by Ben Costello
Ben Costello is a self-confessed film and television buff. Starting as young as age five, he appeared onstage in a variety of dramatic and comedic roles. Through the years, Costello won awards for acting, directing and writing.
He wrote, produced and co-starred in The Whitley & Costello Show for cable television in 1979.
With the blessing of Lucille Hardy Price, widow of comedian Oliver Hardy, Costello took the classic Laurel and Hardy movie Way Out West and adapted it for the stage, in 1987.
In 1988, his play titled Company B debuted. A slapstick musical tribute to World War II, the show, was so popular it spawned five stage sequels. For his work on the production, Costello won Best Actor, Director, Writer and Production awards from various Southern California Theatre Leagues.
Along with fellow comedian John Babrowski, Costello, who is not related to Lou Costello, played in casinos and clubs from New York to Las Vegas, frequently portraying characters similar to Abbott and Costello. In fact, Babrowski and Ben Costello performed the classic "Who's On First" routine at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, to kick off the 2000 World Series. Honored, they were the first to do so since Abbott and Costello performed the skit there 44 years earlier.
Together, Babrowski and Costello made their motion picture debut in the Sci-Fi spoof Cyxork 7 starring Ray Wise - a film which has attained a cult following.
In 2005, Costello published his first book Gunsmoke: An American Institution - an award-winning tribute to the great Western television series (visit www.50YearsofGunsmoke.com). His second book, Jack & Walter: The Films of Lemmon and Matthau, is available to the public in January 2009.
A divorced father of one, Costello makes his home in the desert community of Joshua Tree, California.
He enjoys the company of family and friends, especially his 12-year old son Eddie, and when time permits, a good Maduro cigar.
Web site: http://www.JackandWalterBook.com
ISBN: 978-1-58985-118-4
Retail: $ 45.00 U.S. (56.00 Canada) / Hardcover, 31.95 U.S. (39.95 Cana
Publisher: Five Star Publications, Inc.
Date Published: January/Feb. 2009
Hardcover and Paperback
8.5” by 11
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