Bud Abbott

Biography

Bud Abbott was an American comedian who became famous as the straight man of the comedy team Abbott and Costello. Born in Asbury Park, New Jersey, he left school early to work at Coney Island and then spent years in burlesque box offices before moving into performing. He first worked with Lou Costello in 1935, and they formally teamed up the following year. After gaining national exposure on the Kate Smith Hour and appearing in the Broadway musical The Streets of Paris, they signed with Universal, where Buck Privates (1941) became a major hit. The duo made 36 films from 1940 to 1956, including The Time of Their Lives (1946), and ranked among the top box office stars, reaching No. 1 in 1942. They also had a radio program and the television series The Abbott and Costello Show. Later, Abbott played a dramatic role on General Electric Theater and voiced himself in The Abbott and Costello Cartoon Show.

76years old at death

Born October 2, 1897Asbury Park
Died April 24, 1974Woodland Hills
Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
William Alexander Abbott (birth name)Also credited as William Abbott

Movie Career

Films: 28
Career span: 15 years1941 to 1956

Genres

Comedy100%, 28 films
Adventure18%, 5 films
Family18%, 5 films
Music18%, 5 films
Action11%, 3 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

First role
In 1923, Abbott put together Broadway Flashes, a low-cost vaudeville tab show that toured the small-time Gus Sun circuit. He started working as a straight man in it once he could not afford to hire one.
A change of course
In 1960, Abbott started a new act with Candy Candido, and reviews were good. He stopped, though, saying that "No one could ever live up to Lou."
Beyond film
For the Hanna-Barbera animated series The Abbott and Costello Cartoon Show, Abbott used his own voice in 1967. Lou Costello's voice came from Stan Irwin.

Bud Abbott movies on Netflix

Dance with Me, Henry1956IMDb rating 5.6as Bud Flick
Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops1955IMDb rating 6.3as Harry 'Slim' Pierce
Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy1955IMDb rating 6.2as Pete Patterson
Abbott and Costello Go to Mars1953IMDb rating 5.9as Lester
Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde1953IMDb rating 6.4as Slim
Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd1952IMDb rating 5.7as Rocky Stonebridge
Lost in Alaska1952IMDb rating 6.2as Tom Watson
Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man1951IMDb rating 6.6as Bud Alexander
Comin' Round the Mountain1951IMDb rating 6.3as Al Stewart
Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion1950IMDb rating 6.3as Bud Jones
Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff1949IMDb rating 6.7as Casey Edwards
Africa Screams1949IMDb rating 6.0as Buzz Johnson
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello meet Frankenstein1948IMDb rating 7.3as Chick Young
Mexican Hayride1948IMDb rating 6.2as Harry Lambert
The Noose Hangs High1948IMDb rating 6.6as Ted Higgins
Buck Privates Come Home1947IMDb rating 6.8as Slicker Smith
The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap1947IMDb rating 6.7as Duke Egan
The Time of Their Lives1946IMDb rating 7.5as Cuthbert Greenway / Dr. Ralph Greenway
The Naughty Nineties1945IMDb rating 7.0as Dexter Broadhurst
Lost in a Harem1944IMDb rating 6.3as Peter Johnson
Hit the Ice1943IMDb rating 6.7as Flash Fulton
Pardon My Sarong1942IMDb rating 6.7as Algernon 'Algy' Shaw
Ride 'Em Cowboy1942IMDb rating 6.5as Duke
Rio Rita1942IMDb rating 6.1as 'Doc'
Who Done It?1942IMDb rating 7.3as Chick Larkin
Hold That Ghost1941IMDb rating 7.2as Chuck Murray
In the Navy1941IMDb rating 6.7as Smokey Adams
Keep 'Em Flying1941IMDb rating 6.5as Blackie Benson

