It was his mother's thick European accent that led her first born to become known as Shemp. He was born as Samuel Horwitz on March 17, 1895, but when his mother referred to as "Sams", it sounded a lot like Shemp. So the name stuck with him from age 7 throughout his life. It is stated that Shemp enjoyed stuffing articles down the toilet. This activity normally was rewarded with a smack from mom, a belt across the head from Dad and various shoves and kicks from his brothers. Shemp left high school after about one year and enrolled in trade school with Moe. Moe took up electrical, Shemp took up plumbing. One story I read has Moe and Shemp wiring a special latch to the family home front door to permit them entry when coming home late, and all the others were in bed. Their parents fount the latch and removed it one night after Moe and Shemp had snuck out. The lads found an open window and climbed in.. to land in a bathtub filled with water. A wet smack on the face from their father resulted. Shemp and Moe became the first stooges as they teamed up with a former schoolmate of Shemps. Shemp left the group in disagreement. Curley took his spot, until his health failed and Shemp rejoined Larry & Moe. It is said that Shemp had a fear of airplanes, and thus he, Larry and Moe would travel by train for personal appearances. Shemp was married and had one child.

He died November 23, 1955.