Shaun Costello
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.
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (50)
Hymns from the Abyss
as Self (archive footage)
2021
Popcorn
Associate Producer (Production)
1991
Writing for Time
Editor (Editing)
1990
Enrapture
as Cigar Shop Man
1990
Hot Dreams
Director (Directing)
1983
Heaven's Touch
Title Designer (Art)
1983
Double Pleasure
as (as Russ Carlson)
1982
Mistress Electra
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
1982
Pandora's Mirror
as Waiter / Man in Audition Line
1981
Prisoner of Pleasure
Director (Directing)
1981
Beauty
Writer (Writing)
1981
Dracula Exotica
Producer (Production)
1980
Afternoon Delights
Editor (Editing)
1980
New York Construction Co.
1980
More Than Sisters
as Martin Randall
1979
Sunny
Producer (Production)
1979
The Two Lives of Jennifer
as Bob O'Connor
1979
Fiona on Fire
Director (Directing)
1978
Slave of Pleasure
as Richard Anselm / Masked Guy
1978
A Taste Of Bette
as S.R.
1978
Daughters of Discipline
as Bruno
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
Dominatrix Without Mercy
Director (Directing)
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
Venture Into the Bizzare
as Closing Narration (voice)
1976
The Summer of Suzanne
as Chip
1976
She's No Angel
as Dr. Warren Counter
1976
The Travails of June
as Willy
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