Little Known Spaghetti Western actors ~ Anthony Costello

[These daily posts will cover little known actors or people that have appeared in more recent films and TV series. Various degrees of information that I was able to find will be given and anything that you can add would be appreciated.]

Anthony Christopher Costello was born in Andover, Massachusetts, on February 16, 1938. He grew up in Andover with his brother Michael. After graduating from Phillips Andover Academy in 1955 with a bachelor's degree, Anthony attended the Rhode Island School of Design and the University of Florence in Italy, and then attended Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, where he earned a doctorate in English.

To satisfy his artistic outlet, Tony first tried his hand at painting, something he was to continue to practice for the rest of his life, but he also loved the theater and toured with the Cleveland Playhouse in 1961. He then appeared in the Boston theater and eventually on Broadway, before moving to Hollywood in 1963 to look for work on the big and small screen.

In 1974, he began writing a story that he could star in when the story was adapted for the screen. The story then became a miniseries and then a novel and when it was adapted, but there was no role for him. A few studio producers showed some interest, but when he announced that the contract was for him to be the writer, they rejected him. Bantam Books published the story in early 1982 under the title Jericho. The book is a love story centered on the Great Depression, the labor movement, and the struggle between bosses in a declining industrial town in Massachusetts in the 1930s.

Costello went on to have a decent career appearing in some thirty-three films and television series between 1964 and 1982.

Anthony Costello died at his home in Los Angeles, California, on August 15, 1983, of AIDS.

Anthony Costello’s only Euro-western was as Jess Parker in 1968’s “Blue” starring Terence Stamp.

COSTELLO, Anthony (aka Tony Costello) (Anthony Christopher Costello) [2/16/1938, Andover, Massachusetts, U.S.A. – 8/15/1983, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. (AIDS)] – theater, film, TV actor.

Blue – 1968 (Jess Parker)