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Joe Besser (1907–1988)

Actor | Writer

Short, chubby, balding, childish character actor Joe Besser began his career one the vaudeville circuit before breaking into films in the early 1930s. He was a frequent foil of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in their films and played 'Stinky' on their 1950s TV show. Joe joined The Three Stooges in 1956... See full bio »

Born:

Joseph Besser
in St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Died:

(age 80) in North Hollywood, California, USA
1 photo | 17 videos | 11 news articles »

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Filmography

Hide HideActor (97 titles)
1983 My Smurfy Valentine (TV movie)
Cupid (voice)
 
1978 Galaxy Goof-Ups (TV series)
Scare Bear (1978) (voice)
 
1978 Yogi's Space Race (TV series)
Scare Bear
 
1977 Scooby's Laff-A Lympics (TV series)
Babu
 
1977 Fred Flintstone and Friends (TV series) (voice)
 
1975 The Oddball Couple (TV series)
Additional voices (voice)
 
1973 Jeannie (TV series)
Babu
– The Wish (1973) … Babu (voice)
– The Jinx (1973) … Babu (voice)
– The Dog (1973) … Babu (voice)
– Don Juan (1973) … Babu (voice)
– The Commercial (1973) … Babu (voice)
See all 16 episodes »
 
1973 The New Scooby-Doo Movies (TV series)
Babu / Windmaker #1
– The Weird Winds on Winona (1973) … Windmaker #1 (voice)
– Mystery in Persia (1973) … Babu (voice)
 
1971-1973 Love, American Style (TV series)
Harley (segment "Love and the Legend") / Neighbor (segment "Love and Murphy's Bed") / Tony (segment "Love and the Lady Barber")
– Love and the Cryptic Gift/Love and the Family Hour/Love and the Legend/Love and the Sexpert (1973) … Harley (segment "Love and the Legend")
– Love and the College Professor/Love and the Eyewitness/Love and the Lady Barber/Love and the Plumber (1971) … Tony (segment "Love and the Lady Barber")
– Love and the Cake/Love and Murphy's Bed/Love and the Neighbor/Love and the Serious Wedding (1971) … Neighbor (segment "Love and Murphy's Bed")
 
1972 The Houndcats (TV series)
Putty Puss (voice)
 
1972 Arnie (TV series)
Chef
– Surprise, Surprise (1972) … Chef
 
1970 Which Way to the Front?
Dock Master
 
1969-1970 My World and Welcome to It (TV series)
2nd Cop / Fire Chief
– Darn That Dream (1970) … 2nd Cop
– The Night the House Caught Fire (1969) … Fire Chief
 
1970 Savage Intruder
Vic
 
1969 The Good Guys (TV series)
Florian
– No Orchids for the Diner (1969) … Florian
– Wanted: An Honest Thief (1969)
 
1969 The Monk (TV movie)
Herbie
 
1968-1969 The Mothers-In-Law (TV series)
Bandleader / The tramp
– Two on the Aisle (1969)
– The First Anniversary Is the Hardest (1968) … The tramp
– How Not to Manage a Rock Group (1968) … Bandleader
 
1969 The Bold Ones: The Protectors (TV series)
– Deadlock (1969)
 
1968 That Girl (TV series)
Foreman / Messenger
– Eleven Angry Men and That Girl (1968) … Foreman
– Old Man's Darling (1968) … Messenger
 
1967 The Danny Thomas Hour (TV series)
Hermes
– The Royal Follies of 1933 (1967) … Hermes
– It's Greek to Me (1967) … Hermes
 
1962-1965 The Joey Bishop Show (TV series)
Mr. Jillson / Jillson
– Joey Discovers Jackie Clark (1965) … Mr. Jillson
– What'll You Have? (1965) … Mr. Jillson
– Joey the Star Maker (1965) … Mr. Jillson
– Larry's Habit (1965) … Mr. Jillson
– Never Put It in Writing (1965) … Mr. Jillson
See all 93 episodes »
 
1962 Hand of Death
Service station attendant
 
1961 The Errand Boy
Man Watching Rushes
 
1954-1961 The Jack Benny Program (TV series)
Joe / Joey / Mr. Henshaw - Interior Decorator / …
– Tennessee Ernie Ford Show (1961) … Joe
– English Sketch (1961) … Photographer
– Jack Goes to the Races (1958) … Waiter
– Jack Opens Beverly Hills Office (1956) … Mr. Henshaw - Interior Decorator
– Rochester Falls Asleep, Misses Program (1956) … Joey
See all 8 episodes »
 
