Abbott & Costello

ABBOTT AND COSTELLO. Legendary American comedy duo whose work in radio film and television and made them the most popular comedy team of  the 1940s and 50s. Thanks to the endurance of their most popular and influential routine, "Whose On First" whose rapid-fire word play and comprehension confusion set the preponderant framework for most of their best-known sketches. Both Bud Abbott and Lou Costello faced personal demons at times. Both were inveterate gamblers and had serious health problems. Abbott suffered from epilepsy and turned to alcohol for pain management. Costello had occasional, near-fatal bouts of rheumatic fever. Lou Costello died of a heart attack aged 52 on March 3rd 1959. Bud Abbott died of cancer on April 24th 1974.