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Shaun Costello

Directing 79 (deceased) years old The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA
Born: January 1, 1944
Died: July 5, 2023

Biography

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.

Filmography

Acting Credits (68)

Hymns from the Abyss
Hymns from the Abyss Self (archive footage) 2021
Enrapture
Enrapture Cigar Shop Man 1990
Double Pleasure
Double Pleasure (archive footage) 1982
Mistress Electra
Mistress Electra Narrator (voice) (uncredited) 1982
Pandora's Mirror
Pandora's Mirror Waiter / Man in Audition Line 1981
New York Construction Co.
New York Construction Co. 1980
More Than Sisters
More Than Sisters Martin Randall 1979
The Two Lives of Jennifer
The Two Lives of Jennifer Bob O'Connor 1979
Slave of Pleasure
Slave of Pleasure Richard Anselm / Masked Guy 1978
A Taste Of Bette
A Taste Of Bette S.R. 1978
Daughters of Discipline
Daughters of Discipline Bruno 1978
The Fire in Francesca
The Fire in Francesca Troy Winston 1977
Joy Of Humiliation
Joy Of Humiliation Biker with Cigarette 1977
Cherry Hustlers
Cherry Hustlers Company Investigator 1977
Betrayed Teens
Betrayed Teens Bobby 1977
Schoolgirl's Reunion
Schoolgirl's Reunion Football Announcer (voice) / Autograph Seeker / Guy at Party 1977
Dirty Susan
Dirty Susan Bob Gilroy 1977
The Dark Side of Danielle
The Dark Side of Danielle Bruce / Betty's Master 1976
Tortured Woman
Tortured Woman El Gringo 1976
Water Power
Water Power Police Station Cop / Man at Car Window 1976
That Lady from Rio
That Lady from Rio Sex Slave (uncredited) 1976
French Schoolgirls
French Schoolgirls 1976
The Fury in Alice
The Fury in Alice Chip Carson 1976
Girl Scout Cookies
Girl Scout Cookies Mr. O'Malley 1976
The Story of Eloise
The Story of Eloise Edgar Frank 1976
Sensuous Fly Girls
Sensuous Fly Girls Man in Stable 1976
Midnight Desires
Midnight Desires Chauffeur / Highwayman (uncredited) 1976
The Untamed Vixens
The Untamed Vixens Jerry 1976
Venture Into the Bizzare
Venture Into the Bizzare Closing Narration (voice) 1976
The Summer of Suzanne
The Summer of Suzanne Chip 1976
She's No Angel
She's No Angel Dr. Warren Counter 1976
The Travails of June
The Travails of June Willy 1976
Cheryl's Surrender
Cheryl's Surrender Ray Lavagis 1975
Kathy's Graduation Present
Kathy's Graduation Present Randy 1975
China Doll
China Doll Bert 1975
Baby Oil
Baby Oil Orgy Guy with Two Girls 1975
Gladys and Her All Girl Band
Gladys and Her All Girl Band Lola 1975
Lisa Meets Mr. Big
Lisa Meets Mr. Big Minister 1975
The Passions of Carol
The Passions of Carol The Spirits 1975
Two Senoritas
Two Senoritas Guy with Glasses 1975
Private Practice
Private Practice Mr. Barnes 1975
The School for Sexual Arts
The School for Sexual Arts Guy in Final Class 1975
Sin of Lust
Sin of Lust Bob Hartman 1975
Hotel Hooker
Hotel Hooker Pete 1975
The Love Bus
The Love Bus George 1974
Come Fly with Us
Come Fly with Us Jay Basby 1974
Teenage Nurses
Teenage Nurses Joe / TV Reporter 1974
Lady on the Couch
Lady on the Couch Poker Buddy (uncredited) 1974
Pen Pals
Pen Pals Good Samaritan / Man in Black 1974
Lip Service
Lip Service Hired Guy 1974
The Tycoon's Daughter
The Tycoon's Daughter Newspaper Reader / Radio Newscaster 1973
Go Fly a Kite
Go Fly a Kite John Spaulding 1973
Honeymoon Suite
Honeymoon Suite Jamie 1973
Ozark Sex Fiend
Ozark Sex Fiend Newscaster / Homer Heaply 1973
Sweet Sexteen
Sweet Sexteen Jerry 1973
Come And Be Purified
Come And Be Purified Brother Francis 1973
Teachers and Cream
Teachers and Cream Mr. Boynton 1973
Tina Makes a Deal
Tina Makes a Deal Customs Agent 1973
Joe Rock Superstar
Joe Rock Superstar Rock the Guitarist / Voice of Walter Cockite 1973
Guess Who's Coming
Guess Who's Coming Peter 1973
Forced Entry
Forced Entry David 1973
The Porn Brokers
The Porn Brokers Self 1973
Sexual Customs in Scandinavia
Sexual Customs in Scandinavia Mr. Thorens 1972
Selling It
Selling It (archive footage) 1972
Love in the Rain
Love in the Rain Shaun (uncredited) 1971
The Magical Ring
The Magical Ring First Fantasy Lover 1971
Feel
Feel 1971
Sensuous Vixens
Sensuous Vixens Photo Model with Mustache 1971