1961 Peter Gunn (TV series)
Samuel 'Chubby' Stone
– Cry Love, Cry Murder (1961) … Samuel 'Chubby' Stone
 
1961 G.E. True Theater (TV series)
Manager
– Memory in White (1961) … Manager
 
1960 Shirley Temple's Storybook (TV series)
Rodrigo
– Babes in Toyland (1960) … Rodrigo
 
1960 Angel (TV series)
– The Museum (1960)
 
1960 Make Room for Daddy (TV series)
Postman Thompson
– Kathy Delivers the Mail (1960) … Postman Thompson
 
1960 Let's Make Love
Charlie Lamont
 
1959 The Story on Page One
Gallagher (uncredited)
 
1959 The Rookie
Medical Corpsman
 
1959 Say One for Me
Joe Greb
 
1959 Triple Crossed (short)
Joe (as Joe)
 
1959 Plunderers of Painted Flats
Andy Heather
 
1959 Three Stooges Fun-O-Rama
Joe
 
1958 Oil's Well That Ends Well (short)
Joe (as Joe)
 
1958 Flying Saucer Daffy (short)
Joe (as Joe)
 
1958 Sweet and Hot (short)
Joe (as Joe)
 
1958 Pies and Guys (short)
Joe (as Joe)
 
1958 Fifi Blows Her Top (short)
Joe Besser (as Joe)
 
1958 Club Oasis (TV series)
Private Besser
– Episode dated 29 March 1958 (1958) … Private Besser
 
1957 Outer Space Jitters (short)
Joe (as Joe) / Joe's Son (as Joe)
 
1957 Rusty Romeos (short)
Joe (as Joe)
 
1957 The Helen Morgan Story
Bartender (uncredited)
 
1957 Horsing Around (short)
Joe (as Joe)
 
1957 Guns A-Poppin (short)
Joe
 
1957 Space Ship Sappy (short)
Joe (as Joe)
 
1957 A Merry Mix-up (short)
Joe/Jack/Jeff (as Joe)
 
1957 Muscle Up a Little Closer (short)
Joe (as Joe)
 
1957 Hoofs and Goofs (short)
Joe (as Joe)
 
1956 Army Daze (short)
Pvt. Joe Besser
 
1955 It's a Dog's Life
Dog Catcher (uncredited)
 
1955 Hook a Crook (short)
Joe Besser
 
1955 December Bride (TV series)
Joe
– Skid Row (1955) … Joe
 
1955 Two-Gun Lady
Doc McGinnis
 
1955 The Gene Autry Show (TV series)
Train Conductor
– The Million Dollar Fiddle (1955) … Train Conductor
 
1955 Headline Hunters
Coroner
 
1955 Damon Runyon Theater (TV series)
Frankie Farrell
– The Mink Doll (1955) … Frankie Farrell
 
1955 The Eddie Cantor Comedy Theater (TV series)
– A Night at the Follies (1955)
 
1955 My Little Margie (TV series)
– Vern's Butterflies (1955)
 
1955 Mad at the World
Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)
 
1955 Willy (TV series)
Con Man
– Willy Saves Harvey from Fraud (1955) … Con Man
 
1955 The Millionaire (TV series)
Chester
– The Harvey Blake Story (1955) … Chester
 
1955 G.I. Dood It (short)
Pvt. Joe Marblehead/Voice of Homer the Dog
 
1955 Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops
Hunter (uncredited)
 
1954 The Fire Chaser (short)
Eric Loudermilk Potts
 
1954 The Lone Wolf (TV series)
Cupie
– The Hunt … Cupie
 
1954 The Spike Jones Show (TV series)
Warden
– Prison Life (1954) … Warden
 
1954 Mr. District Attorney (TV series)
Joe Cogan
– Hit and Run (1954) … Joe Cogan
 
1953 I Married Joan (TV series)
Harry
– Brad's Moustache (1953)
– Business Executive (1953) … Harry
 
1953 Sins of Jezebel
Yonkel--Chariot Man
 
1953 I, the Jury
Pete, Elevator Operator
 
1952-1953 The Abbott and Costello Show (TV series)
Stinky Davis
– The Actors' Home (1953) … Stinky Davis (uncredited)
– Getting a Job (1953) … Stinky Davis (uncredited)
– The Wrestling Match (1953) … Stinky Davis (uncredited)
– The Music Lover (1953) … Stinky Davis
– Hungry (1953) … Stinky Davis (uncredited)
See all 12 episodes »
 
