Helene Costello
Helene Costello | |
---|---|
Calvary Cemetery | |
Other names | Helen Costello Miss Helene |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1909–1942 |
Spouses | John W. Regan
(m. 1927; div. 1929)Arturo de Barrio
(m. 1933; div. 1939)George Lee Le Blanc
(m. 1940; div. 1946) |
Children | 1 |
Parent(s) | Maurice Costello Mae Costello |
Relatives | Dolores Costello (sister) |
Helene Costello (June 21, 1906 – January 26, 1957) was an American stage and film actress, most notably of the silent era.
Early life and career
Born in
Although she had been appearing on screen since her early childhood, Costello was selected as a WAMPAS Baby Star in 1927, a promotional campaign sponsored by the Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers in the United States, which honored thirteen young women each year whom they believed to be on the threshold of movie stardom. In 1928, Costello co-starred in the first all-talking full-length feature film Lights of New York. Later that same year, she was released from her contract with Warner Bros. after she refused to star as a leading lady opposite Rin Tin Tin once again; she had previously appeared alongside the canine star in the 1926 film While London Sleeps.[4] Costello's final substantial role was opposite her sister Dolores in the all-star Technicolor musical revue The Show of Shows (1929). Costello and her sister performed in the "Meet My Sister" musical number.
After the advent of sound, Costello's career declined reportedly because her voice did not record well.[4] She was also beset with personal problems including illnesses, an addiction to drugs and alcohol, three divorces, a public custody battle with her third ex-husband and financial difficulties.[6][7] From 1930 to 1934, Costello did not appear in a film. In September 1935, she signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and returned to the screen in a supporting role in Riffraff (1936).[8] Her final role was a bit part in the 1942 film The Black Swan. Later in 1942, Costello filed for bankruptcy.[6]
Personal life
Costello was married four times, each marriage ending in divorce. Her first marriage was to football player John W. Regan in 1927. They divorced in June 1928.
Her fourth and final marriage was to artist George Lee Le Blanc, whom Costello married in 1940. The couple had a daughter, Diedre, on February 18, 1941.[14] Costello filed for divorce on August 6, 1947.[15] Shortly after Costello filed for divorce, Le Blanc joined the Merchant Marine. Before leaving, Le Blanc left Diedre in the care of Costello's sister Dolores claiming that Costello was unfit to care for Diedre because of her alcoholism.[16] Costello denied Le Blanc's claim and attempted to regain sole custody in September 1947. During one custody hearing, Costello's father and Lionel Barrymore (Dolores Costello's ex brother-in-law) testified that Costello did not have a drinking problem.[17] In April 1948, Costello was forced to drop her suit due to financial troubles and Le Blanc was awarded temporary custody of Diedre.[18] Costello and Le Blanc were divorced in June 1948.[19]
Death
On January 24, 1957, Costello was admitted to
Other
For her contribution to the motion film industry, Helene Costello has a star on the
Comedian Lou Costello, born Louis Cristillo, changed his name in honor of Helene Costello. Coincidentally, both of them were born in 1906.
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1909 | Les Misérables | Child | Part 1 |
1909 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Fairy | |
1911 | Consuming Love; or, St. Valentine's Day in Greenaway Land | ||
1911 | A Quaker Mother | The Harmon Daughter | |
1911 | Courage of Sorts | ||
1911 | The Geranium | ||
1911 | Captain Barnacle's Baby | The Baby | |
1911 | Her Crowning Glory | Helen, the Child | |
1911 | The Child Crusoes | ||
1911 | His Sister's Children | Boker aka Toodle | Credited as Helen Costello |
1911 | Regeneration | The Ross Child | |
1911 | Auld Lang Syne | The Child | |
1911 | A Reformed Santa Claus | The Widow's 2nd Child | |
1911 | The Old Doll | The Child | |
1912 | Captain Jenks' Dilemma | One of Widow Brown's Children | |
1912 | The Meeting of the Ways | One of Tom's Children | |
1912 | Tom Tilling's Baby | The Carter Baby | |
1912 | Captain Barnacle's Messmates | A Child | |
1912 | The First Violin | Helen - A Little Waif | |
1912 | The Five Senses | ||
1912 | At Scroggineses' Corner | Alice as a Child | Credited as Helen Costello |
1912 | The Greatest Thing in the World | A Lost Child | |
1912 | Lulu's Doctor | ||
1912 | The Days of Terror; or, in the Reign of Terror | ||
1912 | The Church Across the Way | Adele - The Child | Credited as Helen Costello |
1912 | The Troublesome Step-Daughters | ||
1912 | The Money Kings | ||
1912 | The Black Sheep | Clara Moreland as a Child | |
1912 | Wanted... a Grandmother | Phillip - Hale's Invalid Son | |
1912 | Rip Van Winkle | Steenie as a Child | |
1912 | Captain Barnacle's Legacy | The Little African Child | |
1912 | The Irony of Fate | Third Child | |
1912 | The Toymaker | Another Child | Unconfirmed |
1912 | In the Garden Fair | Mrs. Rose's Daughter, Helen | |
1912 | Six O'Clock | The Child | |
