User:Paleface Jack/Lou Costello (revision draft)

Lou Costello
Born
Louis Francis Cristillo

(1906-03-06)March 6, 1906
DiedMarch 3, 1959(1959-03-03) (aged 52)
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian
Years activeCalvary Cemetery (Los Angeles)
Spouse
Anne Battler
(m. 1934)
Children4

Louis Francis Cristillo (March 6, 1906 – March 3, 1959), better known as Lou Costello, was an American comedian, actor and producer. He was best known for his double act with straight man Bud Abbott and their routine "Who's on First?".

Early life and film career (1906-1927)

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Louis Francis Cristillo was born on March 6, 1906, in Paterson, New Jersey, the son of Helen Rege and Sebastiano Cristillo, a silk weaver and insurance sales agent. His father was Italian, from Caserta, while his mother was an American of Italian, French, and Irish ancestry, with her grandfather Francesco Rege being a native of Piedmont, Italy.

Burlesque, marriage, and Vaudeville years (1928-1934))

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On January 30, 1934, Costello married Anne Battler, a burlesque chorus dancer.

Abbott and Costello

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Initial team up (1935-1936)

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By the end of 1936, Anne gave birth to their daughter Patricia "Paddy" Costello.

Continued success (1937-1941)

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Costello would achieve continued success through his partnership with Abbott, with the duo annually listed in the top ten box office draws.[1][2][3]

Tragedy and struggles (1942-1954)

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In the summer of 1942, Costello embarked on a 35-day cross-country tour with Abbott to promote and sell war bonds. Their reputation and promotion led to the sale of $85 million ($1.25 billion in 2024[4]) in bonds according to the United States Department of the Treasury.

Waning years and split (1955-1957)

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Solo ventures

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Later years and death

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Legacy

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Cultural impact

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Tributes

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Portrayals

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Selected filmography

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Features

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Awards and honors

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References

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Footnotes

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Notes

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Citations

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  1. ^ Jones 1945, p. 8.
  2. ^ The Sydney Morning Herald 1950, p. 12.
  3. ^ The Barrier Miner 1952, p. 3.
  4. ^ "Consumer Price Index, 1800-". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Archived from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved March 16, 2024.

Works cited

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Books

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Periodicals

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