# Shemp!: The Biography of the Three Stooges' Shemp Howard, the Face of Film Comedy - Hardcover

by **Burt Kearns** (Author), **Drew Friedman** (Foreword by)

**The definitive biography of the great Shemp Howard, an original member of the Three Stooges, and one of Hollywood's most influential actors that** **_Library Journal_** **calls "a complete portrait of a talented character actor,"** **_Kirkus Reviews_** **calls an "illuminating... reworking of the Stooges mythology" and Patton Oswalt praises as "the only book you will ever need to read about anything. Burn all the other books - there is ONLY** **_SHEMP_****!"**

Shemp Howard not only had one of the most distinctive faces of the twentieth century, but was also one of its most accomplished, influential comic actors and showbiz personalities. Along with his brother Moe and comedy violinist Larry Fine, Shemp was an original member of the comedy team that became known as the Three Stooges before he quit and set off on his own in 1932.

_SHEMP!_ shows how he made an even greater mark in a successful and until now largely unexplored career in more than a hundred movie shorts and features. He appeared in comedies, dramas, mysteries, Westerns, and musicals alongside the biggest stars of the Golden Age, including W.C. Fields, John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, Marlene Dietrich, William Powell, Lon Chaney, Jr., Myrna Loy, and the team of Abbott & Costello. Author Burt Kearns challenges the "official" version of Three Stooges history that's been repeated for decades, shattering myths while uncovering the surprising and often troubling facts behind the man's unlikely story: how the child of Jewish immigrants, supposedly racked by debilitating phobias, could conquer show business; the behind-the-scenes machinations that pushed him to return to the team; and the circumstances surrounding his untimely death.

Through interviews with fans, family members, experts, filmmakers, and celebrities, _SHEMP!_ unearths treasures in Shemp's solo work, examines the "cult of Shemp" that thrives today, and confirms Shemp Howard's deserved place in cinematic history.

### Author Biography

**Burt Kearns** is an author, journalist, and film and television producer, dubbed by _Vanity Fair_ as "a show business and pop culture savant." His books include _Marlon Brando: Hollywood Rebel_, _Lawrence Tierney: Hollywood's Real Life Tough Guy,_ _The Show Won't Go On_, and the memoir, _Tabloid Baby_. His screenwork includes _The Seventh Python_, _Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura_, and _Kardashian: The Man Who Saved O.J. Simpson_. He also cowrote and produced, along with Academy Award winner Albert S. Ruddy, the Burt Reynolds comedy movie, _Cloud 9_. He lives in Los Angeles.

**Number of Pages:** 280

**Dimensions:** 0.81 x 9.29 x 6.35 IN

**Publication Date:** October 01, 2024

## Details

- **Price:** 32.95 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 32.95 USD | In stock |

## Images

- Shemp!: The Biography of the Three Stooges' Shemp Howard, the Face of Film Comedy - Hardcover
- Shemp!: The Biography of the Three Stooges' Shemp Howard, the Face of Film Comedy - Hardcover

---

> Source: [Smart supply deals](https://smartsupplydeals.com/products/shemp-the-biography-of-the-three-stooges-shemp-howard-the-face-of-film-comedy-hardcover)
> Updated: 2026-07-23