(born Ernestine Dora Kretschmer), known as "Ernie". The couple had no children. They were neighbors and friends of Lou Costello, of the Abbott and Costello duo. Besser appeared in the Abbott and Costello movie Africa Screams (1949), which also featured Shemp Howard of the Three Stooges. Joe and Shemp were old friends, having met in 1932. His cousin's grandson is Upright Citizens Brigade theater co-founder and improviser/comedian Matt Besser. Death Joe Besser died of heart failure on March 1, 1988, at the age of 80. His wife Erna died on July 1, 1989, from a heart attack at age 89. Both spouses are buried in the same plot in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California. Joe's marker reads, "Joe Besser / August 12, 1907 – March 1, 1988 / He Brought the World Love and Laughter", while Erna's reads, "Ernestine Besser / March 14, 1900 – July 1, 1989 / In Loving Memory." Besser's Stooge partner Larry Fine is in a crypt at the Freedom Mausoleum, which is a short distance away from the tomb. Selected filmography Theatrical Features Hot Steel (1940) – Siggie Hey, Rookie (1944) – Pendelton Eadie Was a Lady (1945) – Professor Dingle Talk About a Lady (1946) – Roly Q. Entwhistle Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin (1948) – Sharkey Dolan Africa Screams (1949) – Harry Joe Palooka Meets Humphrey (1950) – Carlton Outside the Wall (1950) – cook (uncredited) Woman in Hiding (1950) – salesman The Desert Hawk (1950) – Prince Sinbad I, the Jury (1953) – Elevator Operator Sins of Jezebel (1953) – Yonkel Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops (1955) – Hunter (uncredited) Headline Hunters (1955) – Coroner Two-Gun Lady (1955) – Doc McGinnis Three Stooges Fun-O-Rama (1959) Say One for Me (1959) – Joe Greb Let's Make Love (1960) – Charlie Lamont The Silent Call (1961) – Art The Errand Boy (1961) – Man watching rushes Hand of Death (1962) – Service station attendant The Monk (1969) – Herbie (TV movie) Savage Intruder (1970) – Bus Driver Which Way to the Front? (1970) – Dock Master Short subjects Cuckoorancho (1938) – Wanderer A Day in the Country (1953) The Three Stooges (1957–1959) The Woodcutter's House (1959) Joe Besser with Hawthorne short subject series Waiting in the Lurch (1949) – Eric Loudermilk Potts Dizzy Yardbird (1950) – Rodney Marblehead 'Fraidy Cat (1951) – Det. Joe Besser Aim, Fire, Scoot (1952)