Don Costello

Eldon Lawrence "Don" Costello was born on September 5, 1901, in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he received his education from Jesuit Fathers. Though he initially intended to pursue a career in law, his interest in acting led him in a different direction. He died on October 25, 1945, in Sherman Oaks, California, at the age of 44, after an overdose of sleeping tablets. His wife, Louise, discovered him in their bedroom; he had previously complained of difficulty sleeping.

Before establishing himself in New York and Hollywood, Costello built his early professional experience in regional theater. During the mid-1920s he worked as a stage manager for the Wright Players in Louisville, Kentucky, and later in that decade performed as an actor with the Majestic Players in Elmira, New York. His Broadway career spanned from 1929 to 1940 and encompassed a range of productions. He appeared as Anthony La Vere in Jerry-for-Short in 1929 and as Drake in The Last Mile in 1930. In 1933 he took on the roles of Louis and Mr. O'Ryan in Face the Music. His Broadway work also included Censored, Crucible, Paid Companions, Facing the Music, and The Ghost of Yankee Doodle, in which he played Ockleford in 1937.

Costello entered films in 1935 and was placed under contract with MGM in 1939. He appeared in 37 films, receiving screen credit in 31 of them. His screen roles frequently cast him as menacing or tough characters, and he became particularly associated with his portrayal of Lefty in Here Comes Mr. Jordan in 1941. His other film appearances included Another Thin Man in 1939, Johnny Eager in 1941, and The Blue Dahlia in 1946. Throughout his career Costello also worked in radio, making him a presence across stage, screen, and broadcast media.