Bud Abbott facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bud Abbott
Abbott in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
Born	William Alexander Abbott October 2, 1897 Asbury Park, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	April 24, 1974(1974-04-24) (aged 76) Woodland Hills, California, U.S.
Occupation	Comedian actor
Years active	1924–1968
Spouse(s)	Betty Smith ​ (m. 1918)​
Children	2

William Alexander "Bud" Abbott (born October 2, 1897 – died April 24, 1974) was a famous American comedian and actor. He was best known as the "straight man" in the hilarious comedy team Abbott and Costello. He played the serious, sensible character next to Lou Costello's funny, goofy one.

Early Life of Bud Abbott

Bud Abbott was born in Asbury Park, New Jersey, on October 2, 1897. His parents, Rae Fisher and Harry Abbott, both worked in show business. His mother was a bareback rider in the Barnum and Bailey Circus, and his father worked with concessions. Bud was one of four children.

When he was very young, his family moved to Harlem and then to Coney Island in Brooklyn. His father worked for a traveling burlesque show. During the summer, his father worked at Dreamland Park in Coney Island. Bud left school early to work at the park. As a teenager, he even worked as a cabin boy on a ship for a year.

Bud Abbott's Career

In his late teens, Bud Abbott started working in the box office of a theater in Brooklyn. He spent several years working behind the scenes in burlesque shows, eventually becoming a treasurer. In 1918, he met and married Jenny Mae Pratt, a dancer and comedian known as Betty Smith. They were married for 55 years.

In 1923, Bud started producing his own shows. He began performing as the "straight man" in his shows when he couldn't afford to hire someone else. He became well-known for his straight-man act.

Teaming Up with Lou Costello

Bud Abbott first worked with Lou Costello in 1935. They officially became a team in 1936. They performed together in many different types of shows, including burlesque and vaudeville.

In 1938, they became very popular on the Kate Smith Hour radio show. This led to them performing in a Broadway musical in 1939. In 1940, Universal signed them for their first movie, One Night in the Tropics. Even though they had small parts, their comedy routines, like a short version of "Who's On First?", were a big hit.

Universal then signed them for more movies. Their first starring film, Buck Privates (1941), was a huge success. This led to a long contract with the studio.

Arthur Lubin, who directed their first five movies, said that Bud Abbott was an amazing straight man. He could always bring Lou Costello back to the script, even when Lou went off-script.

During World War II, Abbott and Costello were incredibly popular. They were among the highest-paid stars in the world. Between 1940 and 1956, they made 36 films. They were often among the Top 10 box office stars from 1941 to 1951, even reaching No. 1 in 1942. They also had their own radio show, The Abbott and Costello Show, throughout the 1940s. In 1942, they helped sell $85 million worth of War Bonds during a tour.

In the 1950s, they brought their comedy to live television on The Colgate Comedy Hour. They also had their own TV series, The Abbott and Costello Show (1952–54).

Challenges and the Duo's Split

Over time, there were some disagreements between Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. At first, Bud received a larger share of their earnings because the straight man was seen as more important. Later, they split their earnings equally. However, after a year in Hollywood, Lou wanted a larger share, which became 60/40 in his favor. Lou also wanted the team to be called "Costello and Abbott," but the studio kept "Abbott and Costello."

In 1945, they stopped speaking to each other for a while because of a disagreement about a maid. Lou Costello said he asked Bud to fire the maid he had let go, but Bud hired her instead. They only spoke when they were working.

To help fix their friendship, Bud suggested naming a new center for children after Lou's son, who had passed away. The Lou Costello, Jr. Youth Foundation opened in Los Angeles in 1947 and still helps the community today.

Their popularity began to fade in the mid-1950s. They also faced financial problems and had to sell many of their belongings. In 1954, their contract with Universal ended.

In 1957, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello decided to split up. Lou Costello continued to perform alone for a short time before he passed away in 1959.

Later Years of Bud Abbott

After the split, Bud Abbott faced financial difficulties. In 1960, he tried performing with a new partner, Candy Candido. However, Bud soon stopped, saying that "No one could ever live up to Lou."

In 1961, Bud acted in a TV show called General Electric Theater. In 1967, he provided his voice for the animated series The Abbott and Costello Cartoon Show.

Bud Abbott's Personal Life

Abbott's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in television

Bud Abbott had epilepsy starting around 1926.

Bud and Betty Abbott were married for 55 years. They adopted two children: Bud Jr. and Rae Victoria (Vickie).

Bud Abbott has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. These stars honor his work in radio, motion pictures, and television.

Death

Bud Abbott passed away from cancer at age 76 on April 24, 1974, at his home in California. His ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean.

His wife, Betty, died in 1981. The famous comedian Groucho Marx once said that Bud Abbott was "the greatest straight man ever."

Honors and Awards

Abbott and Costello are honored in the Baseball Hall of Fame. A plaque and a gold record of their "Who's On First?" comedy sketch have been on display there since 1956. The routine has also been playing on a video loop since 1967.

As mentioned, Bud Abbott has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 1942, Abbott and Costello were voted the country's No. 1 Box Office Stars. They were among the Top Ten stars for many years.

Bud Abbott received a Lifetime Achievement Award for Acting in 2006, after his death. His daughter Vickie accepted it for him.

In 2009, Bud Abbott was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Bud Abbott para niños