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 | 2024-01-06 | |
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Stooge O-Rama: The Men Behind the Mayhem - And Even More Mayhem! | 2023-07-11 | |
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The Three Stooges in 3D | Shemp | 2012-10-30 |
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The Three Stooges: Five of Their Greatest Shorts | 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 | 2001-05-02 |
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The Three Stooges Story | Shemp | 2001-05-02 |
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The Three Stooges - Simply Hilarious | Shemp | 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 | Himself | 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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Husbands Beware | Prof. Shemp Howard | 1956-01-05 |
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Creeps | Shemp / Shemp's son | 1956-02-02 |
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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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Commotion on the Ocean | Shemp (archive footage) | 1956-11-08 |
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For Crimin' Out Loud | Shemp | 1956-05-03 |
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Flagpole Jitters | Shemp | 1956-04-05 |
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Scheming Schemers | Shemp (archive footage) | 1956-10-04 |
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Wham-Bam-Slam! | Shemp | 1955-09-01 |
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Hot Ice | Shemp | 1955-10-06 |
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Gypped in the Penthouse | Shemp | 1955-05-10 |
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Of Cash and Hash | Shemp | 1955-02-03 |
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Fling in the Ring | Shemp | 1955-01-06 |
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Blunder Boys | Various Days | 1955-11-03 |
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Stone Age Romeos | Shemp | 1955-06-02 |
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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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Knutzy Knights | Shemp | 1954-09-02 |
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Pals and Gals | Shemp | 1954-06-03 |
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Musty Musketeers | Shemp | 1954-05-13 |
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Income Tax Sappy | Shemp | 1954-02-04 |
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Up in Daisy's Penthouse | Shemp / Shemp Howard Sr. | 1953-02-05 |
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Spooks! | Shemp | 1953-06-15 |
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Loose Loot | Shemp | 1953-04-02 |
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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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Tricky Dicks | Shemp | 1953-05-07 |
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Rip, Sew and Stitch | Shemp | 1953-09-03 |
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Pardon My Backfire | Shemp | 1953-08-15 |
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Bubble Trouble | Shemp | 1953-10-08 |
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Listen Judge | Shemp | 1952-05-06 |
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A Missed Fortune | Shemp | 1952-01-03 |
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He Cooked His Goose | Shemp | 1952-07-03 |
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Corny Casanovas | Shemp | 1952-05-01 |
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Cuckoo on a Choo Choo | Shemp | 1952-12-04 |
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Gents in a Jam | Shemp | 1952-07-04 |
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Three Dark Horses | Shemp | 1952-10-16 |
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Merry Mavericks | Shemp | 1951-09-06 |
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The Tooth Will Out | Shemp | 1951-10-04 |
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Pest Man Wins | Shemp | 1951-12-06 |
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Gold Raiders | Shemp | 1951-09-09 |
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Scrambled Brains | Shemp | 1951-06-07 |
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Hula-La-La | Shemp | 1951-11-01 |
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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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Baby Sitters Jitters | Shemp | 1951-02-01 |
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Love at First Bite | Shemp | 1950-05-04 |
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Dopey Dicks | Shemp | 1950-03-02 |
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Punchy Cowpunchers | Shemp | 1950-01-05 |
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Hugs and Mugs | Shemp | 1950-02-02 |
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Self Made Maids | Shemp / Shempetta | 1950-07-06 |
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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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Slaphappy Sleuths | Shemp | 1950-11-09 |
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Studio Stoops | Shemp | 1950-10-05 |
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Jerks of All Trades | Shemp | 1949-11-15 |
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Africa Screams | Gunner | 1949-05-04 |
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Malice in the Palace | Shemp | 1949-09-01 |
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The Ghost Talks | Shemp | 1949-02-03 |
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Dunked in the Deep | Shemp | 1949-11-03 |
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Hokus Pokus | Shemp | 1949-05-05 |
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Who Done It? | Shemp | 1949-03-03 |
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Fuelin' Around | Shemp | 1949-04-07 |
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Vagabond Loafers | Shemp | 1949-10-06 |
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Squareheads of the Round Table | Shemp | 1948-03-04 |
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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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Fiddlers Three | Shemp | 1948-05-06 |
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Heavenly Daze | Shemp | 1948-09-02 |
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Crime on Their Hands | Shemp | 1948-12-09 |
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The Hot Scots | Shemp | 1948-07-08 |
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Mummy's Dummies | Shemp | 1948-11-04 |
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I'm a Monkey's Uncle | Shemp | 1948-10-07 |
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Sing a Song of Six Pants | Shemp | 1947-10-30 |
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Brideless Groom | Shemp | 1947-09-11 |
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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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Hold That Lion! | Shemp | 1947-07-17 |
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Fright Night | Shemp | 1947-03-06 |
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All Gummed Up | Shemp | 1947-12-18 |
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The Gentleman Misbehaves | Marty | 1946-02-28 |
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One Exciting Week | Marvin Lewis | 1946-06-08 |
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Dangerous Business | Monk | 1946-06-20 |
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Blondie Knows Best | Jim Gray | 1946-10-17 |
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Jiggers, My Wife | Woodcock 'Woody' J. Strinker | 1946-04-11 |
