Italian American comedian Louis Francis Cristillo was born on March 6, 1906, in Paterson, New Jersey. Growing up, Lou was a gifted athlete and played a number of sports in high school. His passion? Acting. Lou grew up admiring silent films and actors, especially the work of Charlie Chaplin. When he was 21, he moved to Hollywood and began to work as a stuntman where he adopted the professional name "Costello" after famed silent film actress Helene Costello.

His career was short lived as he sustained an injury that prevented him from continuing to work as a stuntperson. Lou decided to move to New York City and joined the vaudeville circuit performing as a comedian.

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