Maurice George Costello (February 22, 1877 – October 29, 1950) was a prominent American vaudeville actor of the late 1890s and early 1900s, who later played a principal role in early American films, as leading man, supporting player and director.
Costello was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Irish immigrants Ellen (née Fitzgerald; born 1853) and Thomas Costello (born 1852). He appeared in his first motion picture in 1905, in which he had the honour of appearing in the first serious film to feature the character of Sherlock Holmes in the movie Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, in which Costello played the title role. He continued to work for Vitagraph, being a member of the first motion picture stock company ever formed, playing opposite Florence Turner. Among some of his best known pictures are A Tale of Two Cities, The Man Who Couldn't Beat God and For the Honor of the Family. After an absence of some years he returned to the screen. He was married to actress Mae Costello (née Altschuk). His descendants include two daughters, actresses Dolores Costello and Helene Costello, a grandson John Drew Barrymore, and a great granddaughter Drew Barrymore. He was one of the world's first leading men in early American cinema, but like a lot of other silent screen stars, he found the transition to "talkies" extremely difficult, and his leading man status was over. However, Costello was a trouper, and continued to appear in movies, often in small roles and bit parts, right up until his death in 1950.
On November 23, 1913, Costello was arrested for beating his wife Mae. On November 25, 1913, Costello admitted that he had beaten his wife while intoxicated. Mae Costello requested that the charges be dropped to disorderly conduct, and Costello was given six months probation by Magistrate Geisner of the Coney Island Police Court.
Maurice Costello also discovered Moe, of the Three Stooges (Moses Harry Horwitz), who, as a teenager, ran errands and got lunches for the actors at the Vitagraph Studios at no charge. This impressed Costello who brought him in and introduced him to other leading actors of the day. Moe then gained small parts in many of the Vitagraph movies but most of these were destroyed by fire that swept the studios in 1910.
Costello died at the age 73 in 1950 in Los Angeles, California and was interred at Calvary Cemetery, East Los Angeles, a Catholic cemetery.
Filmography
Actor
1945
Guest Wife as
Bit Role (uncredited)
1944
Practically Yours as
Senate Stenographer (uncredited)
1944
The Climax as
Audience Member (uncredited)
1944
The Doughgirls as
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
1944
A Fig Leaf for Eve as
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
1944
The Falcon Out West as
Club Patron (uncredited)
1943
Sweet Rosie O'Grady as
Minor Role (uncredited)
1943
Du Barry Was a Lady as
Passerby (uncredited)
1942
Henry Aldrich, Editor as
Fire Spectator (uncredited)
1942
The Glass Key as
Card Player (uncredited)
1942
Cairo as
Cavity Rock Townsman (uncredited)
1942
Reap the Wild Wind as
Ball Guest (unconfirmed, uncredited)
1942
Ride 'Em Cowboy as
Rodeo Spectator with Martin Manning (uncredited)
1941
H.M. Pulham, Esq. as
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
1941
Here Comes Mr. Jordan as
Ringsider at Fight (uncredited)
1941
Citizen Kane as
Extra (uncredited)
1941
Lady from Louisiana as
Edwards
1941
A Man Betrayed as
Club Inferno Patron (uncredited)
1940
Tin Pan Alley (uncredited)
1940
A Little Bit of Heaven as
Uncle Louie
1940
Third Finger, Left Hand as
Man at Railroad Station (uncredited)
1940
Soak the Old (Short) as
Man in Montage (uncredited)
1940
Foreign Correspondent as
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
1940
The Sea Hawk as
Man Carrying Spear (uncredited)
1940
All This, and Heaven Too as
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
1940
Edison, the Man as
