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Joe Besser

Joe Besser

Currently Active 1907 — Present
Actorcomedianmusician

Personal Info

Born
Aug 12, 1907
Age
118
Birth Place
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.

LEGACY & ORIGINS

Born Jessel Besser
August 12, 1907
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Died March 1, 1988 (aged 80)
North Hollywood, California, U.S.
Resting place Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California, U.S.
Occupations
Actorcomedianmusician

Joe Besser (born Jessel Besser; August 12, 1907 – March 1, 1988) was an American actor and comedian 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 1957–1959. He is also remembered for his television roles: Stinky, the bratty man-child on The Abbott and Costello Show, and Jillson, the maintenance man on The Joey Bishop Show.

Besser was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on August 12, 1907. He was the ninth child of Morris and Fanny [Fecht] Besser, Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. He had seven older sisters and an older brother, Manny, who was in show business, primarily as an ethnic Jewish comic. From an early age, Joe was fascinated with show business, especially the magic act of Howard Thurston that visited St. Louis annually. When Joe was 12, Thurston allowed him to be an audience plant. Besser was so excited by this that he sneaked into Thurston's train after the St. Louis run of the show and was discovered the next day in Detroit sleeping on top of the lion's cage.

Life & Career Details

Born Jessel Besser
August 12, 1907
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Died March 1, 1988 (aged 80)
North Hollywood, California, U.S.
Resting place Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California, U.S.
Occupations
Actorcomedianmusician

Joe Besser (born Jessel Besser; August 12, 1907 – March 1, 1988) was an American actor and comedian 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 1957–1959. He is also remembered for his television roles: Stinky, the bratty man-child on The Abbott and Costello Show, and Jillson, the maintenance man on The Joey Bishop Show.

Besser was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on August 12, 1907. He was the ninth child of Morris and Fanny [Fecht] Besser, Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. He had seven older sisters and an older brother, Manny, who was in show business, primarily as an ethnic Jewish comic. From an early age, Joe was fascinated with show business, especially the magic act of Howard Thurston that visited St. Louis annually. When Joe was 12, Thurston allowed him to be an audience plant. Besser was so excited by this that he sneaked into Thurston's train after the St. Louis run of the show and was discovered the next day in Detroit sleeping on top of the lion's cage.

Works & Highlights

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