Joe Besser
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.
Known For
Credits
- 2022 · Mystery Reel as
- 2015 · The Three Stooges: Hey Moe! Hey Dad! as Joe
- 2011 · The Abbott and Costello Show: Who's On First? as Stinky
- 2010 · The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 8: 1955-1959 as
- 2007 · Phyllis Diller: Not Just Another Pretty Face as Self
- 2003 · Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special as Curly-Joe (archive footage)
- 2001 · The Three Stooges Story as Joe
- 2001 · The Three Stooges: Kings Of Laughter as
- 1997 · The Three Stooges Greatest Hits! as (archive footage)
- 1983 · My Smurfy Valentine as Cupid (voice)
- 1978 · Yogi's Space Race as
- 1978 · Galaxy Goof-Ups as Scare Bear (voice)
- 1977 · Scooby's All-Stars as
- 1975 · The Oddball Couple as
- 1973 · Jeannie as
- 1972 · The New Scooby-Doo Movies as Babu (voice)
- 1972 · The Houndcats as
- 1970 · Which Way to the Front? as Dock Master
- 1970 · Hollywood Horror House as Bus Driver
- 1969 · The Monk as Herbie
- 1969 · Love, American Style as Tony
- 1969 · My World and Welcome to It as
- 1968 · That's Life as
- 1967 · The Mothers-in-Law as Bandleader
- 1967 · The Mothers-in-Law as Tramp
- 1967 · The Mothers-in-Law as Joe
- 1966 · That Girl as
- 1966 · Batman as Penguin Supporter
- 1964 · The Hollywood Palace as Self
- 1962 · Hand of Death as Service station attendant
- 1961 · The Errand Boy as Man Watching Rushes
- 1961 · The Alvin Show as
- 1961 · The Joey Bishop Show as Mr. Jillson
- 1960 · Shirley Temple’s Storybook: Babes in Toyland as
- 1960 · Let's Make Love as Charlie Lamont
- 1959 · The Story on Page One as Gallagher (uncredited)
- 1959 · The Rookie as Soldier
- 1959 · Say One for Me as Joe Greb
- 1959 · Sappy Bull Fighters as Joe
- 1959 · Triple Crossed as Joe
- 1959 · Plunderers of Painted Flats as Andy Heather
- 1958 · Oil's Well That Ends Well as Joe
- 1958 · Flying Saucer Daffy as Joe
- 1958 · Sweet and Hot as Joe
- 1958 · Pies and Guys as Joe
- 1958 · Fifi Blows Her Top as Joe Besser
- 1958 · Quiz Whizz as Himself
- 1957 · Outer Space Jitters as Joe / Joe's Son
- 1957 · Rusty Romeos as Joe
- 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
- 1956 · Columbia Laff Hour as Joe (archive footage)
- 1955 · It's a Dog's Life as Dog Catcher (uncredited)
- 1955 · Hook a Crook as Joe Besser
- 1955 · Two-Gun Lady as Doc McGinnis
- 1955 · Headline Hunters as Coroner
- 1955 · Mad at the World as Gas Station Attendant
- 1955 · G.I. Dood It as Pvt. Joe Marblehead / Homer the Dog (voice)
- 1955 · Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops as Hunter (uncredited)
- 1955 · The Millionaire as Chester Pips
- 1954 · December Bride as
- 1954 · The Fire Chaser as Eric Loudermilk Potts
- 1954 · The Lone Wolf as
- 1953 · Sins of Jezebel as Yonkel
- 1953 · I, the Jury as Pete, Elevator Operator
- 1953 · Spies and Guys as Pvt. Joe Besser
- 1953 · A Day in the Country as Narrator (voice)
- 1952 · The Abbott and Costello Show as
- 1952 · Caught on the Bounce as Joe
- 1952 · Aim, Fire, Scoot as Pvt. Joe Besser
- 1951 · Fraidy Cat as Joe Besser
- 1950 · The Desert Hawk as Prince Sinbad
- 1950 · The Gene Autry Show as
- 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
- 1946 · Hour Glass as
- 1946 · Talk About a Lady as Roly Q. Entwhistle
- 1945 · Eadie Was a Lady as Professor Diogenes Dingle
- 1944 · Hey, Rookie as Pendleton "Pudge" Pfeiffer
- 1940 · Hot Steel as Siggie Landers