Don Costello

Eldon Lawrence Costello (September 5, 1901 – October 25, 1945) was an American actor of stage, screen and radio.

Don Costello
Costello in Another Thin Man (1939)
Born
Eldon Lawrence Costello

(1901-09-05)September 5, 1901
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedOctober 25, 1945(1945-10-25) (aged 44)
Hollywood, California, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)
OccupationActor
Years active1929–1945

Background

Eldon Lawrence Costello was born on September 5, 1901, in New Orleans,[1][2] where Jesuit Fathers educated him. His initial plans to study law gave way to his interest in acting..[3]

Career

In the mid 1920s, Costello was stage manager for the Wright Players in Louisville, Kentucky.[4] Later in that decade, he acted with the Majestic Players in Elmira, New York.[5]

Costello entered films in 1935 and in 1939 was put under contract with MGM. Known for his wicked sense of humor, Costello oftentimes played the role of a menace or a tough guy. He is probably best known for his role as Lefty in the movie Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941). He appeared in 37 movies (31 times credited), including Another Thin Man (1939), Johnny Eager (1941) and The Blue Dahlia (1946).

Death

Costello died of an overdose of sleeping tablets on October 25, 1945, at the age of 44. His wife, Louise, found him dead in the bedroom of their home in Sherman Oaks. He had earlier complained of being unable to get to sleep.[6]

Broadway roles
  • Jerry-for-Short (1929) - Anthony La Vere
  • The Last Mile (1930) - Drake
  • Face the Music (1933) - Louis / Mr. O'Ryan
  • The Ghost of Yankee Doodle (1937) - Ockleford

Partial filmography

References
  1. "Eldon Lawrence Costello". New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S., Birth Records Index, 1790–1915. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  2. "Don Costello". California, U.S., Death Index, 1940–1997. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  3. "Don Costello is dead". The New York Times. October 26, 1945. p. 19. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  4. "Handsome stage manager of Wright Players, doing his work, plays many parts". The Courier-Journal. Kentucky, Louisville. March 7, 1926. p. 31. Retrieved February 5, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  5. "Majestic Play Is Real Drama". Star-Gazette. New York, Elmira. October 11, 1927. p. 13. Retrieved February 5, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  6. "Don Costello, Film Actor, Found Dead". Los Angeles Times. October 26, 1945. p. 1. Retrieved September 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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