Directing Credits (64)

Writing for Time
Writing for Time Director 1990
Hot Dreams
Hot Dreams Director 1983
Heaven's Touch
Heaven's Touch Director 1983
Mistress Electra
Mistress Electra Director 1982
Pandora's Mirror
Pandora's Mirror Director 1981
Prisoner of Pleasure
Prisoner of Pleasure Director 1981
Beauty
Beauty Director 1981
Dracula Exotica
Dracula Exotica Director 1980
Afternoon Delights
Afternoon Delights Director 1980
New York Construction Co.
New York Construction Co. Director 1980
More Than Sisters
More Than Sisters Director 1979
Sunny
Sunny Director 1979
The Two Lives of Jennifer
The Two Lives of Jennifer Director 1979
Fiona on Fire
Fiona on Fire Director 1978
Slave of Pleasure
Slave of Pleasure Director 1978
Daughters of Discipline
Daughters of Discipline Director 1978
The Fire in Francesca
The Fire in Francesca Director 1977
Betrayed Teens
Betrayed Teens Director 1977
Schoolgirl's Reunion
Schoolgirl's Reunion Director 1977
Dirty Susan
Dirty Susan Director 1977
The Dark Side of Danielle
The Dark Side of Danielle Director 1976
Tortured Woman
Tortured Woman Director 1976
Water Power
Water Power Director 1976
That Lady from Rio
That Lady from Rio Director 1976
The Fury in Alice
The Fury in Alice Director 1976
Girl Scout Cookies
Girl Scout Cookies Director 1976
Dominatrix Without Mercy
Dominatrix Without Mercy Director 1976
The Story of Eloise
The Story of Eloise Director 1976
Sensuous Fly Girls
Sensuous Fly Girls Director 1976
Midnight Desires
Midnight Desires Director 1976
The Untamed Vixens
The Untamed Vixens Director 1976
She's No Angel
She's No Angel Director 1976
The Travails of June
The Travails of June Director 1976
The Summer of Suzanne
The Summer of Suzanne Director 1976
Cheryl's Surrender
Cheryl's Surrender Director 1975
Kathy's Graduation Present
Kathy's Graduation Present Director 1975
China Doll
China Doll Director 1975
Gladys and Her All Girl Band
Gladys and Her All Girl Band Director 1975
Lisa Meets Mr. Big
Lisa Meets Mr. Big Director 1975
The Passions of Carol
The Passions of Carol Director 1975
Two Senoritas
Two Senoritas Director 1975
The Joyriders
The Joyriders Director 1975
The School for Sexual Arts
The School for Sexual Arts Director 1975
Sin of Lust
Sin of Lust Director 1975
Hotel Hooker
Hotel Hooker Director 1975
The Love Bus
The Love Bus Director 1974
Come Fly with Us
Come Fly with Us Director 1974
Teenage Nurses
Teenage Nurses Director 1974
Lady on the Couch
Lady on the Couch Director 1974
Pen Pals
Pen Pals Director 1974
Lip Service
Lip Service Director 1974
Maxines' Dating Service
Maxines' Dating Service Director 1973
The Tycoon's Daughter
The Tycoon's Daughter Director 1973
Go Fly a Kite
Go Fly a Kite Director 1973
Honeymoon Suite
Honeymoon Suite Director 1973
Ozark Sex Fiend
Ozark Sex Fiend Director 1973
Sweet Sexteen
Sweet Sexteen Director 1973
Come And Be Purified
Come And Be Purified Director 1973
Teachers and Cream
Teachers and Cream Director 1973
Tina Makes a Deal
Tina Makes a Deal Director 1973
Joe Rock Superstar
Joe Rock Superstar Director 1973
Forced Entry
Forced Entry Director 1973
Hell's Kitten
Hell's Kitten Director 1972
Sensuous Vixens
Sensuous Vixens Director 1971

