Ward Costello


Edward "Ward" Costello 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.
Costello served in both the British Royal Air Force and the U.S. Army Signal Corps during the Second World War. 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.
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.
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.

Selected filmography

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