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Bud Abbott and Lou Costello meet Frankenstein1948 Comedy, Family, Fantasyas Chick Young
IMDb rating 7.321K votes
Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy1955 Action, Adventure, Comedyas Pete Patterson
IMDb rating 6.27.0K votes
Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man1951as Bud Alexander
IMDb rating 6.66.8K votes
Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde1953as Slim
IMDb rating 6.45.6K votes
Hold That Ghost1941as Chuck Murray
IMDb rating 7.24.7K votes
Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff1949as Casey Edwards
IMDb rating 6.74.5K votes
Africa Screams1949as Buzz Johnson
IMDb rating 6.04.3K votes
The Time of Their Lives1946as Cuthbert Greenway / Dr. Ralph Greenway
IMDb rating 7.54.2K votes

Most often with

Charles Barton directed nine of these films, Charles Lamont nine and Arthur Lubin four. Lou Costello appears in 28 of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Lou Costello

Bobby Barber

Joe KirkHarry Brown

Marc Lawrence

James Flavin

Charles BartonDirector, 9 films Charles LamontDirector, 9 films

Arthur LubinDirector, 4 films

Films together

Lou Costello28 films together, 1941 to 1956
Lou Costello's page
- Dance with Me, Henry1956IMDb rating 5.6Abbott as Bud FlickCostello as Lou Henry
- Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops1955IMDb rating 6.3Abbott as Harry 'Slim' PierceCostello as Willie 'Tubby' Piper
- Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy1955IMDb rating 6.2Abbott as Pete PattersonCostello as Freddie Franklin
- Abbott and Costello Go to Mars1953IMDb rating 5.9Abbott as LesterCostello as Orville
- Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde1953IMDb rating 6.4Abbott as SlimCostello as Tubby
- Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd1952IMDb rating 5.7Abbott as Rocky StonebridgeCostello as Captain 'Puddin' head' Feathergill
- Lost in Alaska1952IMDb rating 6.2Abbott as Tom WatsonCostello as George Bell
- Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man1951IMDb rating 6.6Abbott as Bud AlexanderCostello as Lou Francis
- Comin' Round the Mountain1951IMDb rating 6.3Abbott as Al StewartCostello as Wilbert Smith
- Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion1950IMDb rating 6.3Abbott as Bud JonesCostello as Lou Hotchkiss
- Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff1949IMDb rating 6.7Abbott as Casey EdwardsCostello as Freddie Phillips
- Africa Screams1949IMDb rating 6.0Abbott as Buzz JohnsonCostello as Stanley Livington
- Bud Abbott and Lou Costello meet Frankenstein1948IMDb rating 7.3Abbott as Chick YoungCostello as Wilbur Gray
- Mexican Hayride1948IMDb rating 6.2Abbott as Harry LambertCostello as Joe Bascom aka Humphrey Fish
- The Noose Hangs High1948IMDb rating 6.6Abbott as Ted HigginsCostello as Tommy Hinchcliffe
- Buck Privates Come Home1947IMDb rating 6.8Abbott as Slicker SmithCostello as Herbie Brown
- The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap1947IMDb rating 6.7Abbott as Duke EganCostello as Chester Wooley
- The Time of Their Lives1946IMDb rating 7.5Abbott as Cuthbert Greenway / Dr. Ralph GreenwayCostello as Horatio Prim
- The Naughty Nineties1945IMDb rating 7.0Abbott as Dexter BroadhurstCostello as Sebastian Dinwiddle
- Lost in a Harem1944IMDb rating 6.3Abbott as Peter JohnsonCostello as Harvey Garvey
- Hit the Ice1943IMDb rating 6.7Abbott as Flash FultonCostello as Weejie McCoy
- Pardon My Sarong1942IMDb rating 6.7Abbott as Algernon 'Algy' ShawCostello as Wellington Pflug, aka Moola
