JB
Joe Besser
Actor, Additional Credits
Born August 12, 1907Died March 1, 1988 (80 years)
Joe Besser (born Jessel Besser, August 12, 1907 – March 1, 1988) was an American actor, comedian, and musician, known for his impish humor and wimpy characters. He is best known for his brief stint as a member of The Three Stooges in movie short subjects of 1957–59. He is also remembered for his television roles: Stinky, the bratty man-child in The Abbott and Costello Show, and Jillson, the maintenance man in The Joey Bishop The zany comedy team of Olsen and Johnson, whose Broadway revues were fast-paced collections of songs and blackouts, hired Joe Besser. His noisy intrusions were perfect for their anything-can-happen format. Besser's work caught the attention of the Shubert brothers, who signed him to a theatrical contract. Columbia Pictures hired Besser away from the Shuberts, and Besser relocated to Hollywood in 1944, where he brought his unique comic character to feature-length musical comedies. Besser also starred in short-subject comedies for Columbia from 1949 to 1956.
Besser had substituted for Lou Costello on radio, opposite Bud Abbott, and by the 1950s he was firmly established as one of the Abbott and Costello regulars. When the duo filmed The Abbott and Costello Show for television, they hired Joe Besser to play Oswald "Stinky" Davis, a bratty, loudmouthed child dressed in an oversized Little Lord Fauntleroy outfit, shorts, and a flat top hat with overhanging brim. He appeared during the first season of The Abbott and Costello Show. Besser was cast for the role of Yonkel, a chariot man in the low-budget biblical film Sins of Jezebel, which starred Paulette Goddard as the titular wicked queen.
After Shemp Howard died of a heart attack, Moe suggested he and teammate Larry Fine continue working as "The Two Stooges". Studio chief Harry Cohen rejected the proposal. Although Moe had legal approval to allow new members into the act, Columbia executives had the final say about any actor who would appear in the studio's films, and insisted on a performer already under contract to Columbia, Joe Besser. At the time, Besser was one of a few comedians still making comedy shorts at the studio.
Besser refrained from imitating Curly or Shemp. He continued to play the same whiny character he had developed over his long career. He had a clause in his contract prohibiting being hit excessively. Besser recalled, "I usually played the kind of character who would hit others back". The Stooges shorts with Besser were filmed from the spring of 1956 to the end of 1957. His Stooge tenure ended when Columbia shut down the two-reel-comedy department on December 20, 1957. Producer-director Jules White had shot enough film for 16 comedies, which were released a few months apart until June 1959, with Sappy Bull Fighters being the final release.
Joe Besser was found dead in his home, aged 80, and determined to have died of heart failure.
Besser had substituted for Lou Costello on radio, opposite Bud Abbott, and by the 1950s he was firmly established as one of the Abbott and Costello regulars. When the duo filmed The Abbott and Costello Show for television, they hired Joe Besser to play Oswald "Stinky" Davis, a bratty, loudmouthed child dressed in an oversized Little Lord Fauntleroy outfit, shorts, and a flat top hat with overhanging brim. He appeared during the first season of The Abbott and Costello Show. Besser was cast for the role of Yonkel, a chariot man in the low-budget biblical film Sins of Jezebel, which starred Paulette Goddard as the titular wicked queen.
After Shemp Howard died of a heart attack, Moe suggested he and teammate Larry Fine continue working as "The Two Stooges". Studio chief Harry Cohen rejected the proposal. Although Moe had legal approval to allow new members into the act, Columbia executives had the final say about any actor who would appear in the studio's films, and insisted on a performer already under contract to Columbia, Joe Besser. At the time, Besser was one of a few comedians still making comedy shorts at the studio.
Besser refrained from imitating Curly or Shemp. He continued to play the same whiny character he had developed over his long career. He had a clause in his contract prohibiting being hit excessively. Besser recalled, "I usually played the kind of character who would hit others back". The Stooges shorts with Besser were filmed from the spring of 1956 to the end of 1957. His Stooge tenure ended when Columbia shut down the two-reel-comedy department on December 20, 1957. Producer-director Jules White had shot enough film for 16 comedies, which were released a few months apart until June 1959, with Sappy Bull Fighters being the final release.
Joe Besser was found dead in his home, aged 80, and determined to have died of heart failure.
