Lou Costello (March 6, 1906 - March 3, 1959)

The other half of one of our most beloved comedy teams... Along with his partner Bud Abbott the appeared in such films as Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man, Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy, Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein, One Night in the Tropics, Buck Privates, Who Done It? and many others. All together between 1940 and 1956 they appeared in 36 films. On radio they got their biggest break in 1938 when appearing on Kate Smith's program. From 1941 until 1949 they headed up "The Abbott and Costello Show." The progam was revived on television for a single season in 1952.... In 1943, he was stricken with rheumatic fever and had to be away from work for almost a year. Finally on November 4, 1943 he was well enough to return to work. He told his wife to let their infant son stay up to listen to the broadcast that "because I want to see if he'll recognize my voice over the air." Sadly the child never heard his father's voice that night. As the cast of the show was rehearsing Costello's manager received a call that the child had drowned earlier in the family swimming pool. Despite his devistation Costello insisted that the program go on the air that night. Once it concluded Bud Abbott took some time to pay tribute to his friend and to express to the audience the fact that the phrase "the show must go on" was never used more than it was that night. On television he appeared on such programs as "The Milton Berle Show", This is Your Life", "I've Got a Secret", "The Steve Allen Show", "Toast of the Town", "General Electric Theater" and "Wagon Train." Abbott and Costello appeared together for the final time on "The Colgate Comedy Hour" which aired on May 15, 1955. His final film The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock was the only film he did with out Bud Abbott and was released five months after his passing in 1959...the rheumatic fever that had damaged his heart finally succeeded in ending his life three days before his 53rd birthday... In Memoriam Remembers: Lou Costello

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