Ward Costello

American actor (1919–2009)

Loraine Grover
Gerarda Costello

Children4

Edward "Ward" Costello (July 5, 1919 – June 4, 2009) was an American actor, composer and lyricist.

Costello was born in Boston. When he was young, he left home to go to sea, after which he was an itinerant worker on farms and ranches before he became a newspaper reporter in New York.^[1]

Costello served in both the British Royal Air Force and the U.S. Army Signal Corps during the Second World War.^[2] He received the Silver Star and three Distinguished Flying Crosses. After he left the military, he was a foreign-news editor for CBS in New York.^[1]

He composed and wrote the lyrics to the theme for The Gallant Hours. During his acting career, Costello appeared in several television programs, including Star Trek: The Next Generation, Little House on the Prairie and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. He retired from acting in 1989.

Costello was married to actress Loraine Grover, and they had a daughter, Erin.^[3]

Costello died from complications of a stroke on June 4, 2009, aged 89. He was survived by his wife, Gerarda; three sons; a daughter; two brothers and a sister.^[2]

Selected filmography

The Secret Storm (1954, TV Series) as Peter Ames #3 (1964–1966)
The Greatest Gift (1954) as Ned Blackman (1954–1955)
Hallmark Hall of Fame
- episode The Lark (1957) as Joan's Father
The Philco Television Playhouse
- episode Run Like a Thief (1954) as Investigator
Navy Log
- episode Operation Hideout (1957) as Varick
The Alcoa Hour
- episode Mechanical Manhunt (1957) as Charlie
Kraft Television Theatre
- episode Vengeance (1957)
Suspicion
- episode Heartbeat (1957)
Terror from the Year 5000 (1958) as Dr. Robert Hedges
Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1958)
- Season 4 Episode 9: "Murder Me Twice" as William G. Burke
The Gallant Hours (1960) as Captain Harry Black
The Defenders
- episode Our Lady Ironsides (1963) as Tom Aufderheidie
Petrocelli
- episode Six Strings of Guilt (1976) as Thomas Barnes
Law of the Land (1976, TV Movie) as E.J. Barnes
Most Wanted
- episode The SKy Killer (1976) as Andrew Harris
The Streets of San Francisco
- episode Judgment Day (1976) as Judge Amos Abrams
- episode The Thrill Killers: Part 1 (1976) as Captain Roy Devitt, SFPD
- episode Hang Tough (1977) as Captain Devitt, SFPD
MacArthur (1977) as General George C. Marshall
Police Story
- episode Day of Terror, Night of Fear (1978)
Return from Witch Mountain (1978) as Mr. Clearcole
Barnaby Jones
- episode Dangerous Gambit (1976) as Charles Markwell
- episode Death of a Friendship (1978) as Daniel McKnight
Goldengirl (1979) as Cobb
Little House on the Prairie
- episode Portrait of Love (1980) as Jeremy Unger
Bloody Birthday (1981) as Mr. Taylor
Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981) as Mr. Eden
General Hospital (1963-1989, TV Series) as Martin Drake
Missing (1982) as Congressman
Firefox (1982) as General Rogers
Project X (1987) as Price
Star Trek: The Next Generation
- episode Coming of Age (1988) as Admiral Gregory Quinn
- episode Conspiracy (1988) as Admiral Gregory Quinn
- episode Shades of Gray (1989) as Admiral Gregory Quinn (archive footage)
Newhart
- episode Cupcake on My Back (1989) as Mr. Wallingford
Roe vs. Wade (1989, TV Movie) (final film role)

References

^ ^a ^b Phillips, Winifred (November 11, 1971). "Costello Playing Berrigan In Center Stage Drama". The Evening Sun. Maryland, Baltimore. p. B 1. Retrieved March 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ^a ^b "Actor Edward 'Ward' Costello dies". Variety. June 13, 2009. Archived from the original on September 15, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
^ "Child to the Ward Costellos". The New York Times. August 26, 1958. p. 36. Retrieved March 17, 2022.