Joe Besser
Acting
Born: August 12, 1907 · Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
Died: March 1, 1988 (aged 80)
Highest Rated
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.
Photos (3)
Movies (61)
Let's Make Love
Charlie Lamont
Which Way to the Front?
Dock Master
The Errand Boy
Man Watching Rushes
The Helen Morgan Story
Bartender (uncredited)
Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops
Hunter (uncredited)
I, the Jury
Pete, Elevator Operator
The Desert Hawk
Prince Sinbad
Outside the Wall
The Cook (uncredited)
Savage Intruder
Bus Driver
Eadie Was a Lady
Professor Diogenes Dingle
Woman in Hiding
Salesman with Drum
The Story on Page One
Gallagher (uncredited)
Africa Screams
Harry
Mad at the World
Gas Station Attendant
Talk About a Lady
Roly Q. Entwhistle
The Rookie
Soldier
Say One for Me
Joe Greb
It's a Dog's Life
Dog Catcher (uncredited)
Horsing Around
Joe
My Smurfy Valentine
Cupid (voice)
Army Daze
Pvt. Joe Besser
The Monk
Herbie
Hey, Rookie
Pendleton "Pudge" Pfeiffer
Fifi Blows Her Top
Joe Besser
Joe Palooka Meets Humphrey
Carlton
Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special
Curly-Joe (archive footage)
Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin'
Sharkey Dolan
Plunderers of Painted Flats
Andy Heather
The Three Stooges Greatest Hits!
(archive footage)
Guns a Poppin!
Joe
Spies and Guys
Pvt. Joe Besser
Dizzy Yardbird
Pvt. Rodney Marblehead
Rusty Romeos
Joe
The Abbott and Costello Show: Who's On First?
Stinky (archive footage)
Columbia Laff Hour
Joe (archive footage)
Hot Steel
Siggie Landers
Triple Crossed
Joe
The Three Stooges Story
Joe (archive footage) (uncredited)
Hoofs and Goofs
Joe
Sins of Jezebel
Yonkel
Pies and Guys
Joe
Hand of Death
Service station attendant
The Three Stooges: Kings Of Laughter
(archive footage) (uncredited)
Fraidy Cat
Joe Besser
Waiting in the Lurch
Eric Loudermilk Potts
Muscle Up a Little Closer
Joe
Flying Saucer Daffy
Joe
Two-Gun Lady
Doc McGinnis
Headline Hunters
Coroner
Oil's Well That Ends Well
Joe
G.I. Dood It
Pvt. Joe Marblehead / Homer the Dog (voice)
Space Ship Sappy
Joe
Sweet and Hot
Joe
Outer Space Jitters
Joe / Joe's Son
A Merry Mix-Up
Joe / Jack / Jeff
Hook a Crook
Joe Besser
Caught on the Bounce
Joe
Aim, Fire, Scoot
Pvt. Joe Besser
The Fire Chaser
Eric Loudermilk Potts
Sappy Bull Fighters
Joe
A Day in the Country
Narrator (voice)
TV Shows (25)
Love, American Style
Tony · 1 eps
Love, American Style
Neighbor · 1 eps
Batman
Penguin Supporter (uncredited) · 1 eps
That Girl
2 eps
December Bride
1 eps
The Millionaire
Chester Pips · 1 eps
Scooby's All-Stars
94 eps
The Abbott and Costello Show
Stinky Davis · 12 eps
The Gene Autry Show
1 eps
The New Scooby-Doo Movies
Babu (voice) · 1 eps
The Mothers-in-Law
Bandleader · 1 eps
The Mothers-in-Law
Tramp · 1 eps
The Mothers-in-Law
Joe · 1 eps
The Joey Bishop Show
Mr. Jillson · 123 eps
The Danny Thomas Hour
Hermes · 1 eps
The Three Stooges
Joe · 190 eps
My World and Welcome to It
1 eps
Jeannie
16 eps
The Alvin Show
26 eps
The Oddball Couple
16 eps
General Electric Theater
Manager · 1 eps
Yogi's Space Race
13 eps
The Houndcats
13 eps
The Three Stooges: Hey Moe! Hey Dad!
Joe (archive footage) · 24 eps
Galaxy Goof-Ups
Scare Bear (voice) · 13 eps
