Joe Besser
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- August 12, 1907
- Died
- March 1, 1988 (aged 80)
- Birthplace
- Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
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.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
Mystery Reel
Movie
The Three Stooges: Hey Moe! Hey Dad!
TV · as Joe (archive footage) · 24 eps
The Abbott and Costello Show: Who's On First?
Movie · as Stinky (archive footage)
Phyllis Diller: Not Just Another Pretty Face
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special
Movie · as Curly-Joe (archive footage)
The Three Stooges Story
Movie · as Joe (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Three Stooges: Kings Of Laughter
Movie · as (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Three Stooges Greatest Hits!
Movie · as (archive footage)
Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Classic Comedy Teams
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
My Smurfy Valentine
Movie · as Cupid (voice)
Yogi's Space Race
TV · 13 eps
Galaxy Goof-Ups
TV · as Scare Bear (voice) · 13 eps
Scooby's All-Stars
TV · 94 eps
The Oddball Couple
TV · 16 eps
Jeannie
TV · 16 eps
The New Scooby-Doo Movies
TV · as Babu (voice) · 1 ep
The Houndcats
TV · 13 eps
Savage Intruder
Movie · as Bus Driver
Which Way to the Front?
Movie · as Dock Master
The Monk
Movie · as Herbie
My World and Welcome to It
TV · 1 ep
Love, American Style
TV · as Tony, Neighbor · 1 ep
That's Life
TV · 1 ep
The Mothers-in-Law
TV · as Bandleader, Joe, Tramp · 1 ep
The Danny Thomas Hour
TV · as Hermes · 1 ep
Batman
TV · as Penguin Supporter (uncredited) · 1 ep
That Girl
TV · 2 eps
The Hollywood Palace
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Hand of Death
Movie · as Service station attendant
A Day at the Horse Opera
Movie · as Indian Chief
The Errand Boy
Movie · as Man Watching Rushes
The Alvin Show
TV · 26 eps
The Joey Bishop Show
TV · as Mr. Jillson · 123 eps
Let's Make Love
Movie · as Charlie Lamont
Triple Crossed
Movie · as Joe
Sappy Bull Fighters
Movie · as Joe
The Rookie
Movie · as Soldier
The Story on Page One
Movie · as Gallagher (uncredited)
Say One for Me
Movie · as Joe Greb
Plunderers of Painted Flats
Movie · as Andy Heather
Sweet and Hot
Movie · as Joe
Quiz Whizz
Movie · as Himself
Fifi Blows Her Top
Movie · as Joe Besser
Pies and Guys
Movie · as Joe
Flying Saucer Daffy
Movie · as Joe
Oil's Well That Ends Well
Movie · as Joe
Muscle Up a Little Closer
Movie · as Joe
Hoofs and Goofs
Movie · as Joe
Space Ship Sappy
Movie · as Joe
Horsing Around
Movie · as Joe
A Merry Mix-Up
Movie · as Joe / Jack / Jeff
Guns a Poppin!
Movie · as Joe
Rusty Romeos
Movie · as Joe
Outer Space Jitters
Movie · as Joe / Joe's Son
The Helen Morgan Story
Movie · as Bartender (uncredited)
Army Daze
Movie · as Pvt. Joe Besser
Columbia Laff Hour
Movie · as Joe (archive footage)
Headline Hunters
Movie · as Coroner
Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops
Movie · as Hunter (uncredited)
It's a Dog's Life
Movie · as Dog Catcher (uncredited)
G.I. Dood It
Movie · as Pvt. Joe Marblehead / Homer the Dog (voice)
Hook a Crook
Movie · as Joe Besser
Two-Gun Lady
Movie · as Doc McGinnis
Mad at the World
Movie · as Gas Station Attendant
The Millionaire
TV · as Chester Pips · 1 ep
The Fire Chaser
Movie · as Eric Loudermilk Potts
December Bride
TV · 1 ep
I, the Jury
Movie · as Pete, Elevator Operator
Sins of Jezebel
Movie · as Yonkel
Spies and Guys
Movie · as Pvt. Joe Besser
A Day in the Country
Movie · as Narrator (voice)
General Electric Theater
TV · as Manager · 1 ep
Aim, Fire, Scoot
Movie · as Pvt. Joe Besser
Caught on the Bounce
Movie · as Joe
The Abbott and Costello Show
TV · as Stinky Davis · 12 eps
Fraidy Cat
Movie · as Joe Besser
Woman in Hiding
Movie · as Salesman with Drum
Outside the Wall
Movie · as The Cook (uncredited)
The Desert Hawk
Movie · as Prince Sinbad
Dizzy Yardbird
Movie · as Pvt. Rodney Marblehead
Joe Palooka Meets Humphrey
Movie · as Carlton
The Gene Autry Show
TV · 1 ep
Africa Screams
Movie · as Harry
Waiting in the Lurch
Movie · as Eric Loudermilk Potts
Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin'
Movie · as Sharkey Dolan
Talk About a Lady
Movie · as Roly Q. Entwhistle
Hour Glass
TV · 1 ep
Eadie Was a Lady
Movie · as Professor Diogenes Dingle
Hey, Rookie
Movie · as Pendleton "Pudge" Pfeiffer
Hot Steel
Movie · as Siggie Landers