Known For
Featured Videos
Filmography
| 2015 | Hey Moe! Hey Dad! (TV Series) · as Joe (archive Footage) |
| 2011 | The Abbott and Costello Show: Who's On First? · as Stinky (archive Footage) |
| 2003 | The Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special · as Curly-Joe (archive Footage) |
| 2001 | The Three Stooges Story · as Joe (archive Footage) (uncredited) |
| 1998 | The Three Stooges Family Album · as Cast |
| 1983 | My Smurfy Valentine · as Cupid (voice) |
| 1982 | Shirt Tales (TV Series) · as Elmo The Elephant |
| 1981 | The Smurfs (TV Series) · as Cupid |
| 1978 | Yogi's Space Race (TV Series) |
| 1978 | Yogi's Galaxy Goof-Ups (TV Series) · as Scare Bear (voice) |
| 1977 | Fred Flintstone & Friends (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1977 | Baggy Pants and the Nitwits (TV Series) · as Simple Simon |
| 1977 | Scooby's All Star Laff-A-Lympics (TV Series) |
| 1977 | Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels (TV Series) · as Additional Voices |
| 1975 | The Oddball Couple (TV Series) |
| 1973 | Jeannie (TV Series) |
| 1972 | The Houndcats (TV Series) |
| 1972 | The New Scooby-Doo Movies (TV Series) · as Babu (voice) |
| 1970 | Which Way to the Front? · as Dock Master |
| 1970 | Arnie (TV Series) · as Chef |
| 1970 | Where's Huddles? (TV Series) · as Coach |
| 1970 | Hollywood Horror House · as Bus Driver |
| 1969 | The Monk · as Herbie |
| 1969 | Love, American Style (TV Series) · as Neighbor |
| 1969 | My World and Welcome to It (TV Series) |
| 1968 | The Good Guys (TV Series) · as Florian |
| 1968 | That's Life (1968) (TV Series) |
| 1967 | The Danny Thomas Hour (TV Series) · as Hermes |
| 1967 | The Mothers-In-Law (TV Series) · as Bandleader |
| 1966 | That Girl (TV Series) |
| 1966 | Batman (1966) (TV Series) · as Penguin Supporter (uncredited) |
| 1964 | Valentine's Day (TV Series) · as Max Coleman |
| 1962 | Hand of Death · as Service Station Attendant |
| 1961 | The Errand Boy · as Man Watching Rushes |
| 1961 | The Alvin Show (TV Series) |
| 1961 | Father of the Bride (TV Series) · as Justice Of The Peace |
| 1961 | The Joey Bishop Show (TV Series) · as Mr. Jillson |
| 1960 | Angel (1960) (TV Series) · as Father |
| 1960 | Let's Make Love · as Charlie Lamont |
| 1960 | The Three Stooges (TV Series) · as Joe |
| 1959 | The Story on Page One · as Gallagher (uncredited) |
| 1959 | The Rookie · as Soldier |
| 1959 | Say One for Me · as Joe Greb |
| 1959 | Triple Crossed · as Joe |
| 1959 | Plunderers of Painted Flats · as Andy Heather |
| 1959 | Three Stooges Fun-O-Rama · as Joe |
| 1958 | Oil's Well That Ends Well · as Joe |
| 1958 | Flying Saucer Daffy · as Joe |
| 1958 | Peter Gunn (TV Series) · as Samuel 'chubby' Stone |
| 1958 | Sweet and Hot · as Joe |
| 1958 | Pies and Guys · as Joe |
| 1958 | Shirley Temple's Storybook (TV Series) · as Rodrigo |
| 1957 | Outer Space Jitters · as Joe / Joe's Son |
| 1957 | Rusty Romeos · as Joe |
| 1957 | The Helen Morgan Story · as Bartender (uncredited) |
| 1957 | Horsing Around · as Joe |
| 1957 | Guns a Poppin! · as Joe |
| 1957 | Space Ship Sappy · as Joe |
| 1957 | A Merry Mix-up · as Joe / Jack / Jeff |
| 1957 | Muscle Up a Little Closer · as Joe |
| 1957 | Hoofs and Goofs · as Joe |
| 1956 | Army Daze · as Pvt. Joe Besser |
| 1955 | It's a Dog's Life · as Dog Catcher (uncredited) |
| 1955 | Two-Gun Lady · as Doc Mcginnis |
| 1955 | Headline Hunters · as Coroner |
| 1955 | Mad at the World · as Gas Station Attendant |
| 1955 | Damon Runyon Theater (TV Series) · as Frankie Farrell |
| 1955 | Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops · as Hunter (uncredited) |
| 1955 | The Millionaire (TV Series) · as Chester Pips |
| 1954 | December Bride (TV Series) |
| 1954 | The Fire Chaser · as Eric Loudermilk Potts |
| 1954 | The Lone Wolf (TV Series) · as Cupie |
| 1953 | Make Room for Daddy (TV Series) · as Postman Thompson |
| 1953 | Meet Mr. McNutley (TV Series) · as Party Favor Salesman |
| 1953 | Sins of Jezebel · as Yonkel |
| 1953 | I, the Jury · as Pete, Elevator Operator |
| 1953 | Spies and Guys · as Pvt. Joe Besser |
| 1953 | Private Secretary (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1953 | General Electric Theater (TV Series) · as Manager |
| 1952 | The Abbott and Costello Show (TV Series) · as Stinky Davis |
| 1952 | I Married Joan (TV Series) · as Frank Macker |
| 1952 | Caught on the Bounce · as Joe |
| 1952 | My Little Margie (TV Series) · as Mr. Briggs |
| 1952 | Gang Busters (TV Series) · as Walker |
| 1952 | Aim, Fire, Scoot · as Pvt. Joe Besser |
| 1951 | Front Page Detective (TV Series) · as Hubert |
| 1950 | The Jack Benny Program (TV Series) · as Joey |
| 1950 | The Desert Hawk · as Prince Sinbad |
| 1950 | The Gene Autry Show (TV Series) |
| 1950 | Dizzy Yardbird · as Pvt. Rodney Marblehead |
| 1950 | Outside the Wall · as The Cook (uncredited) |
| 1950 | Joe Palooka Meets Humphrey · as Carlton |
| 1950 | Woman in Hiding · as Salesman With Drum |
| 1949 | Waiting in the Lurch · as Eric Loudermilk Potts |
| 1949 | Africa Screams · as Harry |
| 1948 | Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin' · as Sharkey Dolan |
| 1945 | Eadie Was a Lady · as Professor Diogenes Dingle |