Eldon Lawrence "Don" Costello (September 5, 1901 – October 24, 1945) was an American actor of stage, screen and radio.

Background

Costello was born in New Orleans on September 5, 1901. He was the son of James J. Costello and Mary E. Costello (née Gillen).

Career

In the mid 1920s, Costello was stage manager for the Wright Players in

Louisville, Kentucky Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border ...

. Later in that decade, he acted with the Majestic Players in

Elmira, New York Elmira () is a city and the county seat of Chemung County, New York, United States. It is the principal city of the Elmira, New York, metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses Chemung County. The population was 26,523 at the 2020 cens ...

. Costello entered films in 1935 and in 1939 was put under contract with

MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...

. 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 ''Another Thin Man'' is a 1939 American detective film directed by W. S. Van Dyke, the third of six in the ''Thin Man'' series. It again stars William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles and is based on Dashiell Hammett's Continental O ...

'' (1939), ''

Johnny Eager ''Johnny Eager'' is a 1941 film noir directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Robert Taylor, Lana Turner and Van Heflin. Heflin won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The film was one of many spoofed in ''Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid'' (19 ...

'' (1941) and ''

The Blue Dahlia ''The Blue Dahlia'' is a 1946 American crime film and film noir with an original screenplay by Raymond Chandler''Variety'' film review; January 30, 1946, page 12.''Harrison's Reports'' film review; February 2, 1946, page 19. directed by George M ...

'' (1946).

Accidental Death

Costello died of an overdose of sleeping tablets. His wife, Louise, found him dead in the bedroom of their home at 13424 Valley Vista Street, Sherman Oaks. He had earlier complained of being unable to get to sleep.

Broadway roles

* ''Jerry-for-Short'' (1929) - Anthony La Vere * ''

The Last Mile The Last Mile may refer to: * The Last Mile (prison rehabilitation program), a program for inmates in the California corrections system * ''The Last Mile'' (play), a 1930 play by John Wexley * ''The Last Mile'' (1932 film), an American adaptatio ...

'' (1930) - Drake * '' Face the Music'' (1933) - Louis / Mr. O'Ryan * ''The Ghost of Yankee Doodle'' (1937) - Ockleford

Partial filmography

* ''

'' (1939) - 'Diamond Back' Vogel * ''

Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President ''Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President'' is a 1939 American comedy film directed by Robert B. Sinclair and written by Melville Baker. The film stars Ann Sothern, Lewis Stone, Walter Brennan, William Gargan, Marsha Hunt and Tom Neal. It was ...

'' (1939) - Fred * ''

One Crowded Night ''One Crowded Night'' is a 1940 drama film directed by Irving Reis. Cast * Billie Seward as Gladys * William Haade as Joe Miller * Charles Lang as Fred Matson (Navy deserter prisoner) * Adele Pearce as Ruth Matson * J.M. Kerrigan as Brother 'Doc ...

'' (1940) - Lefty * ''

Wildcat Bus ''Wildcat Bus'' is a 1940 American action film directed by Frank Woodruff and written by Lou Lusty. The film stars Fay Wray, Charles Lang, Paul Guilfoyle, Don Costello and Paul McGrath. The film was released on August 23, 1940, by RKO Pictures. ...

'' (1940) - Sid Casey * ''

Sleepers West ''Sleepers West'' is a 1941 American mystery drama film directed by Eugene Forde and starring Lloyd Nolan, Lynn Bari and Mary Beth Hughes. This second entry in 20th Century-Fox's ''Michael Shayne'' series was a remake of the 1934 Fox romantic dr ...

'' (1941) - Carl Izzard * ''

Ride on Vaquero ''Ride on Vaquero'' is a 1941 American Western film directed by Herbert I. Leeds and written by Samuel G. Engel. The film stars Cesar Romero, Mary Beth Hughes, Lynne Roberts, Chris-Pin Martin, Robert Lowery and Ben Carter. The film was rel ...

'' (1941) - Redge * '' I'll Wait for You'' (1941) - Police Sergeant Brent * '' Here Comes Mr. Jordan'' (1941) - Lefty * ''

Whistling in the Dark Whistling without the use of an artificial whistle is achieved by creating a small opening with one's lips, usually after applying moisture (licking one's lips or placing water upon them) and then blowing or sucking air through the space. The a ...

'' (1941) - 'Noose' Green * '' Last of the Duanes'' (1941) - Jim Bland * ''

Unholy Partners ''Unholy Partners'' is a 1941 black-and-white film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Edward G. Robinson, Laraine Day, Edward Arnold, and Marsha Hunt. It was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Plot A newspaper reporter, Bruce Corey, return ...

'' (1941) - Georgie Pelotti * ''

'' (1941) - Billiken * ''

Joe Smith, American ''Joe Smith, American'' is a 1942 American spy film directed by Richard Thorpe and stars Robert Young and Marsha Hunt.Nixon, Rob"Articles: 'Joe Smith American'."''Turner Classic Movies''. Retrieved: September 21, 2016. The film, loosely based o ...

'' (1942) - Mead * ''

Sundown Jim ''Sundown Jim'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by James Tinling, written by William Bruckner and Robert F. Metzler, and starring John Kimbrough, Virginia Gilmore, Arleen Whelan, Joe Sawyer, Paul Hurst and Moroni Olsen. It was released ...

