Shaun Costello

Shaun Costello

Directing • Born 1944-01-01 – Died 2023-07-05

Directing1The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Biography

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.

Filmography

68 credits
The Love Bus

The Love Bus

Movie • 1974

George

Pandora's Mirror

Pandora's Mirror

Movie • 1981

Waiter / Man in Audition Line

Forced Entry

Forced Entry

Movie • 1973

David

Cheryl's Surrender

Cheryl's Surrender

Movie • 1975

Ray Lavagis

The Untamed Vixens

The Untamed Vixens

Movie • 1976

Jerry

Teenage Nurses

Teenage Nurses

Movie • 1974

Joe / TV Reporter

Joy Of Humiliation

Joy Of Humiliation

Movie • 1977

Biker with Cigarette

The Fury in Alice

The Fury in Alice

Movie • 1976

Chip Carson

The Porn Brokers

The Porn Brokers

Movie • 1973

Self

Selling It

Selling It

Movie • 1972

(archive footage)

Venture Into the Bizzare

Venture Into the Bizzare

Movie • 1976

Closing Narration (voice)

The Two Lives of Jennifer

The Two Lives of Jennifer

Movie • 1979

Bob O'Connor

The Summer of Suzanne

The Summer of Suzanne

Movie • 1976

Chip

Sexual Customs in Scandinavia

Sexual Customs in Scandinavia

Movie • 1972

Mr. Thorens

Feel

Feel

Movie • 1971

Cherry Hustlers

Cherry Hustlers

Movie • 1977

Company Investigator

Private Practice

Private Practice

Movie • 1975

Mr. Barnes

Schoolgirl's Reunion

Schoolgirl's Reunion

Movie • 1977

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

Two Senoritas

Two Senoritas

Movie • 1975

Guy with Glasses

Sweet Sexteen

Sweet Sexteen

Movie • 1973

Jerry

Hymns from the Abyss

Hymns from the Abyss

Movie • 2021

Self (archive footage)

Sensuous Vixens

Sensuous Vixens

Movie • 1971

Photo Model with Mustache

Enrapture

Enrapture

Movie • 1990

Cigar Shop Man

China Doll

China Doll

Movie • 1975

Bert

Midnight Desires

Midnight Desires

Movie • 1976

Chauffeur / Highwayman (uncredited)

Water Power

Water Power

Movie • 1976

Police Station Cop / Man at Car Window

Double Pleasure

Double Pleasure

Movie • 1982

(archive footage)

Come Fly with Us

Come Fly with Us

Movie • 1974

Jay Basby

The Magical Ring

The Magical Ring

Movie • 1971

First Fantasy Lover

Slave of Pleasure

Slave of Pleasure

Movie • 1978

Richard Anselm / Masked Guy

Guess Who's Coming

Guess Who's Coming

Movie • 1973

Peter

A Taste Of Bette

A Taste Of Bette

Movie • 1978

S.R.

Betrayed Teens

Betrayed Teens

Movie • 1977

Bobby

Daughters of Discipline

Daughters of Discipline

Movie • 1978

Bruno

Mistress Electra

Mistress Electra

Movie • 1982

Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

Sensuous Fly Girls

Sensuous Fly Girls

Movie • 1976

Man in Stable

Pen Pals

Pen Pals

Movie • 1974

Good Samaritan / Man in Black

Gladys and Her All Girl Band

Gladys and Her All Girl Band

Movie • 1975

Lola

The Tycoon's Daughter

The Tycoon's Daughter

Movie • 1973

Newspaper Reader / Radio Newscaster

She's No Angel

She's No Angel

Movie • 1976

Dr. Warren Counter

Honeymoon Suite

Honeymoon Suite

Movie • 1973

Jamie

Tortured Woman

Tortured Woman

Movie • 1976

El Gringo

The Travails of June

The Travails of June

Movie • 1976

Willy

The School for Sexual Arts

The School for Sexual Arts

Movie • 1975

Guy in Final Class

The Dark Side of Danielle

The Dark Side of Danielle

Movie • 1976

Bruce / Betty's Master

Sin of Lust

Sin of Lust

Movie • 1975

Bob Hartman

Love in the Rain

Love in the Rain

Movie • 1971

Shaun (uncredited)

That Lady from Rio

That Lady from Rio

Movie • 1976

Sex Slave (uncredited)

Teachers and Cream

Teachers and Cream

Movie • 1973

Mr. Boynton

The Story of Eloise

The Story of Eloise

Movie • 1976

Edgar Frank

Ozark Sex Fiend

Ozark Sex Fiend

Movie • 1973

Newscaster / Homer Heaply

Go Fly a Kite

Go Fly a Kite

Movie • 1973

John Spaulding

Lisa Meets Mr. Big

Lisa Meets Mr. Big

Movie • 1975

Minister

Kathy's Graduation Present

Kathy's Graduation Present

Movie • 1975

Randy

Girl Scout Cookies

Girl Scout Cookies

Movie • 1976

Mr. O'Malley

Joe Rock Superstar

Joe Rock Superstar

Movie • 1973

Rock the Guitarist / Voice of Walter Cockite

The Fire in Francesca

The Fire in Francesca

Movie • 1977

Troy Winston

Lip Service

Lip Service

Movie • 1974

Hired Guy

Tina Makes a Deal

Tina Makes a Deal

Movie • 1973

Customs Agent

Dirty Susan

Dirty Susan

Movie • 1977

Bob Gilroy

More Than Sisters

More Than Sisters

Movie • 1979

Martin Randall

Baby Oil

Baby Oil

Movie • 1975

Orgy Guy with Two Girls

Come And Be Purified

Come And Be Purified

Movie • 1973

Brother Francis

Hotel Hooker

Hotel Hooker

Movie • 1975

Pete

Lady on the Couch

Lady on the Couch

Movie • 1974

Poker Buddy (uncredited)

The Passions of Carol

The Passions of Carol

Movie • 1975

The Spirits

New York Construction Co.

New York Construction Co.

Movie • 1980

French Schoolgirls

French Schoolgirls

Movie • 1976