Acting · Saint Louis, Missouri, USA · Born August 12, 1907
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.
Mystery Reel
2022
TVThe Three Stooges: Hey Moe! Hey Dad!
2015
as Joe (archive footage)
MovieThe Abbott and Costello Show: Who's On First?
2011
as Stinky (archive footage)
MoviePhyllis Diller: Not Just Another Pretty Face
2007
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThree Stooges 75th Anniversary Special
2003
as Curly-Joe (archive footage)
MovieThe Three Stooges Story
2001
as Joe (archive footage) (uncredited)
MovieThe Three Stooges: Kings Of Laughter
2001
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
MovieThe Three Stooges Greatest Hits!
1997
as (archive footage)
MovieAbbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld
1994
as Self (archive footage)
MovieClassic Comedy Teams
1986
as Self (archive footage)
MovieMy Smurfy Valentine
1983
as Cupid (voice)
TVYogi's Space Race
1978
TVGalaxy Goof-Ups
1978
as Scare Bear (voice)
TVScooby's All-Stars
1977
TVمخمخ و مشمش الثنائي المدهش
1975
TVJeannie
1973
TVThe New Scooby-Doo Movies
1972
as Babu (voice)
TVThe Houndcats
1972
MovieWhich Way to the Front?
1970
as Dock Master
MovieSavage Intruder
1970
as Bus Driver
MovieThe Monk
1969
as Herbie
TVLove, American Style
1969
as Tony
TVMy World and Welcome to It
1969
That's Life
1968
TVThe Danny Thomas Hour
1967
as Hermes
TVThe Mothers-in-Law
1967
as Joe
TVThat Girl
1966
TVBatman
1966
as Penguin Supporter (uncredited)
TVThe Hollywood Palace
1964
as Self
A Day at the Horse Opera
1962
as Indian Chief
MovieHand of Death
1962
as Service station attendant
MovieThe Errand Boy
1961
as Man Watching Rushes
TVThe Alvin Show
1961
The Joey Bishop Show
1961
as Mr. Jillson
MovieLet's Make Love
1960
as Charlie Lamont
MovieThe Rookie
1959
as Soldier
MovieThe Story on Page One
1959
as Gallagher (uncredited)
MovieSay One for Me
1959
as Joe Greb
MovieSappy Bull Fighters
1959
as Joe
MovieTriple Crossed
1959
as Joe
MoviePlunderers of Painted Flats
1959
as Andy Heather
MovieOil's Well That Ends Well
1958
as Joe
MovieFlying Saucer Daffy
1958
as Joe
MovieSweet and Hot
1958
as Joe
MoviePies and Guys
1958
as Joe
MovieFifi Blows Her Top
1958
as Joe Besser
MovieQuiz Whizz
1958
as Himself
MovieOuter Space Jitters
1957
as Joe / Joe's Son
MovieRusty Romeos
1957
as Joe
MovieThe Helen Morgan Story
1957
as Bartender (uncredited)
MovieHorsing Around
1957
as Joe
MovieGuns a Poppin!
1957
as Joe
MovieSpace Ship Sappy
1957
as Joe
MovieA Merry Mix-Up
1957
as Joe / Jack / Jeff
MovieMuscle Up a Little Closer
1957
as Joe
MovieHoofs and Goofs
1957
as Joe
MovieArmy Daze
1956
as Pvt. Joe Besser
MovieColumbia Laff Hour
1956
as Joe (archive footage)
MovieIt's a Dog's Life
1955
as Dog Catcher (uncredited)
MovieHook a Crook
1955
as Joe Besser
MovieTwo-Gun Lady
1955
as Doc McGinnis
MovieHeadline Hunters
1955
as Coroner
MovieMad at the World
1955
as Gas Station Attendant
MovieG.I. Dood It
1955
as Pvt. Joe Marblehead / Homer the Dog (voice)
MovieAbbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops
1955
as Hunter (uncredited)
TVThe Millionaire
1955
as Chester Pips
TVDecember Bride
1954
MovieThe Fire Chaser
1954
as Eric Loudermilk Potts
MovieSins of Jezebel
1953
as Yonkel
MovieI, the Jury
1953
as Pete, Elevator Operator
MovieSpies and Guys
1953
as Pvt. Joe Besser
MovieA Day in the Country
1953
as Narrator (voice)
TVGeneral Electric Theater
1953
as Manager
TVThe Abbott and Costello Show
1952
as Stinky Davis
MovieCaught on the Bounce
1952
as Joe
MovieAim, Fire, Scoot
1952
as Pvt. Joe Besser
MovieFraidy Cat
1951
as Joe Besser
MovieThe Desert Hawk
1950
as Prince Sinbad
TVThe Gene Autry Show
1950
MovieDizzy Yardbird
1950
as Pvt. Rodney Marblehead
MovieOutside the Wall
1950
as The Cook (uncredited)
MovieJoe Palooka Meets Humphrey
1950
as Carlton
MovieWoman in Hiding
1950
as Salesman with Drum
MovieWaiting in the Lurch
1949
as Eric Loudermilk Potts
MovieAfrica Screams
1949
as Harry
MovieFeudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin'
1948
as Sharkey Dolan
Hour Glass
1946
MovieTalk About a Lady
1946
as Roly Q. Entwhistle
MovieEadie Was a Lady
1945
as Professor Diogenes Dingle
MovieHey, Rookie
1944
as Pendleton "Pudge" Pfeiffer
MovieHot Steel
1940
as Siggie Landers
TVThe Three Stooges
1934
as Joe
