Dolores Costello Genealogy
(aka, Dolores Costello)Are You Related?

Known as the Goddess of the Silent Screen, Dolores Costello was born September 17, 1903, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Costello came from an acting family; her parents, Maurice and Mae, and her sister, Helene, were all actors, and in fact, her first roles were in her father's films. Costello's big break came from starring opposite John Barrymore in the Sea Beast. Not only did it launch her film career, but Costello and Barrymore fell in love and were married in 1928. Her silent film success continued with films like Noah's Ark and When a Man Loves. When films transitioned to "talkies," Costello had to undergo training to overcome her lisp. After she began having children, her film career took a backseat, though after her divorce from Barrymore, she went back to work once more. The harsh chemicals in early film makeup ravaged her complexion beyond the point of camouflage, so Costello again retired from film and spent the rest of her life in seclusion, managing an avocado farm. She was married and divorced once more after Barrymore to John Vruwink. Costello had two children: John Drew and Deedee. She is the grandmother to actress Drew Barrymore. She died from emphysema in 1943.

Dolores Costello's last name, "Costello," is an Irish name from the Gaelic name Oisdealbhach, and was first found on the West Coast of Ireland in County Mayo in the 12th Century. Other spellings include "MacCostello," "Costillo," "Costallo," "Kostello," "McCostello," "Caustello," and "Costellow." The first known Costello to come to America was Honor Costello in 1756.