Louis Francis Cristillo, professionally known as Lou Costello, was born in Paterson, New Jersey, to Helen Rege and Sebastiano Cristillo. His father, Sebastiano, hailed from Calabria, Italy, while his mother, Helen, was an American of Italian, French, and Irish descent.
Growing up in Paterson, Costello dropped out of high school and headed west to pursue a career in the film industry. He initially secured a job as a carpenter at MGM and Warner Bros. studios, before transitioning to stunt work and eventually, vaudeville as a comedian.
In 1931, while working in Brooklyn, Costello's straight man became ill, and Bud Abbott, the theater cashier, filled in for him. This marked the beginning of their iconic comedy partnership, which would go on to entertain audiences across the United States and internationally.
Throughout the 1930s, Abbott and Costello worked in various entertainment venues, including burlesque, minstrel shows, vaudeville, and movie houses. Their big break came in 1938, when they gained national exposure through the Kate Smith Hour radio show, and subsequently signed with Universal Pictures in 1939.
Their film debut, One Night in the Tropics (1940),showcased their impressive comedic timing, leading to their own feature film, Buck Privates (1941),alongside The Andrews Sisters. The movie was a massive success, grossing $10 million on a budget of $180,000, and cementing their status as a beloved comedy duo.
In 1942, they topped a poll of Hollywood stars, and their radio show, which aired on ABC from 1941 to 1946 and NBC from 1946 to 1949, became a huge hit. They also had their own television show, The Abbott and Costello Show, which premiered in 1952.
Following World War II, their film career shifted focus, with the duo often finding themselves facing various monsters or navigating exotic locations. However, their partnership eventually came to an end in 1957, due to financial struggles and troubles with the Internal Revenue Service.
After the breakup, Lou Costello appeared in a television few shows and released a film, The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock, in 1959, just months before his untimely passing.