Broker (uncredited)
1940
Johnny Apollo as
Extra (uncredited)
1940
The Ghost Comes Home as
Townsman at Banquet (uncredited)
1940
Alice in Movieland (Short) as
Well-Wisher at Train Station (uncredited)
1939
Rovin' Tumbleweeds as
Ways and Means Committee Member (uncredited)
1939
The Roaring Twenties as
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
1939
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington as
Diggs - Newsman (uncredited)
1939
Five Little Peppers and How They Grew as
Hart (uncredited)
1939
Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever as
Man in Audience (uncredited)
1939
It's a Wonderful World as
Guest (uncredited)
1939
Happily Buried (Short) as
Board Member (uncredited)
1939
Disbarred as
Frightened Juror (uncredited)
1938
There's That Woman Again as
Headwaiter (uncredited)
1938
Comet Over Broadway as
Actor at Dress Rehearsal (uncredited)
1938
A Man to Remember as
Town Councilor (uncredited)
1938
I Am the Law as
Lindsay Staff Member (uncredited)
1936
Hollywood Boulevard as
Director in Commissary
1934
Hollywood on Parade (Short)
1934
Search for Beauty as
Health Acres Guest (uncredited)
1928
Eagle of the Night
1928
Black Feather
1928
The Wagon Show as
Colonel Beldan
1928
See You Later
1927
Spider Webs as
Jeffrey Stanton
1927
The Shamrock and the Rose as
Father O'Brien
1927
Wolves of the Air as
Bob's Father
1927
Johnny Get Your Hair Cut as
Baxter Ryan
1926
Camille as
Armand's Father
1926
The False Alarm
1926
The Last Alarm as
The Captain of the Fire Brigade - Tom's Father
1926
The Wives of the Prophet as
William Neil
1925
The Mad Marriage
1924
The Law and the Lady as
Cyrus Blake
1924
The Story Without a Name as
The Cripple
1924
Heart of Alaska
1924
Love of Women as
Mr. Redfield
1924
Virtuous Liars as
Josiah Wright
1924
Week End Husbands as
John Keane
1924
Roulette as
Ben Corcoran
1924
Let Not Man Put Asunder as
Sir Humphrey
1923
Fog Bound as
Deputy Brown
1923
Man and Wife as
Caleb Perkins
1923
The Glimpses of the Moon as
Fred Gillow
1923
None So Blind as
Russell Mortimer
1922
Determination as
Putnam
1921
Conceit as
Barbe la Fleche
1920
Deadline at Eleven as
Paul Klocke
1920
Human Collateral as
Richard Morton
1919
The Tower of Jewels as
Fraser Grimstead
1919
The Girl-Woman as
Sanford
1919
The Man Who Won as
Henry Longfield
1919
The Cambric Mask as
John Sark
1919
The Captain's Captain as
Lawford Tapp
1916
The Crimson Stain Mystery as
Harold Stanley
1916
Tried for His Own Murder (Short) as
John D'Arclay
1915
The Crown Prince's Double as
Prince Oscar / Barry Lawrence
1915
A Question of Right or Wrong (Short) as
Paul Mathews
1915
Saints and Sinners (Short) as
Ashley
1915
The Gods Redeem (Short) as
Slippery Tom
1915
The Man Who Couldn't Beat God as
Martin Henchford
1915
Rags and the Girl (Short) as
Tom Raine
1915
Dorothy (Short) as
Tom Marley
1915
The Romance of a Handkerchief (Short) as
John Harmon
1915
The Dawn of Understanding (Short) as
Oliver Weldon - the Husband
1915
The Criminal (Short) as
Gordon West - The District Attorney
1915
The Heart of Jim Brice (Short) as
Jim Brice
1915
On the Altar of Love (Short) as
Gerald Lynn
1915
The Understudy; or, Behind the Scenes (Short)
1915
The Evil Men Do (Short) as
David Horton
1914
The Plot (Short) as
Roy Burton - The Reporter
1914
The Product (Short) as
John Strong
1914
By the Governor's Order (Short) as
Allan Lawrence
1914
Too Much Burglar (Short) as
Tom Perry
1914
Lola the Rat (Short) as
Dr. Chester
1914
The Mystery of Brayton Court (Short) as
Dr. Lynn Darmon
1914
The Mill of Life (Short) as
Harry Ames
1914
The Girl in the Case (Short) as
Harry Mackay - Bank Cashier
1914
The Blood Ruby (Short) as
Bob Carr - The Ranch Foreman
1914
Bella's Elopement (Short) as
Wilton - The Husband
1914
The Mysterious Lodger (Short) as
Ralph Brent - The Mysterious Lodger
1914
The Woes of a Waitress (Short) as
Bob Stevens
1914
Through Life's Window (Short) as
George Tresham
1914
