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 tel ... evision 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.
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| Organization | Category | Movie |
|---|
The Joey Bishop Show
as Mr. Jillson
Episodes: 123
First Aired: Sep 20, 1961
The Three Stooges: Hey Moe! Hey Dad!
as Joe
Episodes: 24
First Aired: May 05, 2015
Galaxy Goof-Ups
as Scare Bear (voice)
Episodes: 13
First Aired: Sep 09, 1978
The New Scooby-Doo Movies
as Babu (voice)
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 09, 1972
Batman
as Penguin Supporter
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jan 12, 1966
The Millionaire
as Chester Pips
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jan 19, 1955
Love, American Style
as Tony
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 29, 1969
The Mothers-in-Law
as Bandleader
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 10, 1967
The Mothers-in-Law
as Joe
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 10, 1967
The Mothers-in-Law
as Tramp
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 10, 1967
General Electric Theater
as Manager
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Feb 01, 1953
Love, American Style
as Neighbor
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 29, 1969
Scooby's Laff-A Lympics
Episodes: 94
First Aired: Sep 10, 1977
The Alvin Show
Episodes: 26
First Aired: Oct 04, 1961
Jeannie
Episodes: 16
First Aired: Sep 08, 1973
The Oddball Couple
Episodes: 16
First Aired: Sep 06, 1975
Yogi's Space Race
Episodes: 13
First Aired: Sep 09, 1978
The Houndcats
Episodes: 13
First Aired: Sep 09, 1972
That Girl
Episodes: 2
First Aired: Sep 08, 1966
The Abbott and Costello Show
Episodes: 2
First Aired: Dec 05, 1952
My World and Welcome to It
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 15, 1969
December Bride
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 04, 1954
The Hollywood Palace
as Self
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jan 04, 1964
The Gene Autry Show
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jul 23, 1950
Hour Glass
Episodes: 1
First Aired: May 09, 1946
That's Life
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 24, 1968
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