Actor, Comedian. He is best remembered for his partnership with Bud Abbott. Currently, he and Bud Abbott are the only non-sports figures honored in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, for their famous "Who's on First" routine. He tried to mention his hometown of Paterson, New Jersey, in virtually every television show and movie. Born Louis Francis Cristillo in Paterson, he began work at MGM and Warner Brothers Studios as a carpenter, moving on to stuntman and later as a comic. In 1931, while working in a Brooklyn theater, his straightman became ill and the theater cashier, Bud Abbott, filled in for him. The chemistry between the two was instant, and they soon formed their famous comedy team, working burlesque, minstrel shows, movie houses, and anyplace that they could get a billing. In 1938, they got national exposure on the "Kate Smith Hour" radio show, and soon signed with Universal Pictures. Their film debut "One Night in the Tropics" (1940) soon brought audience demand for more, and their film "Buck Privates"(1941) grossed a then-record profit of $10 million. Many more movies continued throughout the 1940s and 1950s, when they began mixing comedy with classic horror films, in such movies as "Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein" (1948), "Abbott and Costello meet the Invisible Man"(1951), Abbott and Costello meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"(1953) and "Abbott and Costello meet the Mummy"(1955). They had their own radio show from 1941 to 1949, and later a television show, "The Abbott and Costello Show" (1952). After some trouble with the Internal Revenue Service over their taxes, the team split up in 1957. Lou appeared in a few television shows, and solo in the movie, "The Thirty Foot Bride of Candy Rock"(1959; released just after his death from a heart attack). He and Abbott are pictured on a 29 cent commemorative postage stamp honoring famous comedians, issued by the United States Postal Service in August 1991.
Actor, Comedian. He is best remembered for his partnership with Bud Abbott. Currently, he and Bud Abbott are the only non-sports figures honored in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, for their famous "Who's on First" routine. He tried to mention his hometown of Paterson, New Jersey, in virtually every television show and movie. Born Louis Francis Cristillo in Paterson, he began work at MGM and Warner Brothers Studios as a carpenter, moving on to stuntman and later as a comic. In 1931, while working in a Brooklyn theater, his straightman became ill and the theater cashier, Bud Abbott, filled in for him. The chemistry between the two was instant, and they soon formed their famous comedy team, working burlesque, minstrel shows, movie houses, and anyplace that they could get a billing. In 1938, they got national exposure on the "Kate Smith Hour" radio show, and soon signed with Universal Pictures. Their film debut "One Night in the Tropics" (1940) soon brought audience demand for more, and their film "Buck Privates"(1941) grossed a then-record profit of $10 million. Many more movies continued throughout the 1940s and 1950s, when they began mixing comedy with classic horror films, in such movies as "Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein" (1948), "Abbott and Costello meet the Invisible Man"(1951), Abbott and Costello meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"(1953) and "Abbott and Costello meet the Mummy"(1955). They had their own radio show from 1941 to 1949, and later a television show, "The Abbott and Costello Show" (1952). After some trouble with the Internal Revenue Service over their taxes, the team split up in 1957. Lou appeared in a few television shows, and solo in the movie, "The Thirty Foot Bride of Candy Rock"(1959; released just after his death from a heart attack). He and Abbott are pictured on a 29 cent commemorative postage stamp honoring famous comedians, issued by the United States Postal Service in August 1991.
Bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson
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