Biography for
Joe Besser More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

12 August 1907, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Date of Death

1 March 1988, North Hollywood, California, USA (heart failure)

Birth Name

Joseph Besser

Height

5' 4" (1.63 m)

Mini Biography

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, but quit the team to be with his ailing wife in 1958. He spent the 1960s appearing in numerous films and TV series, including 88 performances on "The Joey Bishop Show" (1961) and a regular role as the voice of Babu on the animated series "Jeannie" (1973).

IMDb Mini Biography By: Michael J. Bauman

Spouse

Erna Kay

(18 November 1932 - 1 March 1988) (his death)

Trivia

He is said to have "ruined" The Three Stooges' comic timing by refusing to allow Moe Howard, the Stooge-in-Chief as it were, to slap him (see Ted Healy).

The only member of The Three Stooges team who was more successful in his solo career than he was with the Stooges.

When Columbia shut down its shorts department, The Three Stooges were forced to take the act on the road, and Besser was invited to go. However, he refused because he had to be home to take care of his sick wife. He was not fired as the legend has it.

After Shemp Howard died, Moe Howard and Larry Fine wanted to continue as the "Two Stooges", but their contract said there had to be THREE Stooges. Besser was hired to fill in the void. The trouble was that he didn't like to be hit, so Larry told him that he would take the hits for him.

He began his career in show business as a song plugger for a St. Louis-based music company, and later became a comedy assistant to the great magician Howard Thurston.

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.

Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald S. Smith, pg. 51. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387

His favorite comedians were Jack Benny, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, and Ann Miller is his choice for actress.

Grandfather of Matt Besser.

Personal Quotes

"Oooh, you crazy!"

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