Shaun Costello
Born
January 1, 1944
Died
July 5, 2023 (79 years old)
Known For
Directing
Place of Birth
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.
Known For
Hymns from the Abyss
Self (archive footage)
2021
Enrapture
Cigar Shop Man
1990
Double Pleasure
(as Russ Carlson)
1982
Mistress Electra
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
1982
Pandora's Mirror
Waiter / Man in Audition Line
1981
New York Construction Co.
1980
More Than Sisters
Martin Randall
1979
The Two Lives of Jennifer
Bob O'Connor
1979
Slave of Pleasure
Richard Anselm / Masked Guy
1978
A Taste Of Bette
S.R.
1978
Daughters of Discipline
Bruno
1978
The Fire in Francesca
Troy Winston
1977
Joy Of Humiliation
Biker with Cigarette
1977
Cherry Hustlers
Company Investigator
1977
Betrayed Teens
Bobby
1977
Schoolgirl's Reunion
Football Announcer (voice) / Autograph Seeker / Guy at Party
1977
Dirty Susan
Bob Gilroy
1977
The Dark Side of Danielle
Bruce / Betty's Master
1976
Tortured Woman
El Gringo
1976
Water Power
Police Station Cop / Man at Car Window
1976
That Lady from Rio
Sex Slave (uncredited)
1976
The Fury in Alice
Chip Carson
1976
Girl Scout Cookies
Mr. O'Malley
1976
The Story of Eloise
Edgar Frank
1976
Sensuous Fly Girls
Man in Stable
1976
Midnight Desires
Chauffeur / Highwayman (uncredited)
1976
The Untamed Vixens
Jerry
1976
Venture Into the Bizzare
Closing Narration (voice)
1976
The Summer of Suzanne
Chip
1976
She's No Angel
Dr. Warren Counter
1976
The Travails of June
Willy
1976
Cheryl's Surrender
Ray Lavagis
1975
Kathy's Graduation Present
Randy
1975
China Doll
Bert
1975
Baby Oil
Orgy Guy with Two Girls
1975
Gladys and Her All Girl Band
Lola
1975
Lisa Meets Mr. Big
Minister
1975
The Passions of Carol
The Spirits
1975
Two Senoritas
Guy with Glasses
1975
Private Practice
Mr. Barnes
1975
The School for Sexual Arts
Guy in Final Class
1975
Sin of Lust
Bob Hartman
1975
Hotel Hooker
Pete
1975
The Hardy Girls
1974
The Love Bus
George
1974
Come Fly with Us
Jay Basby
1974
Teenage Nurses
Joe / TV Reporter
1974
Lady on the Couch
Poker Buddy (uncredited)
1974
Pen Pals
Good Samaritan / Man in Black
1974
Lip Service
Hired Guy
1974
The Tycoon's Daughter
Newspaper Reader / Radio Newscaster
1973
Go Fly a Kite
John Spaulding
1973
Honeymoon Suite
Jamie
1973
Sexual Freedom in the Ozarks
Newscaster / Homer Heaply
1973
Sweet Sexteen
Jerry
1973
Come And Be Purified
Brother Francis
1973
Teachers and Cream
Mr. Boynton
1973
Tina Makes a Deal
Customs Agent
1973
Joe Rock Superstar
Rock the Guitarist / Voice of Walter Cockite
1973
Guess Who's Coming
Peter
1973
Forced Entry
David
1973
The Porn Brokers
Self
1973
Sexual Customs in Scandinavia
Mr. Thorens
1972
Selling It
(archive footage)
1972
Love in the Rain
Shaun (uncredited)
1971
The Magical Ring
First Fantasy Lover
1971
Feel
1971
Sensuous Vixens
Photo Model with Mustache
1971