Himself | 1947-01-01 |
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Bride and Gloom | Shemp | 1947-03-27 |
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Out West | Shemp | 1947-04-24 |
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Brideless Groom | Shemp | 1947-09-11 |
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Sing a Song of Six Pants | Shemp | 1947-10-30 |
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Fright Night | Shemp | 1947-03-06 |
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Hold That Lion! | Shemp | 1947-07-17 |
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The Gentleman Misbehaves | Marty | 1946-02-28 |
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Society Mugs | Shemp | 1946-09-19 |
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Blondie Knows Best | Jim Gray | 1946-10-17 |
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Mr. Noisy | Noisy | 1946-03-22 |
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Dangerous Business | Monk | 1946-06-20 |
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One Exciting Week | Marvin Lewis | 1946-06-08 |
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Jiggers, My Wife | Woodcock 'Woody' J. Strinker | 1946-04-11 |
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A Hit with a Miss | Rameses - Prizefighter | 1945-12-13 |
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Trouble Chasers | Shemp Howard | 1945-05-02 |
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Off Again, On Again | Woodcock Q. Strinker | 1945-02-16 |
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Where the Pest Begins | Shemp Howard | 1945-10-04 |
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Three of a Kind | Shemp Howard | 1944-07-22 |
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Strange Affair | Laundry Truck Driver | 1944-10-05 |
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Open Season for Saps | Woodcock Q. Strinker | 1944-10-27 |
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Crazy Knights | Shemp | 1944-12-08 |
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Moonlight and Cactus | Punchy Carter | 1944-09-08 |
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Pick a Peck of Plumbers | Elmer Peabody | 1944-07-23 |
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Crazy House | Mumbo | 1943-10-08 |
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It Ain't Hay | Umbrella Sam | 1943-02-22 |
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How's About It | Alf | 1943-01-01 |
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Keep 'Em Slugging | Binky | 1943-03-01 |
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Pittsburgh | Shorty (The Tailor) | 1942-12-11 |
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Arabian Nights | Sinbad | 1942-12-25 |
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Strictly in the Groove | Pops | 1942-11-20 |
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The Strange Case of Doctor Rx | Det. Sgt. Sweeney | 1942-03-27 |
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Mississippi Gambler | Milton Davis - Brooklyn Cab Driver | 1942-04-17 |
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Butch Minds the Baby | 'Squinty' Sweeny | 1942-03-20 |
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Private Buckaroo | Sgt. 'Muggsy' Shavel | 1942-06-12 |
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Mr. Dynamite | 'Abdullah' | 1941-03-01 |
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The Three Stooges: Live and Hilarious | Shemp | 1941-12-16 |
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Hellzapoppin' | Louie | 1941-12-25 |
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Road Show | Moe Parker (uncredited) | 1941-02-18 |
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Hold That Ghost | Soda Jerk | 1941-08-07 |
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Cracked Nuts | Eddie / Ivan | 1941-07-02 |
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Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga | Gabby | 1941-01-17 |
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The Flame of New Orleans | Oyster Bed Cafe Waiter (uncredited) | 1941-07-07 |
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San Antonio Rose | Benny the Bounce | 1941-06-20 |
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Too Many Blondes | Hotel Manager Ambrose Tripp | 1941-08-01 |
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Meet the Chump | Stinky Fink | 1941-02-14 |
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In the Navy | Dizzy | 1941-05-30 |
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Buck Privates | Chef | 1941-01-31 |
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Hit the Road | Dingbat | 1941-06-27 |
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Tight Shoes | Okay | 1941-06-13 |
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The Leather Pushers | Sailor McNeill | 1940-09-13 |
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Murder Over New York | Shorty McCoy alias Rashid the Fakir | 1940-12-13 |
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The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady | Joe - a Pickpocket | 1940-05-30 |
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Give Us Wings | Buzz Berger | 1940-12-20 |
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The Bank Dick | Joe Guelpe | 1940-11-29 |
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The Invisible Woman | Frankie | 1940-12-27 |
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Pleased to Mitt You | Pat Patrick | 1940-09-06 |
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Boobs in the Woods | Gus | 1940-05-31 |
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Millionaires in Prison | Professor | 1940-07-12 |
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Money Squawks | Shemp | 1940-04-05 |
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Another Thin Man | Wacky (uncredited) | 1939-11-17 |
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Glove Slingers | Pat Patrick | 1939-11-24 |
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Not Guilty Enough | Brother-in-Law | 1938-07-30 |
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Home on the Rage | Happy | 1938-12-09 |
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Headin' East | Windy Wylie | 1937-12-13 |
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Hollywood Round-Up | Oscar Bush | 1937-11-06 |
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Kick Me Again | Knobby Walsh | 1937-02-06 |
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Taking the Count | Knobby Walsh | 1937-04-24 |
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Absorbing Junior | Henry, the Husband | 1936-05-08 |
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The Choke's on You | Knobby Walsh | 1936-09-12 |
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The Blonde Bomber | Knobby Walsh | 1936-11-28 |
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For the Love of Pete | Knobby Walsh | 1936-03-14 |
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Here's Howe | Knobby Walsh | 1936-06-06 |
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While the Cat's Away | Henry | 1936-01-04 |
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Punch and Beauty | Knobby Walsh | 1936-08-15 |
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Serves You Right | Johnny Spivens | 1935-06-15 |
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Why Pay Rent? | Henry | 1935-05-04 |
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His First Flame | Smokey Moe | 1935-03-08 |
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Convention Girl | Dan Higgins | 1935-10-30 |
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On the Wagon | Henry | 1935-08-24 |
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The Officer's Mess | Gus Doakes | 1935-11-09 |
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The Wrong, Wrong Trail | Piano Mover | 1934-02-13 |
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So You Won't T-T-T-Talk | Henry | 1934-11-01 |
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I Scream | Moran's Henchman | 1934-05-19 |
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Art Trouble | Short Painter | 1934-06-23 |
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Dizzy & Daffy | Lefty Howard | 1934-12-14 |
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Everybody Likes Music | Shemp Howard | 1934-03-09 |
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Henry the Ache | Artie - One of King Henry's Lackeys | 1934-01-25 |
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Corn on the Cop | Reginald / Reggie | 1934-04-28 |
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The Knife of the Party | Shemp Howard | 1934-02-15 |
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Smoked Hams | Henry Howard | 1934-10-20 |
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A Peach of a Pair | Butler | 1934-12-29 |
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My Mummy's Arms | Kenneth | 1934-06-28 |
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Very Close Veins | Sourdough | 1934-04-14 |
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Rambling 'Round Radio Row #9 | Songwriters' Representative | 1934-05-19 |
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Howd' Ya Like That? | Sailor | 1934-01-13 |
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Mushrooms | Thorndike | 1934-02-14 |
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Pugs and Kisses | Dopey Traynor | 1934-02-17 |
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Daredevil O'Dare | Butch | 1934-08-11 |
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Pure Feud | Clem McCarthy | 1934-04-20 |
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Close Relations | One of the Moles | 1933-09-30 |
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Paul Revere, Jr. | Attendant | 1933-10-07 |
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Gobs of Fun | Club patron | 1933-10-20 |
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In the Dough | Bugs | 1933-11-15 |
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Salt Water Daffy | Wilbur the Kleptomaniac | 1933-09-16 |
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Here Comes Flossie! | Ezry | 1933-12-09 |
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Soup to Nuts | Fireman | 1930-09-28 |
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Spring Fever | 1919-01-01 |