- Ride 'Em Cowboy1942IMDb rating 6.5Abbott as DukeCostello as Willoughby
- Rio Rita1942IMDb rating 6.1Abbott as 'Doc'Costello as 'Wishy'
- Who Done It?1942IMDb rating 7.3Abbott as Chick LarkinCostello as Mervin Q. Milgrim
- Hold That Ghost1941IMDb rating 7.2Abbott as Chuck MurrayCostello as Ferdinand Jones
- In the Navy1941IMDb rating 6.7Abbott as Smokey AdamsCostello as Pomeroy Watson
- Keep 'Em Flying1941IMDb rating 6.5Abbott as Blackie BensonCostello as Heathcliff
Bobby Barber9 films together, 1941 to 1951
Bobby Barber's page
- Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man1951IMDb rating 6.6Abbott as Bud AlexanderBarber as Sneaky
- Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion1950IMDb rating 6.3Abbott as Bud JonesBarber as Arab on Jeep's Hood
- Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff1949IMDb rating 6.7Abbott as Casey EdwardsBarber as Dry Cleaning Man
- Africa Screams1949IMDb rating 6.0Abbott as Buzz JohnsonBarber as Chauffeur
- Bud Abbott and Lou Costello meet Frankenstein1948IMDb rating 7.3Abbott as Chick YoungBarber as Waiter
- Mexican Hayride1948IMDb rating 6.2Abbott as Harry LambertBarber as Minor Role
- Hit the Ice1943IMDb rating 6.7Abbott as Flash FultonBarber as Candy Butcher
- Hold That Ghost1941IMDb rating 7.2Abbott as Chuck MurrayBarber as Waiter
- In the Navy1941IMDb rating 6.7Abbott as Smokey AdamsBarber as Sailor in Finale
Joe Kirk7 films together, 1942 to 1953
Joe Kirk's page
- Abbott and Costello Go to Mars1953IMDb rating 5.9Abbott as LesterKirk as Dr. Orvilla
- Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd1952IMDb rating 5.7Abbott as Rocky StonebridgeKirk as Flirtatious Pirate
- Lost in Alaska1952IMDb rating 6.2Abbott as Tom WatsonKirk as Henchman
- Bud Abbott and Lou Costello meet Frankenstein1948IMDb rating 7.3Abbott as Chick YoungKirk as Man at Costume Party in Fez
- Buck Privates Come Home1947IMDb rating 6.8Abbott as Slicker SmithKirk as Real Estate Salesman
- The Naughty Nineties1945IMDb rating 7.0Abbott as Dexter BroadhurstKirk as Croupier
- Who Done It?1942IMDb rating 7.3Abbott as Chick LarkinKirk as Harry, 'Murder At Midnight' sound man
Harry Brown4 films together, 1946 to 1948
Harry Brown's page
- Bud Abbott and Lou Costello meet Frankenstein1948IMDb rating 7.3Abbott as Chick YoungBrown as Photographer
- Mexican Hayride1948IMDb rating 6.2Abbott as Harry LambertBrown as Businessman
- The Noose Hangs High1948IMDb rating 6.6Abbott as Ted HigginsBrown as Upson
- The Time of Their Lives1946IMDb rating 7.5Abbott as Cuthbert Greenway / Dr. Ralph GreenwayBrown as Second Sergeant
Marc Lawrence3 films together, 1941 to 1950
Marc Lawrence's page
- Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion1950IMDb rating 6.3Abbott as Bud JonesLawrence as Frankie--Loan Shark
- Hit the Ice1943IMDb rating 6.7Abbott as Flash FultonLawrence as Phil
- Hold That Ghost1941IMDb rating 7.2Abbott as Chuck MurrayLawrence as Charlie Smith
James Flavin3 films together, 1948 to 1953
James Flavin's page
- Abbott and Costello Go to Mars1953IMDb rating 5.9Abbott as LesterFlavin as First Policeman in Bank
- Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff1949IMDb rating 6.7Abbott as Casey EdwardsFlavin as Insp. Wellman
- The Noose Hangs High1948IMDb rating 6.6Abbott as Ted HigginsFlavin as Traffic Cop
Charles BartonDirector, 9 films, 1946 to 1956
All films by Charles Barton
- Dance with Me, Henry1956IMDb rating 5.6Abbott as Bud Flick
- Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff1949IMDb rating 6.7Abbott as Casey Edwards
