James Costigan, a renowned television writer and Broadway dramatist, was born James Smith in East Los Angeles, California, on March 31, 1926. He is the proud recipient of three prestigious Emmy Awards for his outstanding work in the television industry.
His first Emmy Award was earned for his remarkable work on the Hallmark Hall of Fame's production of "Little Moon of Alban" in 1959. He continued to impress audiences and critics alike with his subsequent Emmy-winning performances in "Love Among the Ruins" (1975) and "Eleanor and Franklin" (1976),both of which featured renowned actors Katharine Hepburn and Laurence Olivier.
Costigan's impressive body of work also earned him a nomination for an Emmy Award for his adaptation of Henry James's "The Turn of the Screw" in 1960. This impressive achievement cemented his status as a talented and versatile television writer.
During the 1950s, Costigan established himself as a talented television screenwriter, penning scripts for several popular anthology series, including "General Electric Theater," "Studio One," and "The United States Steel Hour." His early success in television led him to attempt to make a name for himself on the Broadway stage.
Costigan's first Broadway production, "Little Moon of Alban," premiered in 1960 but unfortunately closed after only 20 performances. His subsequent play, "The Beast in Me," a musical based on James Thurber's fables, was an even greater flop, closing after just four performances.
However, Costigan's 1964 comedy, "Baby Want a Kiss," proved to be a relative success. Starring the talented Paul Newman and his wife, Joanne Woodward, the play was produced under the auspices of the Actor's Studio and ran for an impressive 148 performances.
James Costigan passed away on December 19, 2007, at the age of 81, leaving behind a legacy of remarkable work in the television and theater industries.