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Mr. Noisy | Noisy | 1946-03-22 |
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Society Mugs | Shemp | 1946-09-19 |
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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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A Hit with a Miss | Rameses - Prizefighter | 1945-12-13 |
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Where the Pest Begins | Shemp Howard | 1945-10-04 |
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Crazy Knights | Shemp | 1944-12-08 |
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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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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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Open Season for Saps | Woodcock Q. Strinker | 1944-10-27 |
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Keep 'Em Slugging | Binky | 1943-03-01 |
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How's About It | Alf | 1943-01-01 |
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It Ain't Hay | Umbrella Sam | 1943-02-22 |
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Crazy House | Mumbo | 1943-10-08 |
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Arabian Nights | Sinbad | 1942-12-25 |
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Mississippi Gambler | Milton Davis - Brooklyn Cab Driver | 1942-04-17 |
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Strictly in the Groove | Pops | 1942-11-20 |
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Butch Minds the Baby | 'Squinty' Sweeny | 1942-03-20 |
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Pittsburgh | Shorty (The Tailor) | 1942-12-11 |
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The Strange Case of Doctor Rx | Det. Sgt. Sweeney | 1942-03-27 |
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Private Buckaroo | Sgt. 'Muggsy' Shavel | 1942-06-12 |
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The Three Stooges: Live and Hilarious | Shemp | 1941-12-16 |
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San Antonio Rose | Benny the Bounce | 1941-06-20 |
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Tight Shoes | Okay | 1941-06-13 |
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Road Show | Moe Parker (uncredited) | 1941-02-18 |
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Hit the Road | Dingbat | 1941-06-27 |
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Buck Privates | Chef | 1941-01-31 |
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Cracked Nuts | Eddie / Ivan | 1941-07-02 |
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Mr. Dynamite | 'Abdullah' | 1941-03-01 |
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Meet the Chump | Stinky Fink | 1941-02-14 |
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The Flame of New Orleans | Oyster Bed Cafe Waiter (uncredited) | 1941-07-07 |
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Too Many Blondes | Hotel Manager Ambrose Tripp | 1941-08-01 |
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Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga | Gabby | 1941-01-17 |
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Hellzapoppin' | Louie | 1941-12-25 |
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Hold That Ghost | Soda Jerk | 1941-08-07 |
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In the Navy | Dizzy | 1941-05-30 |
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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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Pleased to Mitt You | Pat Patrick | 1940-09-06 |
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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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Money Squawks | Shemp | 1940-04-05 |
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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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The Bank Dick | Joe Guelpe | 1940-11-29 |
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The Invisible Woman | Frankie | 1940-12-28 |
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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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Home on the Rage | Happy | 1938-12-09 |
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Not Guilty Enough | Brother-in-Law | 1938-07-30 |
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Taking the Count | Knobby Walsh | 1937-04-24 |
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Headin' East | Windy Wylie | 1937-12-13 |
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Kick Me Again | Knobby Walsh | 1937-02-06 |
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Hollywood Round-Up | Oscar Bush | 1937-11-06 |
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The Choke's on You | Knobby Walsh | 1936-09-12 |
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Absorbing Junior | Henry, the Husband | 1936-05-08 |
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The Blonde Bomber | Knobby Walsh | 1936-11-28 |
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While the Cat's Away | Henry | 1936-01-04 |
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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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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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On the Wagon | Henry | 1935-08-24 |
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Convention Girl | Dan Higgins | 1935-10-30 |
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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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Art Trouble | Short Painter | 1934-06-23 |
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Smoked Hams | Henry Howard | 1934-10-20 |
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Everybody Likes Music | Shemp Howard | 1934-03-09 |
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Corn on the Cop | Reginald / Reggie | 1934-04-28 |
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Henry the Ache | Artie - One of King Henry's Lackeys | 1934-01-25 |
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The Knife of the Party | Shemp Howard | 1934-02-15 |
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Dizzy & Daffy | Lefty Howard | 1934-12-14 |
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A Peach of a Pair | Butler | 1934-12-29 |
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Rambling 'Round Radio Row #9 | Songwriters' Representative | 1934-05-19 |
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My Mummy's Arms | Kenneth | 1934-06-28 |
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Pure Feud | Clem McCarthy | 1934-04-20 |
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Mushrooms | Thorndike | 1934-02-14 |
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Very Close Veins | Sourdough | 1934-04-14 |
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I Scream | Moran's Henchman | 1934-05-19 |
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Daredevil O'Dare | Butch | 1934-08-11 |
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Howd' Ya Like That? | Sailor | 1934-01-13 |
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Pugs and Kisses | Dopey Traynor | 1934-02-17 |
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Paul Revere, Jr. | Attendant | 1933-10-07 |
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Here Comes Flossie! | Ezry | 1933-12-09 |
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Close Relations | One of the Moles | 1933-09-30 |
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Salt Water Daffy | Wilbur the Kleptomaniac | 1933-09-16 |
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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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Soup to Nuts | Fireman | 1930-09-28 |
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Spring Fever | 1919-01-01 |
