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
| Homepage | https://shauncostello.com/ |
|---|---|
| Birth Location | The Bronx, New York City, New York |
| Born | 1944-01-01 |
| Died | 2023-07-05 |
Movies
Hymns from the Abyss
as (archive)
2021
Enrapture
as Cigar Shop Man
1990
Double Pleasure
as (as Russ Carlson)
1982
Mistress Electra
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
1982
Pandora's Mirror
as Waiter / Man in Audition Line
1981
More Than Sisters
as Martin Randall
1979
The Two Lives of Jennifer
as Bob O'Connor
1979
Slave of Pleasure
as Richard Anselm / Masked Guy
1978
Daughters of Discipline
as Bruno
1978
A Taste Of Bette
as S.R.
1978
The Fire in Francesca
as Troy Winston
1977
Joy Of Humiliation
as Biker with Cigarette
1977
Cherry Hustlers
as Company Investigator
1977
Betrayed Teens
as Bobby
1977
Schoolgirl's Reunion
as Football Announcer (voice) / Autograph Seeker / Guy at Party
1977
Dirty Susan
as Bob Gilroy
1977
The Dark Side of Danielle
as Bruce / Betty's Master
1976
Tortured Woman
as El Gringo
1976
Water Power
as Police Station Cop / Man at Car Window
1976
That Lady from Rio
as Sex Slave (uncredited)
1976
The Fury in Alice
as Chip Carson
1976
Girl Scout Cookies
as Mr. O'Malley
1976
The Story of Eloise
as Edgar Frank
1976
Sensuous Fly Girls
as Man in Stable
1976
Midnight Desires
as Chauffeur / Highwayman (uncredited)
1976
The Untamed Vixens
as Jerry
1976
The Summer of Suzanne
as Chip
1976
Venture Into the Bizzare
as Closing Narration (voice)
1976
The Travails of June
as Willy
1976
She's No Angel
as Dr. Warren Counter
1976
Cheryl's Surrender
as Ray Lavagis
1975
Kathy's Graduation Present
as Randy
1975
China Doll
as Bert
1975
Baby Oil
as Orgy Guy with Two Girls
1975
Gladys and Her All Girl Band
as Lola
1975
Lisa Meets Mr. Big
as Minister
1975
The Passions of Carol
as The Spirits
1975
Two Senoritas
as Guy with Glasses
1975
Private Practice
as Mr. Barnes
1975
Hotel Hooker
as Pete
1975
Sin of Lust
as Bob Hartman
1975
The School for Sexual Arts
as Guy in Final Class
1975
The Love Bus
as George
1974
Come Fly with Us
as Jay Basby
1974
Teenage Nurses
as Joe / TV Reporter
1974
Lady on the Couch
as Poker Buddy (uncredited)
1974
Pen Pals
as Good Samaritan / Man in Black
1974
Lip Service
as Hired Guy
1974
The Tycoon's Daughter
as Newspaper Reader / Radio Newscaster
1973
Go Fly a Kite
as John Spaulding
1973
Honeymoon Suite
as Jamie
1973
Sexual Freedom in the Ozarks
as Newscaster / Homer Heaply
1973
Sweet Sexteen
as Jerry
1973
Come And Be Purified
as Brother Francis
1973
Teachers and Cream
as Mr. Boynton
1973
Tina Makes a Deal
as Customs Agent
1973
Joe Rock Superstar
as Rock the Guitarist / Voice of Walter Cockite
1973
Guess Who's Coming
as Peter
1973
The Porn Brokers
as Self
1973
Forced Entry
as David
1973
Sexual Customs in Scandinavia
as Mr. Thorens
1972
Selling It
as (archive footage)
1972
Love in the Rain
as Shaun (uncredited)
1971
The Magical Ring
as First Fantasy Lover
1971
1971
Sensuous Vixens
as Photo Model with Mustache
1971
Movies
Popcorn
Associate Producer
1991
Writing for Time
Editor
1990
Writing for Time
Director of Photography
1990
Writing for Time
Director
1990
Hot Dreams
Visual Effects
1983
Hot Dreams
Special Effects
1983
Hot Dreams
Production Design
1983
Hot Dreams
Producer
1983
Hot Dreams
Writer
1983
Hot Dreams
Director
1983
Heaven's Touch
Additional Photography
1983
Heaven's Touch
Title Designer
1983
Heaven's Touch
Producer
1983
Heaven's Touch
Writer
1983
Heaven's Touch
Director
1983
Mistress Electra
Title Designer
1982
Mistress Electra
Producer
1982
Mistress Electra
Writer
1982
Mistress Electra
Director
1982
Pandora's Mirror
Production Design
1981
Pandora's Mirror
Producer
1981
Pandora's Mirror
Writer
1981
Pandora's Mirror
Director
1981
Prisoner of Pleasure
Writer
1981
Prisoner of Pleasure
Director
1981
Beauty
Title Designer
1981
Beauty
Producer
1981
Beauty
Writer
1981
Beauty
Director
1981
Dracula Exotica
Producer
1980
Dracula Exotica
Writer
1980
Dracula Exotica
Director
1980
Afternoon Delights
Editor
1980
Afternoon Delights
Screenplay
1980
Afternoon Delights
Director
1980
New York Construction Co.
Editor
1980
New York Construction Co.
Director
1980
New York Construction Co.
