Joe Palma (born Joseph Provenzano; March 17, 1905 – August 14, 1994) was an American
film actor
An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), lite ...
. Palma appeared in over 120 films between
1937 and
1968. He was well known as a supporting player for
The Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy team active from 1922 until 1970, best remembered for their 190 short subject films by Columbia Pictures. Their hallmark styles were physical farce and slapstick. Six Stooges appeared ...
and his brief tenure as a body double to member
Shemp Howard
Samuel Horwitz (March 11, 1895 – November 22, 1955), known professionally as Shemp Howard, was an American actor and comedian. He was called "Shemp" because "Sam" came out that way in his mother's thick Lithuanian Yiddish, Litvak accent.
He is ...
for four shorts produced after Shemp's death, which led to the coining of the term "
Fake Shemp
A fake Shemp is a type of body double who appears in a film as a replacement for another actor or person, usually when the original actor has died, or is unable or unwilling to reprise their role. Their appearance is disguised using methods such ...
".
Early years
Palma was born and grew up in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
, and worked as a mortician in the Provenzano Funeral Home, owned by his parents. Eventually, Hollywood called, and Palma headed west. He joined the stock company at
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production studio that is a member of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, which is one of the Big Five studios and a subsidiary of the mu ...
in 1937, and played scores of bit parts over 30 years.
[Joe Palma in the Internet Movie Database](_blank)
/ref>
With his lean build, brushed-back hair, and unassuming appearance, Joe Palma almost always played incidental roles. He was usually in the background, and at most, he would be given only a few lines of dialogue. In the 1945 Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy team active from 1922 until 1970, best remembered for their 190 short subject films by Columbia Pictures. Their hallmark styles were physical farce and slapstick. Six Stooges appeared ...
comedy '' Beer Barrel Polecats'', for instance, Palma plays an angry convict who dares Curly Howard
Jerome Lester Horwitz (; October 22, 1903 – January 18, 1952), known professionally as Curly Howard, was an American actor and comedian. He was best known as a member of the American comedy team the Three Stooges, which also featured his elder ...
to punch him in the nose.
Palma can be glimpsed in a variety of movies, including crime dramas, musical comedies, costume epics, westerns, serials and two-reel comedies, in roles such as:
* a railroad brakeman picking up runaway Scotty Beckett
Scott Hastings Beckett (October 4, 1929 – May 10, 1968) was an American actor. He began his career as a child actor in the ''Our Gang'' shorts and later costarred on ''Rocky Jones, Space Ranger''.
Early life and career
Born in Oakland, Califo ...
in ''The Jolson Story
''The Jolson Story'' is a 1946 American musical biography film which purports to tell the life story of singer Al Jolson. It stars Larry Parks as Jolson, Evelyn Keyes as Julie Benson (approximating Jolson's wife, Ruby Keeler), William Demares ...
''
* a plainclothes detective
A detective is an investigator, usually a member of a law enforcement agency. They often collect information to solve crimes by talking to witnesses and informants, collecting physical evidence, or searching records in databases. This leads th ...
making a positive identification in the Jean Porter
Bennie Jean Porter (December 8, 1922 – January 13, 2018) was an American film and television actress. She was notable for her roles in '' The Youngest Profession'' (1943), '' Bathing Beauty'' (1944), '' Abbott and Costello in Hollywood'' (194 ...
musical ''Little Miss Broadway''
* a bandit defying authority in the Three Stooges' ''Guns a Poppin
''Guns a Poppin!'' is a 1957 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Joe Besser). It is the 179th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the ...
''
* a waiter in Sam Katzman
Sam Katzman (July 7, 1901 – August 4, 1973) was an American film producer and director. Katzman produced low-budget genre films, including serials, which had disproportionately high returns for the studios and his financial backers.
Ea ...
's production ''Rock Around the Clock
"Rock Around the Clock" is a rock and roll song in the 12-bar blues format written by Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers (the latter being under the pseudonym "Jimmy De Knight") in 1952. The best-known and most successful rendition was record ...
''
Palma's largest speaking role is probably in the Schilling & Lane short ''Training for Trouble'', in which Palma attempts a Jewish dialect: "This is Goldstein, Goldberg, Goldblatt and O'Brien, booking agents. O'Brien speaking." (A gag borrowed from the Stooges' ''A Pain in the Pullman
''A Pain in the Pullman'' is a 1936 short subject directed by Preston Black starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 16th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures s ...
''.)
"Fake Shemp"
Today, Palma is best known as Shemp Howard
Samuel Horwitz (March 11, 1895 – November 22, 1955), known professionally as Shemp Howard, was an American actor and comedian. He was called "Shemp" because "Sam" came out that way in his mother's thick Lithuanian Yiddish, Litvak accent.
