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Bud Abbott Biography (1895-1974)

Original name, William A. Abbott; born October 2, 1895 (some sources say 1898), in Asbury Park, NJ; died of cancer, April 24, 1974, in Woodland Hills, CA;son of Harry, Sr. (an advance agent for a circus) and Ray (a bareback rider)Abbott; married Betty Smith (some sources give the name Jenny Mae Pratt), September 17, 1918; children: (adopted) William Bud, Victoria.

Nationality

American

Gender

Male

Birth Details

October 2, 1895

Ashbury Park, New Jersey, United States

Death Details

April 24, 1974

Woodland Hills, California, United States

Famous Works

• Credits; Film Appearances
• Himself, One Night in the Tropics, Universal, 1940.
• Blackie Benson, Keep 'em Flying, Universal, 1941.
• Chuck Murray, Hold That Ghost (also known as Oh, Charlie), Universal, 1941.
• Slicker Smith, Buck Privates (also known as Rookies), Universal, 1941.
• Smokey Adams, Abbott and Costello in the Navy, Universal, 1941.
• Chick Larkin, Who Done It?, Universal, 1942.
• Doc, Rio Rita, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), 1942.
• Duke, Ride 'em Cowboy, Universal, 1942.
• Algernon Shaw, Pardon My Sarong, Universal, 1942.
• Grover Mockridge, It Ain't Hay (also known as Money for Jam), Universal,1943.
• Flash Fulton, Hit the Ice (also known as Oh, Doctor), Universal, 1943.
• Peter Johnson, Lost in a Harem, MGM, 1944.
• Eddie Harrington, In Society, Universal, 1944.
• Dexter Broadhurst, The Naughty Nineties, Universal, 1945.
• Slats, Here Come the Co-Eds, Universal, 1945.
• Buzz Kurtis, Abbott and Costello in Hollywood, MGM, 1945.
• Cuthbert and Dr. Greenway, The Time of Their Lives (also known as The Ghost Steps Out), Universal, 1946.
• John Morrison and Tom Chandler, Little Giant (also known as On the Carpet), Universal, 1946.
• Duke Eagan, The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap, Universal, 1947.
• Corporal Slicker Smith, Buck Privates Come Home (also known as Rookies Come Home), Universal, 1947.
• Ted Higgins, The Noose Hangs High, Eagle-Lion, 1948.
• Harry Lambert, Mexican Hayride, Universal, 1948.
• Chick Young, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (also known as Abbottand Costello Meet the Ghosts), Universal, 1948.
• Buzz Johnson, Africa Screams, United Artists (UA), 1949.
• Casey Edwards, Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff, Universal, 1949.
• Jonesy, Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion, Universal, 1950.
• Al Stewart, Comin' Round the Mountain, Universal, 1951.
• Bud Alexander, Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man, Universal, 1951.
• Dinklepuss, Jack and the Beanstalk, Warner Bros., 1952.
• Rocky Stonebridge, Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd, Warner Bros., 1952.
• Tom Watson, Abbott and Costello Lost in Alaska, Universal, 1952.
• Lester, Abbott and Costello Go to Mars, Universal, 1953.
• Slim, Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Universal, 1954.
• Peter, Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy, Universal, 1955.
• Harry Pierce, Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops, Universal, 1955.
• Bud Flick, Dance with Me, Henry, United Artists, 1956.
• Chic, Into the Night, Universal, 1985.
• Also appeared in Meet the Stars No. 4, 1941, The Real McCoy, 1950, ScreenSnapshots No. 225, 1954, the compilation The World of Abbott and Costello, 1965, and Entertaining the Troops, 1988.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Series
• Himself, The Abbott and Costello Show, syndicated, 1952-54.
• Voice, The Abbott and Costello Cartoon Show, syndicated, 1966.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Episodic
• The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, CBS, 1951.
• Co-host, The Colgate Comedy Hour, NBC, between 1951 and 1954.
• "The Joke's on Me," General Electric Theatre, CBS, 1961.
• Credits; Other Television Appearances
• Appeared after Costello's death with partner Candy Candido, 1961.
• Credits; Stage Appearances
• Appeared at Loew's State Theatre, 1938; appeared on Broadway in The Streets of Paris, 1939.
• Credits; Radio Appearances
• Co-star, The Abbott and Costello Program, ABC, 1941-46, NBC, 1946- 49.
• Appeared on The Kate Smith Hour, 1939.

Further Reference

Periodicals:

• New York Times, April 25, 1974, p. 42.

Books:

• Anobile, Richard J., Who's on First? Verbal and Visual Gems from the Films of Abbott and Costello, [New York], 1973.
• Cox, Stephen, and John Lofflin, The Official Abbott and Costello Scrapbook, [Chicago], 1990.
• Mulholland, Jim, The Abbott and Costello Book, [New York], 1975.
• Thomas, Bob, Bud and Lou: The Abbott and Costello Story, [Philadelphia],1977.