Skip to content
Join free
Joe Besser
Actor

Joe Besser

12 Aug 1907Born
1 Mar 1988Died
80Age at death
86Credits

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.

Read the full biography

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

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 86 credits.

  1. 2022Mystery ReelFilm
  2. 2015The Three Stooges: Hey Moe! Hey Dad!Series: Joe (archive footage) (24 episodes)
  3. 2011The Abbott and Costello Show: Who's On First?Film: Stinky (archive footage)
  4. 2003Three Stooges 75th Anniversary SpecialFilm: Curly-Joe (archive footage)
  5. 2001The Three Stooges StoryFilm: Joe (archive footage) (uncredited)
  6. 2001The Three Stooges: Kings Of LaughterFilm: (archive footage) (uncredited)
  7. 1997The Three Stooges Greatest Hits!Film: (archive footage)
  8. 1983My Smurfy ValentineFilm: Cupid (voice)
  9. 1978Yogi's Space RaceSeries (13 episodes)
  10. 1978Galaxy Goof-UpsSeries: Scare Bear (voice) (13 episodes)
  11. 1977Scooby's All-StarsSeries (94 episodes)
  12. 1975The Oddball CoupleSeries (16 episodes)
  13. 1973JeannieSeries (16 episodes)
  14. 1972The New Scooby-Doo MoviesSeries: Babu (voice) (1 episode)
  15. 1972The HoundcatsSeries (13 episodes)
  16. 1970Which Way to the Front?Film: Dock Master
  17. 1970Savage IntruderFilm: Bus Driver
  18. 1969The MonkFilm: Herbie
  19. 1969Love, American StyleSeries: Tony, Neighbor (1 episode)
  20. 1969My World and Welcome to ItSeries (1 episode)
  21. 1968That's LifeSeries (1 episode)
  22. 1967The Danny Thomas HourSeries: Hermes (1 episode)
  23. 1967The Mothers-in-LawSeries: Joe, Bandleader, Tramp (1 episode)
  24. 1966That GirlSeries (2 episodes)
  25. 1966BatmanSeries: Penguin Supporter (uncredited) (1 episode)
  26. 1962A Day at the Horse OperaFilm: Indian Chief
  27. 1962Hand of DeathFilm: Service station attendant
  28. 1961The Errand BoyFilm: Man Watching Rushes
  29. 1961The Alvin ShowSeries (26 episodes)
  30. 1960Let's Make LoveFilm: Charlie Lamont
  31. 1959The RookieFilm: Soldier
  32. 1959The Story on Page OneFilm: Gallagher (uncredited)
  33. 1959Say One for MeFilm: Joe Greb
  34. 1959Sappy Bull FightersFilm: Joe
  35. 1959Triple CrossedFilm: Joe
  36. 1959Plunderers of Painted FlatsFilm: Andy Heather
  37. 1958Oil's Well That Ends WellFilm: Joe
  38. 1958Flying Saucer DaffyFilm: Joe
  39. 1958Sweet and HotFilm: Joe
  40. 1958Pies and GuysFilm: Joe
  41. 1958Fifi Blows Her TopFilm: Joe Besser
  42. 1957Outer Space JittersFilm: Joe / Joe's Son
  43. 1957Rusty RomeosFilm: Joe
  44. 1957The Helen Morgan StoryFilm: Bartender (uncredited)
  45. 1957Horsing AroundFilm: Joe
  46. 1957Guns a Poppin!Film: Joe
  47. 1957Space Ship SappyFilm: Joe
  48. 1957A Merry Mix-UpFilm: Joe / Jack / Jeff
  49. 1957Muscle Up a Little CloserFilm: Joe
  50. 1957Hoofs and GoofsFilm: Joe
  51. 1956Army DazeFilm: Pvt. Joe Besser
  52. 1956Columbia Laff HourFilm: Joe (archive footage)
  53. 1955It's a Dog's LifeFilm: Dog Catcher (uncredited)
  54. 1955Hook a CrookFilm: Joe Besser
  55. 1955Two-Gun LadyFilm: Doc McGinnis
  56. 1955Headline HuntersFilm: Coroner
  57. 1955Mad at the WorldFilm: Gas Station Attendant
  58. 1955G.I. Dood ItFilm: Pvt. Joe Marblehead / Homer the Dog (voice)
  59. 1955Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone KopsFilm: Hunter (uncredited)
  60. 1955The MillionaireSeries: Chester Pips (1 episode)
  61. 1954December BrideSeries (1 episode)
  62. 1954The Fire ChaserFilm: Eric Loudermilk Potts
  63. 1953Sins of JezebelFilm: Yonkel
  64. 1953I, the JuryFilm: Pete, Elevator Operator
  65. 1953Spies and GuysFilm: Pvt. Joe Besser
  66. 1953A Day in the CountryFilm: Narrator (voice)
  67. 1953General Electric TheaterSeries: Manager (1 episode)
  68. 1952The Abbott and Costello ShowSeries: Stinky Davis (12 episodes)
  69. 1952Caught on the BounceFilm: Joe
  70. 1952Aim, Fire, ScootFilm: Pvt. Joe Besser
  71. 1951Fraidy CatFilm: Joe Besser
  72. 1950The Desert HawkFilm: Prince Sinbad
  73. 1950The Gene Autry ShowSeries (1 episode)
  74. 1950Dizzy YardbirdFilm: Pvt. Rodney Marblehead
  75. 1950Outside the WallFilm: The Cook (uncredited)
  76. 1950Joe Palooka Meets HumphreyFilm: Carlton
  77. 1950Woman in HidingFilm: Salesman with Drum
  78. 1949Waiting in the LurchFilm: Eric Loudermilk Potts
  79. 1949Africa ScreamsFilm: Harry
  80. 1948Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin'Film: Sharkey Dolan

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.