Love the Clairvoyant (Short) as
John Masten - the Jealous Husband
1914
Doctor Smith's Baby (Short)
1914
The Moonstone of Fez (Short) as
Schuyler Van Norden
1914
A Sentimental Burglar (Short) as
Lt. Holland Pursey
1914
Etta of the Footlights (Short) as
Lord Wentworth
1914
The Acid Test (Short) as
Tom Marston
1914
Her Great Scoop (Short) as
Bert Balley
1914
Mr. Barnes of New York as
Mr. Barnes
1914
The Woman in Black (Short) as
Dick Coles
1914
Iron and Steel (Short) as
John Smardon
1914
Some Steamer Scooping (Short) as
Baron Lafitte
1914
The Perplexed Bridegroom (Short) as
Jack Demly - the Bridegroom
1913
The Education of Aunt Georgiana (Short) as
Harry
1913
The Golden Pathway (Short) as
James Evans
1913
Fellow Voyagers (Short) as
Tom Blake
1913
The Sale of a Heart (Short) as
Charles Lindgard
1913
The Warmakers (Short) as
Calhoun - Under Secretary of War
1913
On Their Wedding Eve (Short) as
George Kendrick
1913
Matrimonial Manoeuvres (Short) as
Martin Mills
1913
The Mystery of the Silver Skull (Short) as
Billy Steele
1913
A Princess of Bagdad as
Seyn - the Cobbler
1913
Extremities (Short) as
Edwin Bartells
1913
Cupid Versus Women's Rights (Short) as
Rex Liston
1913
The Lonely Princess (Short) as
Endicott, an American Millionaire
1913
The Clown and the Prima Donna (Short) as
Toto - The Clown
1913
A Maid of Mandalay (Short) as
Tommy Wilkins
1913
The Hindoo Charm (Short) as
Sir Edward Tilbury
1913
The Joys of a Jealous Wife (Short) as
Mr. Markham - the Husband
1913
A Faithful Servant (Short) as
Count Gullio
1913
The Intruder (Short) as
Gilbert Gray - the Intruder
1913
The Taming of Betty (Short) as
Charles Disbrow
1913
The Spirit of the Orient (Short) as
Sir Leslie Gillespie
1913
Jack's Chrysanthemum (Short) as
Jack, an American Artist
1913
Delayed Proposals (Short) as
Jack Hardy
1913
The Wrath of Osaka (Short) as
Osaka
1913
The Mystery of the Stolen Jewels (Short) as
Lambert Chase
1913
Mr. Mintern's Misadventures (Short) as
Madison Mintern
1913
The Mystery of the Stolen Child (Short) as
Lambert Chase - Detective
1913
Getting Up a Practice (Short) as
Dr. Lyons
1913
The Way Out (Short) as
David Turner - A Bachelor
1913
Cinderella's Slipper (Short) as
John Leigh
1913
The Weapon (Short) as
Darrell Young
1913
The Two Purses (Short) as
Gerald Warren
1913
What a Change of Clothes Did (Short) as
John Mason
1913
The Interrupted Honeymoon (Short) as
Mr. Harry Young - the Husband
1913
The Adventure of the Ambassador's Disappearance (Short) as
Lambert Chase
1913
The Adventure of the Counterfeit Bills (Short) as
Lambert Chase - Detective
1912
Days of Terror (Short)
1912
It All Came Out in the Wash (Short) as
Barry Wall
1912
The Night Before Christmas (Short) as
John Corbin - The Father
1912
Six O'Clock (Short) as
Mr. Cameron
1912
Lord Browning and Cinderella (Short) as
Lord Browning
1912
The Face or the Voice (Short) as
Robert Hale
1912
A Mistake in Spelling (Short) as
Fred Manning
1912
When Persistency and Obstinacy Meet (Short) as
Henry Ford
1912
As You Like It as
Orlando
1912
The Adventure of the Smelling Salts (Short) as
Lambert Chase - Detective
1912
Bobby's Father (Short) as
Dick Ramsay - Bobby's Father
1912
The Adventure of the Italian Model (Short) as
Lambert Chase - the Detective
1912
A Vitagraph Romance (Short) as
Maurice Costello
1912
The Loyalty of Sylvia (Short) as
Dr. Dudley Lawrence
1912
Flirt or Heroine (Short) as
Dr. Kenneth Leslie
1912
Her Grandchild (Short) as
Donald Grant - the Son
1912
The Two Battles (Short) as
Gordon Frazier
1912
Wanted... a Grandmother (Short) as
Mr. Hale
1912
The Adventure of the Retired Army Colonel (Short) as
Lambert Chase - the Detective
1912
The Adventure of the Thumb Print (Short) as
Lambert Chase, Detective
1912
The Black Sheep (Short) as
Harold Moreland - The Black Sheep's Brother (unconfirmed)
1912
Conscience (Short) as
Harold Winter
1912
The Money Kings (Short) as
Roy Brain
1912
Aunty's Romance (Short) as
Stephen Fiske Jr.
