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Lou Costello Biography (1906-1959)

Original name, Louis Francis Cristillo; born March 6, 1906, in Paterson, NJ;died of a heart attack, February 26 (some sources say March 3 or March 9), 1959, in Beverly Hills, CA; buried at Calvary Cemetery, Hollywood, CA; marriedAnne Battlers (a dancer), 1934; children: Carole, Patricia, Lou, Jr.

Nationality

American

Gender

Male

Birth Details

March 6, 1906

Paterson, New Jersey, United States

Death Details

February 26, 1959

Beverly Hills, California, United States

Famous Works

• Credits; Film Appearances
• Himself, One Night in the Tropics, Universal, 1940.
• Heathcliffe, Keep 'em Flying, Universal, 1941.
• Ferdinand Jones, Hold That Ghost (also known as Oh, Charlie), Universal,1941.
• Herbie Brown, Buck Privates (also known as Rookies), Universal, 1941.
• Pomeroy Watson, Abbott and Costello in the Navy, Universal, 1941.
• Mervyn Milgrim, Who Done It?, Universal, 1942.
• Wishy, Rio Rita, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), 1942.
• Willoughby, Ride 'em Cowboy, Universal, 1942.
• Wellington Phlug, Pardon My Sarong, Universal, 1942.
• Wilbur Hoolihan, It Ain't Hay (also known as Money for Jam), Universal, 1943.
• "Tubby" McCoy, Hit the Ice (also known as Oh, Doctor), Universal, 1943.
• Harvey Garvey, Lost in a Harem, MGM, 1944.
• Albert Mansfield, In Society, Universal, 1944.
• Sebastian Dinwiddle, The Naughty Nineties, Universal, 1945.
• Oliver Quackenbush, Here Come the Co-Eds, Universal, 1945.
• Abercrombie, Abbott and Costello in Hollywood, MGM, 1945.
• Horatio Prim, The Time of Their Lives (also known as The Ghost Steps Out), Universal, 1946.
• Benny Miller, Little Giant (also known as On the Carpet), Universal, 1946.
• Chester Wooley, The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap, Universal, 1947.
• Herbie Brown, Buck Privates Come Home (also known as Rookies Come Home),Universal, 1947.
• Homer Hinchcliffe, The Noose Hangs High, Eagle-Lion, 1948.
• Joe Bascom and Humphrey Fish, Mexican Hayride, Universal, 1948.
• Wilbur Grey, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (also known as Abbottand Costello Meet the Ghosts), Universal, 1948.
• Stanley Livingston, Africa Screams, United Artists (UA), 1949.
• Freddie Phillips, Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff, Universal, 1949.
• Lou Hotchkiss, Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion, Universal, 1950.
• Wilbert, Comin' Round the Mountain, Universal, 1951.
• Lou Francis, Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man, Universal, 1951.
• Jack, Jack and the Beanstalk, Warner Bros., 1952.
• Oliver "Puddin' Head" Johnson, Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd, Warner Bros., 1952.
• George Bell, Abbott and Costello Lost in Alaska, Universal, 1952.
• Orville, Abbott and Costello Go to Mars, Universal, 1953.
• Tubby, Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Universal, 1954.
• Freddie, Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy, Universal, 1955.
• Willie Piper, Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops, Universal, 1955.
• Lou Henry, Dance with Me, Henry, United Artists, 1956.
• Artie Pinsetter, The Thirty-Foot Bride of Candy Rock, Columbia, 1959.
• Wilbur, Into the Night, Universal, 1985.
• Also appeared in Meet the Stars No. 4, 1941, Screen Snapshots 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.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Episodic
• Co-host, The Colgate Comedy Hour, NBC, between 1951 and 1954.
• "Blaze of Glory," General Electric Theatre, CBS, 1958.
• "The Tobias Jones Story," Wagon Train, NBC, 1958.
• 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

Books:

• Anobile, Richard J., Who's on First? Verbal and Visual Gems from the Films of Abbott and Costello, [New York], 1973.
• Costello, Chris, and Raymond Strait, Lou's on First: A Biography, [New York], 1981.
• 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.