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Helene Costello (June 21, 1906 – January 26, 1957) was an American stage and film actress, most notably of the Silent film.
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 Sound film 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. 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. 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.Lowe 2005 p.133 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). Her final role was a bit part in the 1942 film The Black Swan. Later in 1942, Costello filed for bankruptcy.
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. Costello filed for divorce on August 6, 1947. 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. 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. In April 1948, Costello was forced to drop her suit due to financial troubles and Le Blanc was awarded temporary custody of Diedre. Costello and Le Blanc were divorced in June 1948.
Comedian Lou Costello, born Louis Cristillo, changed his name in honor of Helene Costello. Coincidentally, both of them were born in 1906.
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. Costello's second marriage was to actor/director Lowell Sherman, whom she married on March 15, 1930, in Beverly Hills. They separated in November 1931 and were divorced in May 1932. Costello's third marriage was to Dr. Arturo de Barrio, a lawyer who came from a prominent Cuban family. They were married in Havana on January 6, 1933. Their marriage was considered invalid because Costello's divorce from her second husband was not finalized. They married for a second time in June 1933 in Los Angeles. They were divorced in 1939.
Death
On January 24, 1957, Costello was admitted to Patton State Hospital under the assumed name of Adrienne Costello for treatment for a drug and alcohol addiction. She died there two days later of pneumonia. Her sister, Dolores Costello, was with her when she died.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. Her funeral was held on January 30, after which she was interred in an unmarked grave at Calvary Cemetery in East Los Angeles.Allan R. Ellenberger (2025). 9780786409839, McFarland & Company Incorporated Pub. ISBN 9780786409839
Other
For her contribution to the motion film industry, Helene Costello has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1500 Vine Street in Hollywood.
Filmography
+ Short subject 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 film1913 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 + Features 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
External links
Categories: 1906 Births, 1957 Deaths, 20th-century American Actresses, Actresses From New York City, American Child Actresses, American Film Actresses, American Silent Film Actresses, American Stage Actresses, American Vaudeville Performers, Burials At Calvary Cemetery, Deaths From Pneumonia In California, Metro-goldwyn-mayer Contract Players, Warner Bros. Contract Players, Drug-related Deaths In California, Alcohol-related Deaths In California
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