Writer
1980
More Than Sisters
Screenplay
1979
More Than Sisters
Director
1979
Sunny
Producer
1979
Sunny
Writer
1979
Sunny
Director
1979
The Two Lives of Jennifer
Writer
1979
The Two Lives of Jennifer
Producer
1979
The Two Lives of Jennifer
Director
1979
Fiona on Fire
Director
1978
Slave of Pleasure
Producer
1978
Slave of Pleasure
Screenplay
1978
Slave of Pleasure
Director
1978
Daughters of Discipline
Producer
1978
Daughters of Discipline
Writer
1978
Daughters of Discipline
Director
1978
The Fire in Francesca
Director
1977
Betrayed Teens
Producer
1977
Betrayed Teens
Writer
1977
Betrayed Teens
Director
1977
Schoolgirl's Reunion
Editor
1977
Schoolgirl's Reunion
Producer
1977
Schoolgirl's Reunion
Writer
1977
Schoolgirl's Reunion
Director
1977
Dirty Susan
Director
1977
The Dark Side of Danielle
Writer
1976
The Dark Side of Danielle
Director
1976
Tortured Woman
Director
1976
Water Power
Title Designer
1976
Water Power
Special Effects
1976
Water Power
Editor
1976
Water Power
Producer
1976
Water Power
Writer
1976
Water Power
Director
1976
That Lady from Rio
Writer
1976
That Lady from Rio
Director
1976
The Fury in Alice
Producer
1976
The Fury in Alice
Writer
1976
The Fury in Alice
Director
1976
Girl Scout Cookies
Director
1976
Dominatrix Without Mercy
Writer
1976
Dominatrix Without Mercy
Director
1976
The Story of Eloise
Editor
1976
The Story of Eloise
Producer
1976
The Story of Eloise
Writer
1976
The Story of Eloise
Director
1976
Sensuous Fly Girls
Producer
1976
Sensuous Fly Girls
Writer
1976
Sensuous Fly Girls
Director
1976
Midnight Desires
Producer
1976
Midnight Desires
Screenplay
1976
Midnight Desires
Editor
1976
Midnight Desires
Director
1976
The Untamed Vixens
Editor
1976
The Untamed Vixens
Producer
1976
The Untamed Vixens
Writer
1976
The Untamed Vixens
Director
1976
The Summer of Suzanne
Writer
1976
The Travails of June
Editor
1976
The Travails of June
Producer
1976
The Travails of June
Writer
1976
The Summer of Suzanne
Director
1976
The Travails of June
Director
1976
She's No Angel
Director
1976
Cheryl's Surrender
Editor
1975
Cheryl's Surrender
Producer
1975
Cheryl's Surrender
Writer
1975
Cheryl's Surrender
Director
1975
Kathy's Graduation Present
Writer
1975
Kathy's Graduation Present
Director
1975
China Doll
Writer
1975
China Doll
Director
1975
Gladys and Her All Girl Band
Writer
1975
Gladys and Her All Girl Band
Director
1975
Lisa Meets Mr. Big
Writer
1975
Lisa Meets Mr. Big
Director
1975
The Passions of Carol
Main Title Designer
1975
The Passions of Carol
Visual Effects
1975
The Passions of Carol
Special Effects
1975
The Passions of Carol
Producer
1975
The Passions of Carol
Editor
1975
The Passions of Carol
Director
1975
The Passions of Carol
Screenplay
1975
Two Senoritas
Producer
1975
Two Senoritas
Writer
1975
Two Senoritas
Director
1975
Hotel Hooker
Editor
1975
Hotel Hooker
Producer
1975
Sin of Lust
Writer
1975
The Joyriders
Editor
1975
The Joyriders
Producer
1975
The Joyriders
Writer
1975
The Joyriders
Director
1975
Hotel Hooker
Writer
1975
Hotel Hooker
Director
1975
Sin of Lust
Director
1975
The School for Sexual Arts
Director
1975
The Love Bus
Writer
1974
The Love Bus
Director
1974
Come Fly with Us
Editor
1974
Come Fly with Us
Producer
1974
Come Fly with Us
Writer
1974
Come Fly with Us
Director
1974
Teenage Nurses
Editor
1974
Teenage Nurses
Producer
1974
Teenage Nurses
Screenplay
1974
Teenage Nurses
Director
1974
Lady on the Couch
Editor
1974
Lady on the Couch
Producer
1974
Lady on the Couch
Writer
1974
Lady on the Couch
Director
1974
Pen Pals
Writer
1974
Pen Pals
Director
1974
Lip Service
Writer
1974
Lip Service
Director
1974
Maxines' Dating Service
Director
1973
The Tycoon's Daughter
Director
1973
Go Fly a Kite
Producer
1973
Go Fly a Kite
Writer
1973
Go Fly a Kite
Director
1973
Honeymoon Suite
Writer
1973
Honeymoon Suite
Director
1973
Sexual Freedom in the Ozarks
Producer
1973
Sexual Freedom in the Ozarks
Writer
1973
Sexual Freedom in the Ozarks
Director
1973
Sweet Sexteen
Editor
1973
Sweet Sexteen
Producer
1973
Sweet Sexteen
Writer
1973
Sweet Sexteen
Director
1973
Come And Be Purified
Producer
1973
Come And Be Purified
Director
1973
Teachers and Cream
Producer
1973
Teachers and Cream
Writer
1973
Teachers and Cream
Director
1973
Tina Makes a Deal
Editor
1973
Tina Makes a Deal
Producer
1973
Tina Makes a Deal
Writer
1973
Tina Makes a Deal
Director
1973
Joe Rock Superstar
Director
1973
Forced Entry
Editor
1973
Forced Entry
Producer
1973
Forced Entry
Writer
1973
Forced Entry
Director
1973
The Love Witch
Producer
1973
Hell's Kitten
Director
1972
Sensuous Vixens
Writer
1971
Sensuous Vixens
Director
1971