Ignazio "Nat" Curcuruto (October 1, 1903 – April 16, 1975), better known by his stage name Joe Kirk, was an American radio, film, and television actor who was best known for playing the role of Mr. Bacciagalupe on The Abbott and Costello Show. He was married to Lou Costello's sister Marie in real life.

Joe Kirk
Kirk in X Marks the Spot (1942)
Born
Ignazio Curcuruto

(1903-10-01)October 1, 1903
New York City, U.S.
DiedApril 16, 1975(1975-04-16) (aged 71)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)
OccupationActor
Years active1930s–1958
Known forMr. Bacciagalupe
Notable workThe Abbott and Costello Show
Spouse(s)Marie Katherine Cristillo (?; div. 1953) Elizabeth Joan Walker (?; his death 1975)
Children2
RelativesLou Costello (brother-in-law)

Early life and career

edit

Kirk was born Ignazio Curcuruto (known as Nat to his family) in New York City, one of four children—Letitia, Philip (1902–95), Nat (1903–75) and Josephine—of Italian immigrants from Sicily, Giuseppe "Joe" Curcuruto and Elvira Puglisi Curcuruto (1882–1977).

He got his professional start in vaudeville, where he worked as a master of ceremonies and a comedian during the 1930s.

Radio career

edit

Kirk was a regular supporting player on Abbott and Costello's radio show during World War II and the postwar era of the 1940s. He was heard in various bit parts, including in a recurring closing gag as an audience member who heckles Costello.

Television career

edit

Kirk played Mr. Bacciagalupe and others on the duo's appearances on The Colgate Comedy Hour and then on the television version of The Abbott and Costello Show. Kirk's friendly, mustachioed character held a variety of jobs. At various points in the show, he was a barber, grocer, fruit vendor, ice cream vendor, peanut vendor, bakery owner and music store salesman. As Mr. Bacciagalupe, Kirk spoke with a thick Sicilian-American accent; his surname as well was pronounced in the Sicilian manner and not in proper Italian. When excited, Mr. Bacciagalupe frequently made improvized asides in the Italian language. Lou Costello, who was Italian-American himself, also understood these side remarks, and sometimes broke character and laughed along as well.

In the episodes featuring his character, Mr. Bacciagalupe would often show impatience with the indecision portrayed by Lou Costello, whom he called by his Sicilian name, Luigi. As he "lost his temperature", Mr. Bacciagalupe would lapse into broken Italian phrases and increasingly animated gesticulation to express his frustration. Sometimes he would find his place of business wrecked by Abbott and Costello's antics; at other times he would confound them completely and they would retreat in confusion as he crowed in triumph.[1]

Kirk's Mr. Bacciagalupe character appeared in 15 of the 26 episodes in the show's first season, 1952–53.[1] In all, he appeared in 19 episodes of the show's 52 total episodes through its end in 1954.

Film career

edit

The bulk of Kirk's early film career consisted of playing bit parts, often uncredited, in low-budget productions. Typical roles for him were "ethnic" Sicilian-Americans – gangsters, bartenders, bookies and henchmen. He appeared in several films produced by low-budget studio Monogram Pictures, including Spooks Run Wild (1941), Mr. Wise Guy (1942) and Smart Alecks (1942). Kirk appeared as the villager Schwartz in Universal's House of Frankenstein (1944).[2] He was occasionally billed as Joseph I. Kirk, the "I" standing for his birth-name, Ignazio.

Through his marriage to Marie Cristillo, the sister of Lou Costello, Kirk secured steady appearances (albeit in small roles) in Abbott and Costello films. His more prominent parts included the pet shop owner in Rio Rita (1942), Honest Dan the Bookie in Here Come the Co-Eds (1946), the shady real estate agent in Buck Privates Come Home (1947), an uncredited bystander in "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" (1948) and Dr. Orvilla in Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953).[1]

Kirk continued acting through the late 1950s, with appearances in The Jackie Robinson Story (1950), the 1956 Bowery Boys comedy Hot Shots and Fritz Lang's drama Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (1956). He also took small roles in television shows such as Adventures of Superman, Sheriff of Cochise and U.S. Marshal, before retiring from show business in 1958.[2]

Personal life

edit

Kirk was married to Marie Katherine Cristillo (1912–88), who was the sister of Lou Costello and daughter of producer Sebastian Cristillo. After their marriage, Marie was known interchangeably as Marie Curcuruto or Marie Kirk. The couple had two sons.

