1944-01-01 The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA
Shaun Costello began directing for "loops" (10-minute scenes shown in coin-operated viewers in adult theaters) in NYC in the early 1970s, and soon was directing (and acting in) full porn movies and other grindhouse "roughies" shown in Times Square's 42nd Street adult theaters. Costello took work where he could get it, often working for the Mob, who owned many adult theaters and distribution, and working under different aliases for different theaters so that no one (at the time) knew that he was his own competition. Eventually moving on to a mainstream documentary career, Costello written and directed grindhouse movies - rough and violent and reflecting of their times - have seen a resurgence as the 2010's have seen these movies be remastered and re-released and often seen for the first time in decades. Anyone interested in the history of American porn or grindhouse/exploitation theater of the late 1960s and 1970s will likely have encountered Shaun Costello's work, often unknowingly due to his prolific use of aliases.
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Hymns from the Abyss | Self (archive footage) | 2021-08-02 |
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Enrapture | Cigar Shop Man | 1990-03-30 |
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Double Pleasure | (as Russ Carlson) | 1982-04-23 |
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Mistress Electra | Narrator (voice) (uncredited) | 1982-01-08 |
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Pandora's Mirror | Waiter / Man in Audition Line | 1981-12-28 |
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New York Construction Co. | 1980-04-01 | |
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More Than Sisters | Martin Randall | 1979-07-05 |
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The Two Lives of Jennifer | Bob O'Connor | 1979-01-01 |
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Slave of Pleasure | Richard Anselm / Masked Guy | 1978-08-30 |
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A Taste Of Bette | S.R. | 1978-01-01 |
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Daughters of Discipline | Bruno | 1978-01-01 |
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Dirty Susan | Bob Gilroy | 1977-01-01 |
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Joy Of Humiliation | Biker with Cigarette | 1977-06-16 |
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The Fire in Francesca | Troy Winston | 1977-12-01 |
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Betrayed Teens | Bobby | 1977-03-09 |
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Schoolgirl's Reunion | Football Announcer (voice) / Autograph Seeker / Guy at Party | 1977-03-01 |
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Cherry Hustlers | Company Investigator | 1977-05-01 |
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The Dark Side of Danielle | Bruce / Betty's Master | 1976-10-10 |
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The Travails of June | Willy | 1976-01-01 |
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Tortured Woman | El Gringo | 1976-10-01 |
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That Lady from Rio | Sex Slave (uncredited) | 1976-08-02 |
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The Untamed Vixens | Jerry | 1976-01-01 |
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Venture Into the Bizzare | Closing Narration (voice) | 1976-01-01 |
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Sensuous Fly Girls | Man in Stable | 1976-03-19 |
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She's No Angel | Dr. Warren Counter | 1976-01-01 |
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The Fury in Alice | Chip Carson | 1976-06-01 |
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The Story of Eloise | Edgar Frank | 1976-03-31 |
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Girl Scout Cookies | Mr. O'Malley | 1976-05-01 |
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The Summer of Suzanne | Chip | 1976-01-01 |
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Water Power | Police Station Cop / Man at Car Window | 1976-09-01 |
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Midnight Desires | Chauffeur / Highwayman (uncredited) | 1976-03-09 |
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Gladys and Her All Girl Band | Lola | 1975-05-26 |
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Private Practice | Mr. Barnes | 1975-01-01 |
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Lisa Meets Mr. Big | Minister | 1975-04-11 |
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Sin of Lust | Bob Hartman | 1975-01-01 |
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The Passions of Carol | The Spirits | 1975-03-24 |
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Cheryl's Surrender | Ray Lavagis | 1975-12-26 |
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Baby Oil | Orgy Guy with Two Girls | 1975-09-01 |
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China Doll | Bert | 1975-10-06 |
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Kathy's Graduation Present | Randy | 1975-11-01 |
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Hotel Hooker | Pete | 1975-01-01 |
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The School for Sexual Arts | Guy in Final Class | 1975-01-01 |
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Two Senoritas | Guy with Glasses | 1975-02-03 |
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Teenage Nurses | Joe / TV Reporter | 1974-05-14 |
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Lip Service | Hired Guy | 1974-02-01 |
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Lady on the Couch | Poker Buddy (uncredited) | 1974-03-19 |
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The Love Bus | George | 1974-11-01 |
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Come Fly with Us | Jay Basby | 1974-07-16 |
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Pen Pals | Good Samaritan / Man in Black | 1974-03-08 |
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Forced Entry | David | 1973-03-16 |
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Joe Rock Superstar | Rock the Guitarist / Voice of Walter Cockite | 1973-06-12 |
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Come And Be Purified | Brother Francis | 1973-08-16 |
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Tina Makes a Deal | Customs Agent | 1973-06-29 |
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The Tycoon's Daughter | Newspaper Reader / Radio Newscaster | 1973-10-31 |
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Guess Who's Coming | Peter | 1973-05-31 |
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Go Fly a Kite | John Spaulding | 1973-09-23 |
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The Porn Brokers | Self | 1973-03-16 |
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Sweet Sexteen | Jerry | 1973-09-01 |
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Honeymoon Suite | Jamie | 1973-09-12 |
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Teachers and Cream | Mr. Boynton | 1973-08-01 |
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Sexual Freedom in the Ozarks | Newscaster / Homer Heaply | 1973-09-06 |
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Sexual Customs in Scandinavia | Mr. Thorens | 1972-02-11 |
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Selling It | (archive footage) | 1972-01-06 |
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Feel | 1971-09-23 | |
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The Magical Ring | First Fantasy Lover | 1971-09-24 |
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Love in the Rain | Shaun (uncredited) | 1971-11-01 |
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Sensuous Vixens | Photo Model with Mustache | 1971-08-20 |
