7. Bud Abbott and Lou Costello
Abbott and Costello were one of the most successful comedy teams of their day, appearing in film, on radio, and onstage, and eventually on television. Their classic performance of “Who’s on First” remains one of their most famous, so successful that they often parodied it themselves in subsequent skits and appearances. Their partnership came about as the result of a fortuitous circumstance (Costello’s regular vaudeville partner was unable to perform) and became so entrenched in the public mind that Abbot and Costello became an American phrase descriptive of inseparable components, a la “bacon and eggs” or “rain or shine”.
Both shared some things besides performing. Inveterate gambling for one, and neither was particularly good at it. Their appearances played on their differences; one tall and spare, the other short and pudgy, one straightforward and sensible, the other eager to “get-rich-quick”. In truth, they could barely stand each other, did not socialize when not performing together, and neither achieved solo success when they broke up their act in 1957. They made their fortune and reputation by presenting themselves as an odd couple barely tolerant of each other’s foibles; in real life, they were far less tolerant and eventually suffered for it.
