From Wikipedia
Maurice George Costello (February 22, 1877 – October 29,
1950)[1] was an American prominent vaudeville actor of the late 1890s and early
1900s, who later played a principal role in early American films, as both a
leading man, supporting player and a director.
Costello was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Irish
immigrants Ellen and Thomas Costello. He appeared in his first motion picture
in 1905, in which he had the honour of appearing in the first serious film to
feature the character of Sherlock Holmes in the movie Adventures of Sherlock
Holmes, in which Costello played the title role. He continued to work for
Vitagraph, being a member of the first motion picture stock company ever
formed, playing opposite Florence Turner. Among some of his best known pictures
are A Tale of Two Cities, The Man Who Couldn't Beat God and For the Honor of
the Family. After an absence of some years he returned to the screen. He was
married to actress Mae Costello (née Altschuk). His descendants include two
daughters, actresses Dolores Costello and Helene Costello, a grandson John Drew
Barrymore, and a great granddaughter Drew Barrymore. He was one of the world's
first leading men in early American cinema, but like a lot of other silent
screen stars, he found the transition to "talkies" extremely
difficult, and his leading man status was over. However, Costello was a
trouper, and continued to appear in movies, often in small roles and bit parts,
right up until his death in 1950.
