Born in 1895, Bud Abbott was raised in show business because both his parents were circus performers. He dropped out of school when he was 14, and joined his father in Coney Island. At 15, he was drugged and kidnapped to work on a ship sailing to Norway. He eventually made his way back to the United States, and moved to Detroit in 1918. He got a job as the treasurer of the National Theater – a well-known burlesque business. He met the love of his life here, Jenny Mae Pratt, and they were together until his death 55 years later.

Mr. Abbott enjoyed performing in shows so he and Jenny Mae moved to New York. In 1936 he was working as a cashier at the Casino Theater in Brooklyn, where the comedic duo of Lyons and Costello were scheduled to perform. Lyons was unable to make the performance, and hearing about the performing cashier, Costello asked Abbott to perform with him that evening. The show was so successful that Abbott and Costello became a very well known comedic pair.

Born in 1906, Lou worked many different jobs before his dreams of becoming famous were realized. Pairing up with Bud Abbott, Costello played the clown and Abbott played the “straight man”. In 1939, Abbott and Costello signed a contract with Universal Pictures and became well-known comedians.
Some of their most notable films include: One Night in the Tropics (1940), Buck Privates (1941), and Dance with Me Henry (1956). They were also well known for their television appearances and starring in their own series The Abbott and Costello Show, which had more than 50 episodes.

Lou Costello’s last role was the lead in The Thirty-Foot Bride of Candy Rock in 1959, as he died later that year.

1940 One Night in the Tropics – Bud Abbott (Abbott) Lou Costello (Costello)

1941 Buck Privates – Bud Abbott (Slicker Smith) Lou Costello (Herbie Brown)

1945 Bud Abbott & Lou Costello in Hollywood – Bud Abbott (Buzz Curtis) Lou Costello (Abercrombie)

1948 Bud Abbott Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein – Bud Abbott (Chick) Lou Costello (Wilbur)

1949 Abbott & Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff – Bud Abbott (Casey Edwards) Lou Costello (Freddie Phillips)

1950 Abbott & Costello in the Foreign Legion – Bud Abbott (Bud Jones) Lou Costello (Lou Hotchkiss)

1951 Abbott & Costello Meet the Invisible Man – Bud Abbot (Bud Alexander) Lou Costello (Lou Francis)

1952 Abbott & Costello Meet Captain Kidd – Bud Abbott (Rocky Stonebridge) Lou Costello (Captain Puddin’ Head Feathergill)

1953 Abbott & Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – Bud Abbott (Slim) Lou Costello (Tubby)

1953 Abbott & Costello Go to Mars – Bud Abbott (Lester) Low Costello (Orville)

1955 Abbott & Costello Meet the Mummy – Bud Abbott (Pete Paterson) Lou Costello (Freddie Franklin)

1955 Abbott & Costello Meet the Keystone Kops – Bud Abbott (Harry ‘Slim’ Pierce) Lou Costello (Willie ‘Tubby’ Piper)

1956 Dance with Me, Henry – Bud Abbott (Bud Flick) Lou Costello (Lou Henry)

Abbot & Costello
2013 Classic Film Hall of Fame: Awarded May 12, 2013 at the Rheem Theatre in Moraga, California


Baseball Hall of Fame: Since 1956, an honoring plaque, gold record and Abbott and Costello’s infamous
"Who's On First?" sketch has been included in the Baseball Hall of Fame collection.

Bud Abbott
2006 Garden State Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award
1960 Walk of Fame:
Motion Picture - Awarded February 8, 1960. At 1611 Vine Street.
Television - Awarded February 8, 1960 at 6740 Hollywood Blvd.
Radio - Awarded February 8, 1960 at 6333 Hollywood Blvd.

1960 Walk of Fame:
Motion Picture - Awarded February 8, 1960. At 1611 Vine Street.
Television - Awarded February 8, 1960 at 6740 Hollywood Blvd.
Radio - Awarded February 8, 1960 at 6333 Hollywood Blvd.