1912 | The Servant Problem; or, How Mr. Bullington Ran the House | One of the Third Cook's Three Children | |
1912 | The Night Before Christmas | Helen Corbin - The Child | |
1912 | Two Women and Two Men | Little Nellie Thornwell | |
1912 | Days of Terror | ||
1913 | Mr. Bolter's Niece | Pet - Mr. Bolter's Niece | |
1913 | Buttercups | Second Child | |
1913 | Just Show People | ||
1913 | Beau Brummel | Child | Uncredited Lost film |
1913 | Tim Grogan's Foundling | Pearl Ligard - The Foundling | Credited as Helen Costello |
1913 | The One Good Turn | ||
1913 | The Mystery of the Stolen Child | The Stolen Grandchild | |
1913 | The Hindoo Charm | Helen Tilbury - The Younger Child | |
1913 | Fortune's Turn | The Child | |
1913 | The Other Woman | John's Child | |
1913 | Heartbroken Shep | Runa | |
1913 | The Fruits of Vengeance | Pauline's Child | |
1913 | Matrimonial Manoeuvres | Little Nellie | |
1913 | The Doctor's Secret | Elsa, as a child | Lost film |
1913 | The Price of Thoughtlessness | Mabel | |
1913 | Fellow Voyagers | Little Helen Gray | |
1913 | A Christmas Story | Bessie's Child | |
1914 | Bunny's Mistake | Little Helene | |
1914 | Some Steamer Scooping | Helen Reigel | |
1914 | Memories That Haunt | Little Annie | Credited as Helen Costello |
1914 | Etta of the Footlights | ||
1914 | The Mysterious Lodger | Brent's Child | |
1914 | The Barrel Organ | The Child | |
1914 | The Blood Ruby | Hugh's Child | |
1914 | Too Much Burlgar | ||
1914 | By the Governor's Order | Little Hope | |
1915 | The Evil Men Do | Beatrice - as a Little Girl | |
1915 | Lifting the Ban of Coventry | Helen Stuyvesant - their child | |
1915 | The Heart of Jim Brice | ||
1916 | Billie's Mother | Billie |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1912 | Cleopatra | Nicola - a Child | |
1925 | Ranger of the Big Pines | Virginia Weatherford | Lost film |
The Man on the Box | Bob's Sister | ||
Bobbed Hair | Uncredited | ||
1926 | The Love Toy | Princess Patricia | Lost film |
Wet Paint
|
She | Lost film | |
Don Juan | Rena - Adriana's Maid | Uncredited | |
The Honeymoon Express | Margaret Lambert | Lost film | |
Millionaires | Ida | Lost film | |
While London Sleeps | Dale Burke | Lost film | |
1927 | Finger Prints | Jacqueline Norton | Lost film |
The Fortune Hunter | Josie Lockwood | Lost film | |
The Broncho Twister | Paulita Brady | Lost film | |
The Heart of Maryland | Nancy | Incomplete film | |
Good Time Charley | Rosita Keene - Daughter | ||
In Old Kentucky | Nancy Holden | Lost film | |
Husbands for Rent | Molly Devoe | Lost film | |
1928 | Burning Up Broadway | Floss | Lost film |
Comrades | Helen Dixon | Lost film | |
The Phantom of the Turf | Joan | Lost film | |
Lights of New York | Kitty Lewis | ||
The Midnight Taxi | Nan Parker | ||
The Circus Kid | Trixie | ||
Broken Barriers | Beryl Moore | Lost film | |
1929 | When Dreams Come True | Caroline Swayne | Lost film |
The Fatal Warning | Dorothy Rogers | Lost film | |
Innocents of Paris | Bit Role | Uncredited | |
The Show of Shows | Performer in "Meet My Sister" Number | ||
1935 | Public Hero No. 1
|
Undetermined Role | Uncredited |
1935 | Honeymoon Limited | Mrs. Randall | |
1936 | Riffraff | Maizie | |
1942 | The Black Swan | Woman | Uncredited |
References
- ^ "Early Film Star Dies". Reading Eagle. October 30, 1950. p. 14.
- ^ a b "Helene Costello Weds Film Actor". The Pittsburgh Press. March 16, 1930. p. 1.
- ^ a b "Hollywood Star Walk: Helene Costello". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ ISBN 0-789-01843-8.
- ISBN 0-313-30345-2.
- ^ a b c d "Helene Costello, Ex-Actress, Dies". The Milwaukee Journal. January 29, 1957. p. 1. [dead link]
- ^ a b Lowe 2005 p.133
- ^ Percy, Eileen (September 6, 1935). "Ginger Rogers' Next Retitled". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 16.
- ^ "Helene Costello Divorces John Regan, Ex-Grid Star". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. June 28, 1928. p. 2.
- ^ "Accuses Actress In Divorce Suit". Herald-Journal. December 2, 1931. p. 1.
- ^ "Helene Costello Is Granted Divorce After Court Drama". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. May 11, 1932. p. 1.
- ^ "Helene Costello Weds Havana Lawyer In Cuba". St. Petersburg Times. January 11, 1933. p. 2.
- ^ "Wed Second Time". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. June 21, 1933. p. 8.
- ^ "Actress Is Unable To House Child". Spokane Daily Chronicle. April 20, 1948. p. 12.
- ^ "Helene Costello Files Divorce Suit". Reading Eagle. August 7, 1947. p. 28.
- ^ "Dolores Costello Award Custody Of Her Niece". San Jose Evening News. September 13, 1947.
- ^ "Old Troupers Testify In Custody Action". Spokane Daily Chronicle. December 30, 1947. p. 13.
- ^ "Actress Is Unable to House Child". Spokane Daily Chronicle. April 20, 1948. p. 12.
- ^ "Ex-Actress Divorced". Toledo Blade. June 4, 1948. p. 28.
- ^ Associated Press, "Ex-Film Star Helene Costello Dies At Patton", Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Tuesday 29 January 1957, Volume 63, Number 129, page 1.
- ^ "Few Attend Rites For Helene Costello". Reading Eagle. January 31, 1957. p. 8.
- ISBN 0-786-40983-5.
External links
- Helene Costello at IMDb
- Helene Costello at AllMovie