Shaun Costello

Directing
BirthdayJan 1, 1944 (79 years old)
DeathdayJul 5, 2023
Place of birthThe Bronx, New York City, New York, USA
GenderMale

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.

Known for

David

Mar 16, 1973

Police Station Cop / Man at Car Window

Sep 1, 1976

Self

Mar 16, 1973

The Spirits

Mar 24, 1975

Martin Randall

Jul 5, 1979

Waiter / Man in Audition Line

Dec 28, 1981

Biker with Cigarette

Jun 16, 1977

Football Announcer (voice) / Autograph Seeker / Guy at Party

Mar 1, 1977

Cigar Shop Man

Mar 30, 1990

Richard Anselm / Masked Guy

Aug 30, 1978

S.R.

Jan 1, 1978

Man in Stable

Mar 19, 1976

Guy in Final Class

Jan 1, 1975

Closing Narration (voice)

Jan 1, 1976

Bert

Oct 6, 1975

Chauffeur / Highwayman (uncredited)

Mar 9, 1976

Bobby

Mar 9, 1977

Bruno

Jan 1, 1978

Newspaper Reader / Radio Newscaster

Oct 31, 1973

Dr. Warren Counter

Jan 1, 1976

David

Mar 16, 1973

Police Station Cop / Man at Car Window

Sep 1, 1976

Self

Mar 16, 1973

The Spirits

Mar 24, 1975

Martin Randall

Jul 5, 1979

Waiter / Man in Audition Line

Dec 28, 1981

Acting


Participated in 83 movies, 0 TV series

2021

Self (archive footage)


1991

Associate Producer


1990

Director of Photography, Editor, Director


1990

Cigar Shop Man


1983

Director, Writer, Special Effects, Production Design, Producer, Visual Effects


1983

Title Designer, Additional Photography, Writer, Producer, Director


1982

(as Russ Carlson)


1982

Narrator (voice) (uncredited), Writer, Director, Title Designer, Producer


1981

Waiter / Man in Audition Line, Writer, Director, Production Design, Producer


1981

Writer, Director


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