'' (1942) - Dobe Hyde * '' A-Haunting We Will Go'' (1942) - Doc Lake * ''

Just Off Broadway ''Just Off Broadway'' is a 1942 Drama (genre), Drama directed by Herbert I. Leeds, starring Lloyd Nolan and Marjorie Weaver. This is the sixth of a series of seven that Lloyd Nolan played Michael Shayne for Twentieth Century Fox films. Hugh Bea ...

'' (1942) - George Dolphin * '' A Night to Remember'' (1942) - Eddie Turner * ''

Truck Busters ''Truck Busters'' is a 1943 American drama film directed by B. Reeves Eason, written by Robert E. Kent and Raymond L. Schrock, and starring Richard Travis, Virginia Christine, Charles Lang, Ruth Ford, Richard Fraser, Tod Andrews and Frank Wilco ...

'' (1943) - Anthony 'Tony' Bonetti * ''

Air Raid Wardens ''Air Raid Wardens'' is a 1943 comedy film directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring Laurel and Hardy. It was the first of two feature films the duo made at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Plot Set during World War II, just after Pearl Harbor, Stan (Stan La ...

'' (1943) - Heydrich * '' Crime Doctor'' (1943) - Nick Ferris * ''

A Lady Takes a Chance ''A Lady Takes a Chance'' is a 1943 American romantic comedy film directed by William A. Seiter and starring Jean Arthur and John Wayne. Written by Robert Ardrey and based on a story by Jo Swerling, the film is about a New York working girl who ...

'' (1943) - Drunk * ''

Murder on the Waterfront ''Murder on the Waterfront'' is a 1943 American drama film directed by B. Reeves Eason and written by Robert E. Kent. The film stars Warren Douglas, Joan Winfield, John Loder, Ruth Ford, Bill Crago and Bill Kennedy. The film was released by ...

'' (1943) - Gordon Shane - 'The Great Rajah' * ''

Texas Masquerade ''Texas Masquerade'' is a 1944 American Western film directed by George Archainbaud, written by Jack Lait Jr. and Norman Houston, and starring William Boyd, Andy Clyde, Jimmy Rogers, Don Costello, Mady Correll and Francis McDonald. It was rel ...

'' (1944) - Ace Maxson * ''

Rationing Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, services, or an artificial restriction of demand. Rationing controls the size of the ration, which is one's allowed portion of the resources being distributed on a particular ...

'' (1944) - Ace (uncredited) * ''

The Whistler ''The Whistler'' is an American radio mystery drama which ran from May 16, 1942, until September 22, 1955, on the west-coast regional CBS radio network. The show was also broadcast in Chicago and over Armed Forces Radio. On the west coast, it w ...

'' (1944) - Lefty Vigran aka Gorss (uncredited) * '' Mystery Man'' (1944) - Bud Trilling * ''

Here Come the Co-Eds ''Here Come The Co-Eds'' is a 1945 American comedy film starring the comedy team Abbott and Costello. Plot Oliver Quackenbush, Molly McCarthy and her brother Slats who acts as her publicity agent work for the Miramar Ballroom as taxi dancers. Sla ...

'' (1945) - Diamond (uncredited) * ''

Great Stagecoach Robbery ''Great Stagecoach Robbery'' is a 1945 American Western film directed by Howard Bretherton starring Wild Bill Elliott in the role of Red Ryder and costarring as Little Beaver, actor ''(Bobby)'' Robert Blake. It was the sixth of twenty-three Red ...

'' (1945) - Jed Quinlan * ''

It's in the Bag! ''It's in the Bag!'' is a 1945 comedy film featuring Fred Allen in his only starring film role. The film was released by United Artists at a time when Allen was at the peak of his fame as one of the most popular radio comedians. The film has bee ...

'' (1945) - Mickey (uncredited) * ''

Nob Hill Nob Hill is a neighborhood of San Francisco, California, United States that is known for its numerous luxury hotels and historic mansions. Nob Hill has historically served as a center of San Francisco's upper class. Nob Hill is among the highes ...

'' (1945) - Steve, Fighting Bartender (uncredited) * '' Along Came Jones'' (1945) - Leo Gledhill * '' Incendiary Blonde'' (1945) - Gus Vettori (uncredited) * '' Marshal of Laredo'' (1945) - Henchman Pretty Boy Murphy * ''

Follow That Woman ''Follow That Woman'' is a 1945 crime film starring William Gargan, Nancy Kelly, and Regis Toomey. The movie was directed by Lew Landers. Plot summary Nancy spends the evening with her boyfriend at the Downtown Club, a notorious hangout for me ...

'' (1945) - Nick * ''

The Red Dragon ''The Red Dragon'' is a 1946 mystery film starring Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan, who has to sift through a host of suspects for three murders. The film marks the first appearance of Willie Best as Chattanooga Brown, Birmingham Brown's cousin. ...

'' (1945) - Charles Masack * ''

Crime of the Century "Crime of the century" is an idiomatic phrase used to describe particularly sensational or notorious criminal cases. Chua-Eoan, Howard (n.d.)"Crimes of the Century: The Top 25" ''Time''. Retrieved September 10, 2021. In the United States, it is of ...

'' (1946) - Joe, Bartender * ''

'' (1946) - Leo (final film role)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Costello, Don 1901 births 1945 deaths American male film actors American male stage actors Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players 20th-century American male actors Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)