He was the great-uncle of actress Marki Costello, who is the granddaughter of Lou Costello. Kirk was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills).[3]

Filmography

edit
Year Title Role Notes
1941 Spooks Run Wild Camp Counselor Uncredited
1941 Dick Tracy vs. Crime, Inc. Brownstone Heavy 3 Serial, Uncredited
1942 Mr. Wise Guy Man in Newsreel with Prize Money Uncredited
1942 Rio Rita Pet Shop Owner Uncredited, had a small cameo in this Abbott & Costello movie
1942 Smart Alecks Mike
1942 Pardon My Sarong Henchman with Tabor Uncredited
1942 Who Done It? Harry – the Radio Technician Uncredited
1942 X Marks the Spot Henchman Jerry
1942 Pittsburgh Nightclub Bit Role Uncredited
1942 Over My Dead Body Sailor
1943 Margin for Error Officer Solomon Uncredited
1943 Pistol Packin' Mama Joe McGurn
1944 Phantom Lady Sanders – Stage Manager Uncredited
1944 Sweethearts of the U.S.A. Ghost of Napoleon
1944 Moon Over Las Vegas Ticket Taker Uncredited
1944 Ghost Catchers Mug Uncredited
1944 Christmas Holiday Airline Attendant Uncredited
1944 Bowery to Broadway Billboard Man Uncredited
1944 The House of Frankenstein Schwartz Uncredited
1945 Here Come the Co-Eds Honest Dan Murphy the Bookie
1945 See My Lawyer Bookie Uncredited
1945 Blonde Ransom Bender
1945 The Naughty Nineties Croupier
1945 River Gang Gangster Uncredited
1946 Little Giant Salesman
1946 Smooth as Silk Joe Uncredited
1946 Inside Job Fenway Uncredited
1947 Buck Privates Come Home Real Estate Salesman
1947 The Web Joe – Plainclothesman Uncredited
1948 The Noose Hangs High Gangster Uncredited
1948 Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein Man at Costume Party in Fez Uncredited
1948 My Dear Secretary Process Server with Divorce Papers Uncredited
1948 Mexican Hayride Second Businessman Uncredited
1949 The Big Sombrero Man With Cigar Uncredited
1949 Impact Hotel Clerk
1949 Red Light Reporter in Newsreel Uncredited
1950 The Jackie Robinson Story Tony Uncredited
1951 Comin' Round the Mountain Concession Stand Counterman Uncredited
1952 Jack and the Beanstalk Villager Uncredited
1952 Lost in Alaska Henchman
1952 Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd Flirtatious Pirate Uncredited
1952–1954 The Abbott and Costello Show Mr. Bacciagalupe / Double Crossing Dan / Indian 19 episodes, played a major supporting role in the shows' first season
1953 The Mississippi Gambler Onlooker at Poker Game Uncredited
1953 Abbott and Costello Go to Mars Dr. Orvilla
1953 Fort Algiers Luigi
1954 The Long Wait Servo's Hit Man Uncredited
1955 Night Freight Bartender
1956 Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Clothing Store Clerk
1956 Hot Shots Detective Adams – Arresting Officer Uncredited
1957 Monkey on My Back Fight Spectator Uncredited
1957 Official Detective Al the Bartender / Beck TV series (US), 2 episodes
1965 I'll Take Sweden Man in Bunny Costume Uncredited, (final film role)

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c Mulholland, Jim. "The Abbott and Costello Book." 1977, Popular Library
  2. ^ a b AllMovie Guide profile/New York Times
  3. ^ Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 25047-25048). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.
edit