Joe Besser

Joe Besser

Known for: Acting
Biography: 1907-08-12
Deathday: 1988-03-01 (80 years old)

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Biography

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.

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Filmography

all 96

Movies 68

TV Shows 28

self 12

Voice 1

Writer 1

Narrator 1

Mystery Reel

Mystery Reel (2022)

Movie
ArchiveFootage
3-D Rarities: Volume II

3-D Rarities: Volume II (2020)

Movie
Joe
The Three Stooges: Hey Moe! Hey Dad!

The Three Stooges: Hey Moe! Hey Dad! (2015)

TV
Stinky
The Abbott and Costello Show: Who's On First?

The Abbott and Costello Show: Who's On First? (2011)

Movie
The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 8: 1955-1959

The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 8: 1955-1959 (2010)

Movie
Self
Phyllis Diller: Not Just Another Pretty Face

Phyllis Diller: Not Just Another Pretty Face (2007)

Movie
Curly-Joe (archive footage)
Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special

Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special (2003)

Movie
The Three Stooges: Kings Of Laughter

The Three Stooges: Kings Of Laughter (2001)

Movie
Joe
The Three Stooges Story

The Three Stooges Story (2001)

Movie
(archive footage)
The Three Stooges Greatest Hits!

The Three Stooges Greatest Hits! (1997)

Movie
ArchiveFootage
Abbott & Costello Meet Biography

Abbott & Costello Meet Biography (1996)

Movie
Self
The Making of the Stooges

The Making of the Stooges (1984)

Movie
Cupid
My Smurfy Valentine

My Smurfy Valentine (1983)

Movie
Scare Bear / Scare Bear (1978)
Galaxy Goof-Ups

Galaxy Goof-Ups (1978)

TV
Scare Bear
Yogi's Space Race

Yogi's Space Race (1978)

TV
Simple Simon
Baggy Pants and the Nitwits

Baggy Pants and the Nitwits (1977)

TV
Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics

Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics (1977)

TV
Additional Voices
The Oddball Couple

The Oddball Couple (1975)

TV
Babu
Jeannie

Jeannie (1973)

TV
Babu (voice)
The New Scooby-Doo Movies

The New Scooby-Doo Movies (1972)

TV
5.83
Putty Puss
The Houndcats

The Houndcats (1972)

TV
Dock Master
Which Way to the Front?

Which Way to the Front? (1970)

Movie
Vic
Savage Intruder

Savage Intruder (1970)

Movie
Herbie
The Monk

The Monk (1969)

Movie
Tony
Love, American Style

Love, American Style (1969)

TV
My World and Welcome to It

My World and Welcome to It (1969)

TV
Florian / Gerald
The Good Guys

The Good Guys (1968)

TV
That's Life

That's Life (1968)

TV
Hermes
The Danny Thomas Hour

The Danny Thomas Hour (1967)

TV
Tramp / Bandleader / Joe
The Mothers-in-Law

The Mothers-in-Law (1967)

TV
That Girl

That Girl (1966)

TV
6
Penguin Supporter
Batman

Batman (1966)

TV
5
Self
The Hollywood Palace

The Hollywood Palace (1964)

TV
Service station attendant
Hand of Death

Hand of Death (1962)

Movie
Man Watching Rushes
The Errand Boy

The Errand Boy (1961)

Movie
The Dragon
The Alvin Show

The Alvin Show (1961)

TV
Mr. Jillson / Jillson / Leonard Jillson
The Joey Bishop Show

The Joey Bishop Show (1961)

TV
Writer
Cinderfella

Cinderfella (1960)

Movie
Charlie Lamont
Let's Make Love

Let's Make Love (1960)

Movie
4
Gallagher (uncredited)
The Story on Page One

The Story on Page One (1959)

Movie
Soldier
The Rookie

The Rookie (1959)

Movie
Joe Greb
Say One for Me

Say One for Me (1959)

Movie
Joe
Sappy Bull Fighters

Sappy Bull Fighters (1959)

Movie
Joe
Triple Crossed

Triple Crossed (1959)

Movie
Andy Heather
Plunderers of Painted Flats

Plunderers of Painted Flats (1959)

Movie
Joe
Oil's Well That Ends Well

Oil's Well That Ends Well (1958)

Movie
Joe
Flying Saucer Daffy

Flying Saucer Daffy (1958)

Movie
Joe / Uncle Joe
Sweet and Hot

Sweet and Hot (1958)

Movie
Joe
Pies and Guys

Pies and Guys (1958)

Movie
Joe Besser
Fifi Blows Her Top

Fifi Blows Her Top (1958)

Movie
Joe
Quiz Whizz

Quiz Whizz (1958)

Movie
Joe / Joe's Son
Outer Space Jitters

Outer Space Jitters (1957)

Movie
Joe
Rusty Romeos

Rusty Romeos (1957)

Movie
Joe
Horsing Around

Horsing Around (1957)

Movie
Joe
Guns A Poppin

Guns A Poppin (1957)

Movie
Joe
Space Ship Sappy

Space Ship Sappy (1957)

Movie
Joe / Jack / Jeff
A Merry Mix-Up

A Merry Mix-Up (1957)

Movie
Joe
Muscle Up A Little Closer

Muscle Up A Little Closer (1957)

Movie
Joe
Hoofs and Goofs

Hoofs and Goofs (1957)

Movie
Pvt. Joe Besser
Army Daze

Army Daze (1956)

Movie
Joe
Columbia Laff Hour

Columbia Laff Hour (1956)

Movie
Dog Catcher (uncredited)
It's a Dog's Life

It's a Dog's Life (1955)