1912
On the Pupil of His Eye (Short) as
Lambert Chase, Detective
1912
When Roses Wither (Short) as
Howard Bennett - the Son
1912
The Days of Terror; or, in the Reign of Terror (Short)
1912
Lulu's Doctor (Short) as
Doctor John Lewis
1912
Half a Hero as
Joe Godfrey, Drug Commissioner
1912
The Picture Idol (Short) as
Howard Hanson
1912
Their Golden Anniversary (Short) as
John Jones - the Son
1912
The Spider's Web (Short) as
Trevor Lawlor - A Young Attorney
1912
Dr. LaFleur's Theory (Short) as
Dr. LaFleur
1912
The Old Kent Road (Short) as
Harry Gettings - A Young Traveling Salesman
1912
Counsel for the Defense (Short) as
Lynn Charter, Attorney
1912
The Way of a Man with a Maid (Short) as
Willis Bland
1912
The Jocular Winds of Fate (Short) as
Lord Drumleigh
1912
Nemesis! (Short) as
Richard Adams - a Doctor
1912
The Old Silver Watch (Short) as
Frank as an Adult
1912
Mrs. 'Enry 'Awkins (Short) as
'Enry Awkins
1912
Mrs. Carter's Necklace (Short) as
Harry Carter
1912
The Diamond Brooch (Short) as
Jack Bronson - The Man The Star Loves
1912
Her Last Shot (Short) as
John Lewis - the Farmer
1912
Winning Is Losing (Short) as
Oliver Normand
1912
The First Violin (Short)
1912
For the Honor of the Family (Short) as
Guy Ryder aka Guy Denton
1912
Caught in the Rain (Short) as
Jaspar Ray - The Prisoner
1912
The Meeting of the Ways (Short) as
Tom - An Honest Attorney
1912
The Law or the Lady (Short) as
Judge Calder
1912
A Romance of Wall Street (Short) as
Philip Linton
1911
Siren of the Sea (Short) as
Fisherman
1911
Some Good in All (Short) as
Bill - a Providential Thief
1911
Love at Gloucester Port (Short) as
Frank Mills
1911
His Wife's Secret (Short) as
Leslie Charlton
1911
His Last Cent (Short) as
Jack Meyers
1911
An Innocent Burglar (Short) as
Frank Foster
1911
Who's Who (Short) as
Bertie Hall - a Young Clubman
1911
Auld Lang Syne (Short) as
Tammas
1911
Captain Barnacle, Diplomat (Short) as
Dick Martin
1911
Her Hero (Short)
1911
A Western Heroine (Short) as
Roger Peters - the Ranch Foreman
1911
His Sister's Children (Short) as
Harry Burton - The Children's Uncle
1911
Foraging (Short) as
Jack Ainsley
1911
The Thumb Print (Short) as
Undetermined Role (unconfirmed, uncredited)
1911
My Old Dutch (Short) as
Clive Huntley
1911
Wages of War (Short) as
Maurice Payson
1911
The Second Honeymoon (Short) as
Jack Merwin - the Husband
1911
For Love and Glory (Short) as
Lt. Osmond
1911
A Handsomer Man (Short) as
John - the Husband
1911
Two Wolves and a Lamb (Short) as
Bertie Belknap - Man About Town
1911
She Came, She Saw, She Conquered (Short) as
Herbert - Rose's Fiance
1911
The Geranium (Short) as
Daniel Briton
1911
The Battle Hymn of the Republic (Short) as
Jesus Christ
1911
A Quaker Mother (Short) as
John Harmon - A Quaker Husband
1911
Barriers Burned Away (Short) as
John Martin - First Brother
1911
The Sleep Walker (Short) as
Dr. Allan Langham
1911
Proving His Love; or, the Ruse of a Beautiful Woman (Short) as
Lloyd Stanwood
1911
The Changing of Silas Warner (Short) as
Silas Warner's Son
1911
The Sacrifice (Short) as
