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William Alexander Abbott aka Bud Abbott (October
2, 1897 – April 24, 1974) is a legendary
United States|American actor, producer and
comedian from Asbury Park, New Jersey|Asbury Park,
New Jersey. He is best known as the straight man
of the comedy team of Abbott and Costello, with
Lou Costello. 


Abbott, whose mother was a bareback rider for the
Ringling Brothers Circus, dropped out of school as
a child in 1909 and began working at Coney Island.
He was 16 when he started working in burlesque in
the box office of the Casino Theater in Brooklyn.
Eventually he began putting together touring
burlesque shows. Around 1924 he started performing
as a straight man in an act with his wife, Betty.
As his status grew, Abbott began working with
comedians like Harry Steppe and Harry Evanson. 

Abbott crossed paths with Lou Costello in
burlesque in the early 1930s. They formally teamed
up in 1936 and began performing together in
burlesque, minstrel shows, vaudeville, and movie
houses.

At Costello's request, all profits earned from the
act were split 60/40, favoring Abbott, because,
according to Costello, "Comics are a dime a dozen.
Good straight men are hard to find." 

In 1938 they received national exposure for the
first time by performing on the Kate Smith Hour
radio show, which led to the duo appearing in a
Broadway musical, The Streets of Paris. In 1940,
Universal_Studios|Universal signed Abbott and
Costello for their first film in 1940 in
film|1940, a movie entitled One Night in the
Tropics. Although Abbott and Costello were only
filling supporting roles, they stole the film with
their classic routines, including "Who's On
First?" (Abbott and Costello are the only two
non-baseball players honored in the Baseball Hall
of Fame museum in Cooperstown, New
York|Cooperstown, New York, because of their
legendary routine.)

During World War II, Abbott and Costello were
among the most popular and highest-paid stars in
the world. They made more than 30 films. In the
1950s they brought their comedy to live TV on the
Colgate Comedy Hour, and their own half-hour
series, The Abbott and Costello Show.

Abbott and Costello split up in 1957. Lou Costello
died in 1959. 

Abbott attempted to begin performing again in the
1960s, with a new partner, Candy Candido, and
received good reviews. But Abbott called it quits,
remarking that "No one could ever live up to Lou."
On screen, he performed in a dramatic episode of
General Electric Theater in 1961 and later
provided his own voice for the animated series
Abbott and Costello.

Bud Abbott has three stars on the Hollywood Walk
of Fame: the radio star is located on 6333
Hollywood Blvd., motion pictures star is located
on 1611 Vine St., and the TV star is located on
6740 Hollywood Blvd.

Bud Abbott suffered from epilepsy.