When Lou Costello was laid up in bed recovering from rheumatic fever, his partner Bud Abbott never missed a beat. According to Lou’s daughter, Chris Costello, the two would pass the time playing a quirky game they called "Guess the Blood Pressure." "It was their way of staying connected," Chris tells Closer. "They both loved gambling, even though they weren’t exactly lucky at it. They lost quite a bit of money, but that didn’t stop them from having fun."
For a while, losing money wasn’t much of an issue. During World War II, the comedy duo of Abbott and Costello became the highest-paid entertainers in the world. Their partnership wasn’t just professional; it was personal. Despite their occasional disagreements, petty arguments, and even personal tragedies, their bond remained unshakable. Even the IRS couldn’t come between them, and neither could death.
“They worked together for 21 years, and sure, they had their disagreements,” Chris reflects. “But at the end of the day, it never meant they hated each other. They were just two guys who loved what they did and loved each other.”
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The Origin Story: How Abbott and Costello Met
Back in 1931, a fateful night at Brooklyn’s Casino Theater changed everything. Bud Abbott, the consummate straight man, stepped in for Lou’s no-show partner. That night, a comedy legend was born. “Every comic on the circuit wanted the chance to work with Bud,” Chris recalls. “He’ll go down in history as one of the greatest straight men ever.”
Bud found his perfect partner in Lou, who brought a unique charm to the stage with his physical comedy and knack for improvisation. “They had this incredible chemistry, timing, and spontaneity,” explains Jim Mulholland, author of The Abbott and Costello Book. Their signature routine, “Who’s on First?”, was never performed the same way twice. “They believed that memorizing the script would make it stale,” Chris adds. “They wanted to keep the magic alive.”
From Burlesque to Hollywood: The Rise to Stardom
Their journey took them from burlesque stages to radio, Broadway, and eventually, the silver screen. Their big break came in 1941 with the film Buck Privates, which turned these two New Jersey-born performers into overnight sensations. In 1943, Universal Studios paid them nearly $800,000 — the equivalent of $13 million today. But with stardom came challenges.
Success brought its own set of headaches. They often disagreed on which projects to pursue and how billing should be handled. Lou, in particular, became irritated if anyone mistakenly called him “Bud.” But Chris insists that these disagreements were never personal. “They had very different personalities,” she explains. “But if anyone said something bad about Bud in front of my dad, they’d better watch out. And the same went for Bud when it came to my dad.”
A Partnership That Endured
When it mattered most, they had each other's backs. Bud suffered from epilepsy, and Lou was always on the lookout for signs of an impending seizure. “Lou would have to punch Bud in the stomach to bring him out of it,” recounts Abbott and Costello in Hollywood coauthor Ron Palumbo. Meanwhile, Bud gave generously to the Lou Costello Jr. Youth Foundation, established in memory of Lou’s son, who tragically drowned in 1943. “They went on tour to raise money for the foundation,” Chris says. “That’s the kind of men they were.”
Though Abbott and Costello officially parted ways in 1957, their friendship endured. When Lou passed away in 1959 at the age of 52, Bud was devastated. He served as a pallbearer at Lou’s funeral. “I remember visiting him at home after Lou died,” Chris recalls. “We were sitting in the living room, and Abbott and Costello came on TV. Bud’s eyes filled with tears. He looked at me and said, ‘I just miss my buddy.’”
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