- Africa Screams1949IMDb rating 6.0Abbott as Buzz Johnson
- Bud Abbott and Lou Costello meet Frankenstein1948IMDb rating 7.3Abbott as Chick Young
- Mexican Hayride1948IMDb rating 6.2Abbott as Harry Lambert
- The Noose Hangs High1948IMDb rating 6.6Abbott as Ted Higgins
- Buck Privates Come Home1947IMDb rating 6.8Abbott as Slicker Smith
- The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap1947IMDb rating 6.7Abbott as Duke Egan
- The Time of Their Lives1946IMDb rating 7.5Abbott as Cuthbert Greenway / Dr. Ralph Greenway
Charles LamontDirector, 9 films, 1943 to 1955
All films by Charles Lamont
- Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops1955IMDb rating 6.3Abbott as Harry 'Slim' Pierce
- Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy1955IMDb rating 6.2Abbott as Pete Patterson
- Abbott and Costello Go to Mars1953IMDb rating 5.9Abbott as Lester
- Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde1953IMDb rating 6.4Abbott as Slim
- Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd1952IMDb rating 5.7Abbott as Rocky Stonebridge
- Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man1951IMDb rating 6.6Abbott as Bud Alexander
- Comin' Round the Mountain1951IMDb rating 6.3Abbott as Al Stewart
- Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion1950IMDb rating 6.3Abbott as Bud Jones
- Hit the Ice1943IMDb rating 6.7Abbott as Flash Fulton
Arthur LubinDirector, 4 films, 1941 to 1942
All films by Arthur Lubin
- Ride 'Em Cowboy1942IMDb rating 6.5Abbott as Duke
- Hold That Ghost1941IMDb rating 7.2Abbott as Chuck Murray
- In the Navy1941IMDb rating 6.7Abbott as Smokey Adams
- Keep 'Em Flying1941IMDb rating 6.5Abbott as Blackie Benson
Also three films together8 more actors
- Marjorie BennettAbbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops (1955), Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1953) and Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff (1949)
- Russell HicksThe Noose Hangs High (1948), Buck Privates Come Home (1947) and Hold That Ghost (1941)
- Douglass DumbrilleAbbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion (1950), Lost in a Harem (1944) and Ride 'Em Cowboy (1942)
- Joe SawyerComin' Round the Mountain (1951), The Naughty Nineties (1945) and Hit the Ice (1943)
- Dick ForanRide 'Em Cowboy (1942), In the Navy (1941) and Keep 'Em Flying (1941)
- Glenn StrangeComin' Round the Mountain (1951), Bud Abbott and Lou Costello meet Frankenstein (1948) and The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap (1947)
- Rex LeaseLost in Alaska (1952), The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap (1947) and The Time of Their Lives (1946)
- Shemp HowardAfrica Screams (1949), Hold That Ghost (1941) and In the Navy (1941)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Bud Abbott's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$14.0 million

6 of the 28 films have a worldwide figure.

6Worldwide figure
22Figure not found

Top grosser

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello meet Frankenstein1948Chick Young$4.8 million

Highest grossing

The six biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello meet Frankenstein1948as Chick Young
$4.8M34.3% of the total
2
Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde1953as Slim
$2.6M18.6% of the total
3
Buck Privates Come Home1947as Slicker Smith
$2.4M16.8% of the total
4
Africa Screams1949as Buzz Johnson
$1.5M10.7% of the total
5
Lost in Alaska1952as Tom Watson
$1.5M10.7% of the total
6
Abbott and Costello Go to Mars1953as Lester
$1.2M8.9% of the total