Movie
Joe Besser
Hook a Crook

Hook a Crook (1955)

Movie
Doc McGinnis
Two-Gun Lady

Two-Gun Lady (1955)

Movie
Coroner
Headline Hunters

Headline Hunters (1955)

Movie
Gas Station Attendant
Mad at the World

Mad at the World (1955)

Movie
Pvt. Joe Marblehead / Voice of Homer the Dog
G.I. Dood It

G.I. Dood It (1955)

Movie
Hunter (uncredited)
Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops

Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops (1955)

Movie
6
Self
The Eddie Cantor Comedy Theatre

The Eddie Cantor Comedy Theatre (1955)

TV
Chester Pips
The Millionaire

The Millionaire (1955)

TV
December Bride

December Bride (1954)

TV
Eric Loudermilk Potts
The Fire Chaser

The Fire Chaser (1954)

Movie
The Lone Wolf

The Lone Wolf (1954)

TV
Yonkel
Sins of Jezebel

Sins of Jezebel (1953)

Movie
Pete, Elevator Operator
I, the Jury

I, the Jury (1953)

Movie
Pvt. Joe Besser
Spies and Guys

Spies and Guys (1953)

Movie
Narrator
A Day in the Country

A Day in the Country (1953)

Movie
Stinky Davis
The Abbott and Costello Show

The Abbott and Costello Show (1952)

TV
Joe
Caught on the Bounce

Caught on the Bounce (1952)

Movie
Pvt. Joe Besser
Aim, Fire, Scoot

Aim, Fire, Scoot (1952)

Movie
Joe Besser
Fraidy Cat

Fraidy Cat (1951)

Movie
Prince Sinbad
The Desert Hawk

The Desert Hawk (1950)

Movie
The Gene Autry Show

The Gene Autry Show (1950)

TV
Pvt. Rodney Marblehead
Dizzy Yardbird

Dizzy Yardbird (1950)

Movie
The Cook
Outside the Wall

Outside the Wall (1950)

Movie
Carlton
Joe Palooka Meets Humphrey

Joe Palooka Meets Humphrey (1950)

Movie
Self
The Ken Murray Show

The Ken Murray Show (1950)

TV
Salesman with Drum
Woman in Hiding

Woman in Hiding (1950)

Movie
Eric Loudermilk Potts
Waiting in the Lurch

Waiting in the Lurch (1949)

Movie
Harry
Africa Screams

Africa Screams (1949)

Movie
6.67
Sharkey Dolan
Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin'

Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin' (1948)

Movie
Self
Hour Glass

Hour Glass (1946)

TV
Roly Q. Entwhistle
Talk About a Lady

Talk About a Lady (1946)

Movie
Prof. Diogenes Dingle
Eadie Was a Lady

Eadie Was a Lady (1945)

Movie
Pendelton (Pudge) Pfeiffer
Hey, Rookie

Hey, Rookie (1944)

Movie
Siggie Landers
Hot Steel

Hot Steel (1940)

Movie

Ratings

Average 5.22
Based on 79.5 Thousand movie and tv ratings over time
1940
1954
1958
1955
2022
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Joe BesserJoe Besser

Information

Known For
Acting

Gender
Male

Birthday
1907-08-12

Deathday
1988-03-01 (80 years old)

Birth Place
St. Louis, United States of America

Citizenships
United States of America

Also Known As
Joseph Besser, The Three Stooges, Joseph "Joe" Besser


This article uses material from Wikipedia.
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Jules White
Joe Besser
Jules White worked together with Joe Besser in:
27 Movies
Moe Howard
Joe Besser
Moe Howard worked together with Joe Besser in:
23 Movies
1 TV Show
Larry Fine
Joe Besser
Larry Fine worked together with Joe Besser in:
23 Movies
1 TV Show
Felix Adler
Joe Besser
Felix Adler worked together with Joe Besser in:
14 Movies
Jack White
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Jack White worked together with Joe Besser in:
13 Movies
Emil Sitka
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Emil Sitka worked together with Joe Besser in:
11 Movies
Shemp Howard
Joe Besser
Shemp Howard worked together with Joe Besser in:
9 Movies
1 TV Show
Irving Lippman
Joe Besser
Irving Lippman worked together with Joe Besser in:
8 Movies
Harold White
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Harold White worked together with Joe Besser in:
8 Movies
Joe DeRita
Joe Besser
Joe DeRita worked together with Joe Besser in:
6 Movies
1 TV Show
Curly Howard
Joe Besser
Curly Howard worked together with Joe Besser in:
6 Movies
1 TV Show
Edwin H. Bryant
Joe Besser
Edwin H. Bryant worked together with Joe Besser in:
7 Movies
Harriette Tarler
Joe Besser
Harriette Tarler worked together with Joe Besser in:
7 Movies
Saul A. Goodkind
Joe Besser
Saul A. Goodkind worked together with Joe Besser in:
6 Movies
Joe Palma
Joe Besser
Joe Palma worked together with Joe Besser in:
6 Movies
Henry Freulich
Joe Besser
Henry Freulich worked together with Joe Besser in:
6 Movies
Del Moore
Joe Besser
Del Moore worked together with Joe Besser in:
1 Movie
4 TV Shows
Jerry Lewis
Joe Besser
Jerry Lewis worked together with Joe Besser in:
4 Movies
1 TV Show
Doodles Weaver
Joe Besser
Doodles Weaver worked together with Joe Besser in:
4 Movies
1 TV Show
John Stephenson
Joe Besser
John Stephenson worked together with Joe Besser in:
5 TV Shows
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