He is ...
's posthumous double. In 1955, Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy team active from 1922 until 1970, best remembered for their 190 short subject films by Columbia Pictures. Their hallmark styles were physical farce and slapstick. Six Stooges appeared ...
member Shemp Howard died of a sudden heart attack
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may tr ...
. At the time, the Stooges still had four short films left to deliver on their annual contract with Columbia Pictures. By 1955, budget cuts had forced them to utilize stock footage
Stock footage, and similarly, archive footage, library pictures, and file footage is film or video footage that can be used again in other films. Stock footage is beneficial to filmmakers as it saves shooting new material. A single piece of stock ...
from previous shorts as a matter of survival. As a result, the Stooges managed to complete the four films without Shemp. To do this, Palma was made up to resemble the late Stooge, complete with wig, and would be filmed only from the back or side. On occasion, Palma was required to add a brief line of dialogue or sound (most notably in '' Hot Stuff''). The few new shots Palma appeared in were then edited together with the recycled footage containing the real Shemp, and "new" films were born.[Okuda, Ted; Watz, Edward; (1986). ''The Columbia Comedy Shorts'', p. 73 McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. ] Palma would remain a supporting cast member in ''The Three Stooges'' shorts throughout Joe Besser
Joe 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 1957â ...
's short run as the third stooge.
Later years
Palma spent his last years in the entertainment industry as an assistant to Jack Lemmon
John Uhler Lemmon III (February 8, 1925 – June 27, 2001) was an American actor. Considered equally proficient in both dramatic and comic roles, Lemmon was known for his anxious, middle-class everyman screen persona in dramedy pictures, leadin ...
. He appears as "Mr. Palma", the mailman, in Lemmon's 1964 Columbia comedy ''Good Neighbor Sam
''Good Neighbor Sam'' is a 1964 American Eastman Color screwball comedy film co-written and directed by David Swift, based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Jack Finney. The film stars Jack Lemmon, Romy Schneider, Dorothy Provine, Michael C ...
''. His final film appearance was as a butcher in Lemmon's 1968 Paramount
Paramount (from the word ''paramount'' meaning "above all others") may refer to:
Entertainment and music companies
* Paramount Global, also known simply as Paramount, an American mass media company formerly known as ViacomCBS. The following busin ...
film ''The Odd Couple Odd Couple may refer to:
Neil Simon play and its adaptations
* ''The Odd Couple'' (play), a 1965 stage play by Neil Simon
** ''The Odd Couple'' (film), a 1968 film based on the play
*** ''The Odd Couple'' (1970 TV series), a 1970–1975 televisi ...
''.
He died of natural causes on August 14, 1994, at age 89.
Selected filmography
* ''Goofs and Saddles
''Goofs and Saddles'' is a 1937 American Western short subject film directed by Del Lord and starring the slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 24th entry in the series released by Columbi ...
'' (1937)
* ''Adventure in Sahara'' (1938)
* ''Blondie Brings Up Baby
''Blondie Brings Up Baby'' is a 1939 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, Larry Simms. It is the fourth of 28 films based on the comic strip.
Plot summary
Blondie is convinced by a salesma ...
'' (1939)
* '' From Nurse to Worse'' (1940)
* ''A Blitz on the Fritz'' (1943)
* ''Louisiana Hayride
''Louisiana Hayride'' was a radio and later television country music show broadcast from the Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana, that during its heyday from 1948 to 1960 helped to launch the careers of some of th ...
'' (1944)
* '' Sailor's Holiday'' (1944)
* ''Pick a Peck of Plumbers
''Pick a Peck of Plumbers'' is an American comedy short produced and directed by Jules White. Released by Columbia Pictures on July 23, 1944, it stars El Brendel and Shemp Howard, both of whom receive top-billing in the short.
Plot
Elmer (El Bre ...
'' (1944)
* ''Boston Blackie Booked on Suspicion
''Boston Blackie Booked on Suspicion'' (also known as ''Booked on Suspicion'') is the eighth of 14 Columbia Pictures B movies starring Chester Morris as reformed thief Boston Blackie.
Plot
Boston Blackie's (Chester Morris) wealthy friend, Arthu ...
'' (1945)
* ''If a Body Meets a Body
''If a Body Meets a Body'' is a 1945 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 86th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures sta ...
'' (1945)
* ''A Hit with a Miss'' (1945)
* ''The Bells of St. Mary's
''The Bells of St. Mary's'' (1945) is an American musical comedy-drama film, produced and directed by Leo McCarey and starring Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman. Written by Dudley Nichols and based on a story by McCarey, the film is about a priest ...
