Lou Costello
| Lou Costello | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Louis Francis Cristillo March 6, 1906 Paterson, New Jersey, US |
| Died | March 3, 1959 (aged 52) Los Angeles, California, US |
| Cause of death | Heart attack |
| Resting place | Calvary Cemetery, East Los Angeles |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian |
| Years active | 1926–1959 |
| Spouse(s) | Anne Battler (m. 1934; his death 1959) |
| Partner(s) | Bud Abbott |
| Children | Paddy Costello-Humphreys (born 1936) Carole Costello (1938–1987) Lou Costello, Jr. (1942–1943) Christine Costello (born 1947) |
Louis Francis "Lou" Cristillo (March 6, 1906 – March 3, 1959), known by the stage name Lou Costello, was an American actor and comedian best remembered for the comedy double act of Abbott and Costello, with Bud Abbott. Costello played a bumbling character. He was known for the catchphrases "Heeeeyyy, Abbott!" and "I'm a baaaaad boy!"
Costello was born Louis Francis Cristillo on March 6, 1906, in Paterson, New Jersey, the son of Helen Rege and Sebastiano Cristillo. His father was Italian (from Calabria, Italy) and his mother was an American of Italian, French, and Irish ancestry. He attended School 15 in Paterson, New Jersey, and was considered a gifted athlete. He excelled in basketball and reportedly was once the New Jersey state free throw champion (his singular basketball prowess can be seen in Here Come The Co-Eds (1945), in which he performs all his own tricky hoop shots without special effects). He also fought as a boxer under the name "Lou King". He took his professional name from actress Helene Costello.
On January 30, 1934, Costello married Anne Battler, a burlesque dancer. Their first child, Patricia "Paddy" Costello, was born in 1936, followed by Carole on December 23, 1938, and Lou Jr. (nicknamed "Butch") on November 6, 1942. On August 15, 1947, their last child, Christine, was born.
As a young man, Costello was a great admirer of silent movie great Charlie Chaplin, and in 1927 Costello went to Hollywood to become an actor, but could only find work as a laborer or extra at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Warner Brothers, including MGM's The Fair Co-Ed (1927). His athletic skill brought him occasional work as a stunt man, notably in The Trail of '98 (1928). He can also be spotted sitting ringside in the Laurel and Hardy film The Battle of the Century (1927).
...
Wikipedia