Nick Austin
1911
For Her Brother's Sake (Short) as
Albert Black - The Brother
1911
A Dead Man's Honor (Short) as
Hugh
1911
The Show Girl (Short) as
Dr. Renfrew
1911
His Mother (Short) as
Donald Gray
1911
The Wooing of Winifred (Short) as
The Suitor
1911
The Inherited Taint (Short) as
Herbert Warning
1911
A Tale of Two Cities (Short) as
Sydney Carton
1911
The New Stenographer (Short) as
The Boss
1911
Society and the Man (Short) as
The Protagonist
1911
Girl of the Mountains (Short) as
Harold Brandon, a Speculator
1911
Three Men and a Maid (Short) as
Secretary to the Old Men
1911
Water Lilies (Short) as
Maurice
1910
The Law and the Man (Short) as
John Turton - a Lawyer
1910
A Woman's Love (Short)
1910
The Nine of Diamonds (Short)
1910
The Sepoy's Wife (Short) as
The Doctor
1910
How She Won Him (Short) as
Arthur Lewis
1910
Rose Leaves (Short)
1910
The Men Haters' Club (Short) as
Dick
1910
Back to Nature; or, the Best Man Wins (Short) as
The Chauffeur
1910
The Turn of the Balance (Short)
1910
Uncle Tom's Cabin (Short)
1910
Becket (Short)
1910
By the Faith of a Child (Short) as
Stephen
1910
The Altar of Love (Short)
1910
Over the Garden Wall (Short)
1910
Love of Chrysanthemum (Short) as
The American
1910
Convict No. 796 (Short) as
Convict No. 796
1910
Through the Darkness (Short) as
The Actor
1910
St. Elmo (Short) as
St. Elmo Thornton
1910
Elektra (Short)
1910
Capital vs. Labor (Short)
1910
Conscience (Short)
1910
The Girl and the Judge; or, A Terrible Temptation (Short) as
The Young Lover
1910
A Pair of Schemers; or, My Wife and My Uncle (Short) as
The Husband
1910
Richelieu; or: The Conspiracy (Short)
1909
The Power of the Press (Short)
1909
A Midsummer Night's Dream (Short) as
Lysander
1909
Les Misérables (Short) as
Jean Valjean
1909
Les misérables (Part III) (Short) as
Jean Valjean
1909
The Romance of an Umbrella (Short) as
Jimmie Conyers
1909
Les miserables (Part II) (Short) as
Jean Valjean
1909
Les Miserables (Part I) (Short) as
Jean Valjean
1909
The Way of the Cross (Short)
1909
The Gift of Youth (Short)
1909
The Duke's Jester or A Fool's Revenge (Short)
1909
The Plot That Failed (Short)
1909
King Lear (Short) as
Undetermined role
1909
Kenilworth (Short)
1909
Saul and David (Short) as
David
1909
Virginius (Short)
1909
Ruy Blas (Short)
1909
The Bride of Lammermoor: A Tragedy of Bonnie Scotland (Short)
1908
The Merchant of Venice (Short) as
Undetermined Role
1908
The Dancer and the King: A Romantic Story of Spain (Short)
1908
Slippery Jim's Repentance (Short)
1908
Julius Caesar (Short)
1908
Antony and Cleopatra (Short) as
Marc Antony (unconfirmed)
1908
Ex-Convict No. 900 (Short)
1908
Leah the Forsaken (Short)
1908
Richard III (Short)
1908
Salome (Short) as
King Herod
Director
1915
The Man Who Couldn't Beat God
1915
The Heart of Jim Brice (Short)
1915
On the Altar of Love (Short)
1915
The Understudy; or, Behind the Scenes (Short)
1915
The Evil Men Do (Short)
1914
The Plot (Short)
1914
The Product (Short)
1914
By the Governor's Order (Short)
1914
Too Much Burglar (Short)
1914
Lola the Rat (Short)