'' (1945)
* '' Beer Barrel Polecats'' (1946)
* '' Three Loan Wolves'' (1946)
* ''Three Little Pirates
''Three Little Pirates'' is a 1946 short subject directed by Edward Bernds starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges ( Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 96th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures sta ...
'' (1946)
* ''Boston Blackie and the Law
''Boston Blackie and the Law'' is the twelfth of fourteen Columbia Pictures films starring Chester Morris as reformed crook Boston Blackie.
Plot
When Boston Blackie performs magic tricks at a Thanksgiving Day party for the inmates of a women's ...
'' (1946)
* ''Sing a Song of Six Pants
''Sing a Song of Six Pants'' is a 1947 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges ( Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). It is the 102nd entry in the series released by Columbia Picture ...
'' (1947)
* ''Shivering Sherlocks
''Shivering Sherlocks'' is a 1948 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). It is the 104th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring ...
'' (1948)
* ''Squareheads of the Round Table
''Squareheads of the Round Table'' is a 1948 short subject directed by Edward Bernds starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges ( Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). It is the 106th entry in the series released by Columbi ...
'' (1948)
* '' Fiddlers Three'' (1948)
* '' I'm a Monkey's Uncle'' (1948)
* ''Malice in the Palace
''Malice in the Palace'' is a 1949 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). It is the 117th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures sta ...
'' (1949)
* ''Punchy Cowpunchers
''Punchy Cowpunchers'' is a 1950 short film, short subject directed by Edward Bernds starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). It is the 120th entry in the series released by Columbia Pi ...
'' (1950)
* ''Hugs and Mugs
''Hugs and Mugs'' is a 1950 short film, short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). It is the 121st entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures st ...
'' (1950)
* ''Fraidy Cat'' (1951)
* ''Income Tax Sappy
''Income Tax Sappy'' is a 1954 short subject directed by Jules White starring the American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). It is the 153rd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures sta ...
'' (1954)
* ''Musty Musketeers
''Musty Musketeers'' is a 1954 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). It is the 154th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring ...
'' (1954)
* ''Pals and Gals
''Pals and Gals'' is a 1954 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). It is the 155th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the c ...
'' (1954)
* ''Knutzy Knights
''Knutzy Knights'' is a 1954 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). It is the 156th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the ...
'' (1954)
* '' Shot in the Frontier'' (1954)
* ''Fling in the Ring
''Fling in the Ring'' is a 1955 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). It is the 159th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starrin ...
'' (1955)
* '' Stone Age Romeos'' (1955) rchival footage* ''Hook a Crook'' (1955)
* ''Rumpus in the Harem
''Rumpus in the Harem'' is a 1956 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). It is the 171st entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring ...
'' (1956)
* '' Hot Stuff'' (1956)
* ''Scheming Schemers
''Scheming Schemers'' is a 1956 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). It is the 173rd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starrin ...
'' (1956)
* ''Commotion on the Ocean
''Commotion on the Ocean'' is a 1956 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard in his final starring role). It is the 174th entry in the series release ...
'' (1956)
* '' Hoofs and Goofs'' (1957)
* ''Guns a Poppin
''Guns a Poppin!'' is a 1957 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Joe Besser). It is the 179th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the ...
'' (1957)
* ''Outer Space Jitters
''Outer Space Jitters'' is a 1957 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Joe Besser). It is the 182nd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring t ...
'' (1957)
* ''Fifi Blows Her Top
''Fifi Blows Her Top'' is a 1958 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Joe Besser). It is the 184th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring th ...
'' (1958)
* ''Flying Saucer Daffy
''Flying Saucer Daffy'' is a 1958 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Joe Besser). It is the 187th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starrin ...
'' (1958)
* ''Sappy Bull Fighters
''Sappy Bull Fighters'' is a 1959 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Joe Besser in his final starring role). It is the 190th and final entry in the series re ...
'' (1959)
* ''The Great Race
''The Great Race'' is a 1965 American Technicolor slapstick comedy film starring Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, and Natalie Wood, directed by Blake Edwards, written by Arthur A. Ross (from a story by Edwards and Ross), and with music by Henry Mancin ...
'' (1965)
* ''The Odd Couple Odd Couple may refer to:
Neil Simon play and its adaptations
* ''The Odd Couple'' (play), a 1965 stage play by Neil Simon
** ''The Odd Couple'' (film), a 1968 film based on the play
*** ''The Odd Couple'' (1970 TV series), a 1970–1975 televisi ...
'' (1968)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Palma, Joe
1905 births
1994 deaths
American male film actors
Male actors from New York City
20th-century American male actors
20th-century American comedians