Shaun Costello
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
DirectingBirthday
January 1, 1944Deathday
July 5, 2023Gender
MaleKnown Movie Credits
133Place of birth
The Bronx, New York City, New YorkAlso known as
Russ Carlson, Lars Tobin, Eclair von Ott, Otto Von Lickit, Harry Gordon, Jack Hammer, Helmuth Richler, Kenneth Schwartz, John Stover, Oscar Tripe, Nicholas Berland, Amanda Barton, Warren Evans, Arlo Benson, Martin Jones, Arthur van Deuvel, Joel Devlin, Stephen Steinberg, Jerry Conti, Howard Steinman, Howard Stein, Rick LivermooreCast credits
Pandora's Mirror
Waiter / Man in Audition LineForced Entry
DavidTeenage Nurses
Joe / TV ReporterCherry Hustlers
Company InvestigatorEnrapture
Cigar Shop ManChina Doll
BertMidnight Desires
Chauffeur / Highwayman (uncredited)Water Power
Police Station Cop / Man at Car WindowThe Magical Ring
First Fantasy LoverCome Fly with Us
Jay BasbySlave of Pleasure
Richard Anselm / Masked GuyA Taste Of Bette
S.R.Betrayed Teens
BobbyDaughters of Discipline
BrunoMistress Electra
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)Sensuous Fly Girls
Man in StablePen Pals
Good Samaritan / Man in BlackGladys and Her All Girl Band
LolaThe Tycoon's Daughter
Newspaper Reader / Radio NewscasterCrew credits
Pandora's Mirror
Director, Writer, Producer, Production DesignWater Power
Director, Writer, Producer, Editor, Special Effects, Title DesignerDracula Exotica
Director, Writer, ProducerForced Entry
Director, Writer, Producer, EditorTeenage Nurses
Director, Screenplay, Producer, EditorChina Doll
Director, WriterAfternoon Delights
Director, Screenplay, EditorMidnight Desires
Director, Editor, Screenplay, ProducerThe Passions of Carol
Screenplay, Director, Editor, Producer, Special Effects, Visual Effects, Main Title DesignerDominatrix Without Mercy
Director, WriterMore Than Sisters
Director, ScreenplayHot Dreams
Director, Writer, Producer, Production Design, Special Effects, Visual EffectsCome And Be Purified
Director, ProducerLisa Meets Mr. Big
Director, WriterDaughters of Discipline
Director, Writer, ProducerSchoolgirl's Reunion
Director, Writer, Producer, EditorSunny
Director, Writer, ProducerBeauty
Director, Writer, Producer, Title DesignerCome Fly with Us
Director, Writer, Producer, EditorSensuous Vixens
Director, WriterHeaven's Touch
Director, Writer, Producer, Title Designer, Additional Photography