1953 Spies and Guys (short)
Pvt. Joe Besser
 
1953 A Day in the Country (short)
Narrator (voice)
 
1952 Caught on the Bounce (short)
Joe
 
1952 Aim, Fire, Scoot (short)
Pvt. Joe Besser
 
1951 'Fraidy Cat (short)
Joe Besser
 
1951 The Alan Young Show (TV series)
– Episode dated 22 November 1951 (1951)
 
1951 Front Page Detective (TV series)
Hubert
– The Little Black Book (1951) … Hubert
 
1950-1951 The Ken Murray Show (TV series)
Regular
– Episode dated 14 October 1950 (1950) … Regular
– Episode dated 7 October 1950 (1950) … Regular
 
1950 The Desert Hawk
Prince Sinbad
 
1950 Dizzy Yardbird (short)
Pvt. Rodney Marblehead
 
1950 Woman in Hiding
Salesman with Drum
 
1950 Outside the Wall
Cook (uncredited)
 
1950 Joe Palooka Meets Humphrey
Carlton
 
1949 Hollywood House (TV series)
Irate Guest
– Episode dated 2 December 1949 (1949) … Irate Guest
 
1949 Waiting in the Lurch (short)
Eric Loudermilk Potts
 
1949 Africa Screams
Harry
 
1948 Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin'
Sharkey Dolan
 
1946 Hour Glass (TV series)
– Episode dated 9 May 1946 (1946)
 
1946 Talk About a Lady
Roly Q. Entwhistle
 
1945 Eadie Was a Lady
Professor Diogenes Dingle
 
1944 Hey, Rookie
Pendelton (Pudge) Pfeiffer
 
1940 Hot Steel
Siggie
 
1938 Cuckoorancho (short)
Wanderer
 
Show ShowWriter (1 title)
1960 Cinderfella (gag writer - uncredited)
 
Show ShowThanks (1 title)
1978 Hey, Abbott! (special thanks)
 
Show ShowSelf (6 titles)
1978 Hey, Abbott!
Himself
 
1968 The Don Rickles Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #1.13 (1968) … Himself
 
1967-1968 The Hollywood Palace (TV series)
Himself - Comedian
– Episode #6.9 (1968) … Himself - Comedian
– Episode #5.6 (1967) … Himself - Comedian
 
1961 Here's Hollywood (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 27 July 1961 (1961) … Himself
 
1959 Sappy Bull Fighters (short)
Himself (as Joe)
 
1958 Quiz Whizz (short)
Himself (as Joe)
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (7 titles)
2003 The Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special (TV documentary)
Joe
 
1994 Biography (TV series documentary)
 
1994 Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld (TV documentary)
 
1990 The Three Stooges 60th Anniversary Special (TV documentary)
 
1986 Classic Comedy Teams (video documentary)
Himself
 
1984 Stooge Snapshots (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1956 Columbia Laff Hour
Joe
 

Related Videos

The Story on Page One -- A man and a woman involved in a courtroom battle over the murder of the woman's brutish husband. Their love carries them through the courtroom ordeal and the trial brings out the fact that the death was accidental. Hard Parts: South Bronx: Season 1: Episode 13 -- Not wanting to break "date night" with his wife, Joe sends Hector to pick up a headlight lens for a 1934 Willys; Joe solves the mystery of an electrical short in a private eye's Toyota. The Three Stooges 60th Anniversary Special -- Clip: Higher than a kite
See all 17 »
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Personal Details

Other Works:

(1946). Stage Play: If the Shoe Fits. Musical comedy. Music by David Raksin. Lyrics by June Carroll. Book by June Carroll and Robert Duke. Music orchestrated by Robert Russell Bennett. Choreographed by Charles Weidman. Directed by by Eugene S. Bryden. New Century Theatre: 5 Dec 1946- 21 Dec 1946 (21 performances)... See more »

Alternate Names:

Joseph Besser | Joe

Height:

5' 4" (1.63 m)
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Did You Know?

Trivia:

Was the only member of The Three Stooges to use his actual birth name in the act. All of the other Stooges, and even Ted Healy, used stage or Americanized names. See more »

Trademark:

His ability to play young children although he was a middle aged man See more »

Star Sign:

Leo