Writing Credits (51)

Hot Dreams
Hot Dreams Writer 1983
Heaven's Touch
Heaven's Touch Writer 1983
Mistress Electra
Mistress Electra Writer 1982
Pandora's Mirror
Pandora's Mirror Writer 1981
Prisoner of Pleasure
Prisoner of Pleasure Writer 1981
Beauty
Beauty Writer 1981
Dracula Exotica
Dracula Exotica Writer 1980
Afternoon Delights
Afternoon Delights Screenplay 1980
New York Construction Co.
New York Construction Co. Writer 1980
More Than Sisters
More Than Sisters Screenplay 1979
Sunny
Sunny Writer 1979
The Two Lives of Jennifer
The Two Lives of Jennifer Writer 1979
Slave of Pleasure
Slave of Pleasure Screenplay 1978
Daughters of Discipline
Daughters of Discipline Writer 1978
Betrayed Teens
Betrayed Teens Writer 1977
Schoolgirl's Reunion
Schoolgirl's Reunion Writer 1977
The Dark Side of Danielle
The Dark Side of Danielle Writer 1976
Water Power
Water Power Writer 1976
That Lady from Rio
That Lady from Rio Writer 1976
The Fury in Alice
The Fury in Alice Writer 1976
Dominatrix Without Mercy
Dominatrix Without Mercy Writer 1976
The Story of Eloise
The Story of Eloise Writer 1976
Sensuous Fly Girls
Sensuous Fly Girls Writer 1976
Midnight Desires
Midnight Desires Screenplay 1976
The Summer of Suzanne
The Summer of Suzanne Writer 1976
The Untamed Vixens
The Untamed Vixens Writer 1976
The Travails of June
The Travails of June Writer 1976
Cheryl's Surrender
Cheryl's Surrender Writer 1975
Kathy's Graduation Present
Kathy's Graduation Present Writer 1975
China Doll
China Doll Writer 1975
Gladys and Her All Girl Band
Gladys and Her All Girl Band Writer 1975
Lisa Meets Mr. Big
Lisa Meets Mr. Big Writer 1975
The Passions of Carol
The Passions of Carol Screenplay 1975
Two Senoritas
Two Senoritas Writer 1975
The Joyriders
The Joyriders Writer 1975
Sin of Lust
Sin of Lust Writer 1975
Hotel Hooker
Hotel Hooker Writer 1975
The Love Bus
The Love Bus Writer 1974
Come Fly with Us
Come Fly with Us Writer 1974
Teenage Nurses
Teenage Nurses Screenplay 1974
Lady on the Couch
Lady on the Couch Writer 1974
Pen Pals
Pen Pals Writer 1974
Lip Service
Lip Service Writer 1974
Go Fly a Kite
Go Fly a Kite Writer 1973
Honeymoon Suite
Honeymoon Suite Writer 1973
Ozark Sex Fiend
Ozark Sex Fiend Writer 1973
Sweet Sexteen
Sweet Sexteen Writer 1973
Teachers and Cream
Teachers and Cream Writer 1973
Tina Makes a Deal
Tina Makes a Deal Writer 1973
Forced Entry
Forced Entry Writer 1973
Sensuous Vixens
Sensuous Vixens Writer 1971

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