1914
The Mystery of Brayton Court (Short)
1914
The Mill of Life (Short)
1914
The Girl in the Case (Short)
1914
The Blood Ruby (Short)
1914
Bella's Elopement (Short)
1914
The Mysterious Lodger (Short)
1914
The Woes of a Waitress (Short)
1914
Through Life's Window (Short)
1914
Love the Clairvoyant (Short)
1914
Doctor Smith's Baby (Short)
1914
The Moonstone of Fez (Short)
1914
A Sentimental Burglar (Short)
1914
Etta of the Footlights (Short)
1914
The Acid Test (Short)
1914
Her Great Scoop (Short)
1914
Mr. Barnes of New York
1914
The Woman in Black (Short)
1914
Iron and Steel (Short)
1914
Some Steamer Scooping (Short)
1914
The Perplexed Bridegroom (Short)
1913
The Education of Aunt Georgiana (Short)
1913
The Golden Pathway (Short)
1913
Fellow Voyagers (Short)
1913
The Sale of a Heart (Short)
1913
The Warmakers (Short)
1913
On Their Wedding Eve (Short)
1913
Matrimonial Manoeuvres (Short)
1913
The Mystery of the Silver Skull (Short)
1913
Extremities (Short)
1913
Cupid Versus Women's Rights (Short)
1913
The Lonely Princess (Short)
1913
The Clown and the Prima Donna (Short)
1913
A Maid of Mandalay (Short)
1913
The Hindoo Charm (Short)
1913
The Joys of a Jealous Wife (Short)
1913
A Faithful Servant (Short)
1913
The Intruder (Short)
1913
The Taming of Betty (Short)
1913
The Spirit of the Orient (Short)
1913
Jack's Chrysanthemum (Short)
1913
The Wrath of Osaka (Short)
1913
The Mystery of the Stolen Jewels (Short)
1913
Mr. Mintern's Misadventures (Short)
1913
The Mystery of the Stolen Child (Short)
1913
Getting Up a Practice (Short)
1913
The Way Out (Short)
1913
Cinderella's Slipper (Short)
1913
The Weapon (Short)
1913
The Two Purses (Short)
1913
What a Change of Clothes Did (Short)
1913
The Adventure of the Ambassador's Disappearance (Short)
1913
The Adventure of the Counterfeit Bills (Short)
1912
It All Came Out in the Wash (Short)
1912
Conscience (Short)
1912
On the Pupil of His Eye (Short)
1912
Their Golden Anniversary (Short)
1912
The Spider's Web (Short)
1912
Dr. LaFleur's Theory (Short)
1912
The Old Kent Road (Short)
1912
The Jocular Winds of Fate (Short)
1912
Nemesis! (Short)
1912
Mrs. 'Enry 'Awkins (Short)
1912
The Law or the Lady (Short)
1912
A Romance of Wall Street (Short)
1911
Some Good in All (Short)
1911
Love at Gloucester Port (Short)
1911
His Wife's Secret (Short)
1910
The Turn of the Balance (Short)
1910
The Altar of Love (Short)
Writer
1913
Fellow Voyagers (Short) (scenario)
1912
Aunty's Romance (Short) (scenario)
Producer
1914
Through Life's Window (Short) (producer)
Self
1914
How Cissy Made Good (Short) as
Self (uncredited)
1914
The Peacemaker (Short) as
Self - Cameo Appearance
1911
Winsor McCay, the Famous Cartoonist of the N.Y. Herald and His Moving Comics (Short) as
Self - Maurice Costello (uncredited)
Archive Footage
1986
What Do Those Old Films Mean? (TV Series) as
Self
- United States, 1902-1914: Tomorrow the World (1986) - Self
1961
Hollywood: The Golden Years (TV Movie documentary) as
Self (uncredited)
1947
Flicker Flashbacks No. 2, Series 5 (Documentary short) as