Talk:Frank Costello

Birth name ?
Can somebody confirm his birthname? I've heard it was Seriglia... And why was it he served no time on the tax evasion rap?

And, y'know, I just don't get why Mob murders are being dignified as "assassinations". They're just murders, killings, hits... Trekphiler 07:18, 27 December 2005 (UTC)


 * The other name you have seen is Saverio and it is his mothers maiden name and an alias used during early arrests. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.215.252.167 (talk • contribs)

His real name was Francesco Castiglia

Good questions. Where did the name Costello come from and when did he get it? Venqax (talk) 12:15, 5 October 2023 (UTC)

"The Departed"
I added in the Footnotes section the upcoming portrayal of Frank Costello by Jack Nicholson in The Departed. --JOK3R 13:16, 8 May 2006 (UTC)


 * You shouldn't have added it as a footnote because the character in the movie has no relation to the actual gangster. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.215.252.167 (talk • contribs)


 * I think it's worth mentioning so it gives distance to the character portrayed and the actual mobster. Jesta510 15:46, 17 May 2007 (UTC)

I added a bullet point for The Departed's Irish, present-day Boston-based, fictional "Frank Costello", noting that he's no relation to the Italian, mid-century New York–based, real-life Frank Costello. :) --Quuxplusone (talk) 04:57, 11 October 2008 (UTC)

Original Research/personal story removal
This was added to the main page by an anonymous user:


 * I was a close personal friend of Frank Costello. This is about his getting shot.


 * Frank was dining at a restaurant and when he left he picked up an apple out of a fruit dish. When he got out of the cab at 115 Central Park West, his apartment house, he was eating the apple. Giganti walked in after him and said " Frank. this is for you". Frank turned around as Giganti shot and the bullet grazed his head. Frank then threw the apple at Giganti hitting him on the head. Bragged Frank when he told me, " I had better aim than he had." The next morning Albert Anastasia went up to Franks apartment to discuss the situation. A NYC cop then was stationed in the lobby and the doorman called up Frank and told him. Frank didn't want Albert seen leaving the building by the policeman so Albert dressed himself in Bobbies ( MRS. C )clothes, put on a big womans hat and walked out of the building past the cop dressed as a woman.

Wikipedia isn't the place for personal stories or experiences. This is in violation of the Original Research policy. I have reverted to the previous addition of the article. --JOK3R 22:06, 11 May 2006 (UTC)


 * Note: This may be true but as "oral history" it is a hell of lot more interesting and enlightening to Wiki readers then something copied or re-hashed out of an old Encyclopedia Brittanica article. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 172.132.52.10 (talk • contribs)

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This article needs a major clean up and alleged fictional works like "The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano" were relied on way too heavily. Most records actually show that Luciano and Genovese never had problems with each other, though Luciano was quoted in Italy as saying "Costello once shined my shoes and was happy to do it" and was widely seen as having a rift with Costello, not Genovese. Again, proper research and not quoting authors who made things up or did bad research themselves would help wikipedia improve.

Writing Style
Someone needs to rewrite this article, it reads like it was written by a child. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Tendo (talk • contribs)

Personal life
Does anyone know anything about Costello and his relationship with Frank Erickson? If you know much about Costello, you'll see Erickson comes up repeatedly. My own personal reference source is Leonard Katz's book, Uncle Frank (referenced on the Erickson page). I'm in the process of creating the Erickson page and would appreciate any additions. I was amazed, when I first looked, that there wasn't ANYTHING on Erickson - so quickly remedied the situation. I would appreciate any help/additions from informed persons.Curtischris31 (talk) 15:10, 6 February 2008 (UTC)

Why there is nothing about personal life of Mr.Costello?? I think somebody who know something about his personal life should write something. What was happening with his older brother? What about kids of Mr.Costello? Did he had kids? It should be in this biography article. P.S.My english isn't perfect so please forgive me my mistakes.
 * If he did have any kids, they probably went to a witness-protection program. Wahkeenah 10:22, 24 March 2007 (UTC)

-Why they should went to witness-protection program??
 * I was just trying to be funny. I have no idea whether Costello was married and/or had children. I recommend that you get into Google and research it. Wahkeenah 16:02, 24 March 2007 (UTC)

- I was searching in Google many times but i can't find anything i don't know why.
 * It's entirely possible he was "married to the Mob", although even thoroughly unpleasant characters like Vito Genevese managed to get married. All things considered, I would rather meet Frank in a dark alley than Vito. Either one might kill you, but Frank would at least be polite about it. Wahkeenah 11:16, 25 March 2007 (UTC)

-I know that Costello has a wife but in this article is nothing about his personal life about kids and his brother. And you writing I would rather meet Frank in a dark alley than Vito I really don't think so. Vito Genovese was really bad guy. He was psycho guy. Frank was diffrent. He was very intelligent guy and I think he never kill anybody by his own hands.
 * That's why I said I would rather meet Frank in a dark alley. I don't think he killed anybody unless he "had to", as a general rule. Vito actually liked to. Meanwhile, if you have valid references to his family you could put that info in the article. Wahkeenah 21:03, 31 March 2007 (UTC)

- No I haven't any information about his family. I know that he has a wife but this information is in the article already.

-I heard Frank Costello was incapable to have a children's. Anybody know is that true??
 * Given his profession, it would be ironic if he was shooting blanks. Wahkeenah 12:45, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

-So you think this is not true??

-Frank did have kids. But I only know that he had a son — Preceding unsigned comment added by Randompersonthingymijg (talk • contribs) 06:42, 6 August 2017 (UTC)

Frank Costello did have two sons. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.202.170.175 (talk) 20:06, 20 February 2009 (UTC)

Kefauver comittee hearings
Don't you think that this committee inspired the Godfather part II hearings against Michael Corleone?? He didn't take fifth and answering the committee questions just like Costello. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 83.9.58.135 (talk) 16:00, 12 April 2007 (UTC).


 * Mario Puzo uses a whole bunch of history in his movies, such as the famous killings of all the head of the families in the same fashion prominent members of the 5 families were killed. So yes, the hearings are another element Mario Puzo incorporated into his book.Jesta510 15:46, 17 May 2007 (UTC)

Copy Vio?
It looks like huge sections of this article are blatant violations of copyright from the "Five Families Book" where the article is copied word for word (hence the complete lack of citations and the style of writing). I suggest it be cleaned up and cited quickly or It will be soon added to the articles for deletion.Nefariousski (talk) 21:51, 19 January 2010 (UTC)

Years as consigliere
"are credited with starting the layoff and odds systems used by bookies and gamblers all across North America" dubious, odds and laying off bets has been common practice throughout known gambling history. For instance there is even mention of these forms of betting on 18 century Cricket. With the best will in the world it has to be assumed that laying off and odds well known in the old world for hundreds of years must have made an appearance in the US earlier than this. Chris (talk) 12:35, 12 August 2016 (UTC)

Picture drawn on
Has anyone else noticed that the eyebrows and smile in the picture "Costello testifying before the Kefauver Committee" are drawn in with a marker... ? Was this in the original? Gr8fuljeff (talk) 04:19, 21 January 2010 (UTC)

Added pictures
Added pictures of Luciano, Masseria, and Genoveso from Wikicommons.Rogermx (talk) 18:58, 29 May 2010 (UTC)

External links modified
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Italian pronunciation? Seriously?
Costello is an Irish surname, and even if it was recorded among the "Italian" immigrants, they would've most likely used a Sicilian / Neapolitan / other regional pronunciation. "Italian" as the common language of Italy is a late linguicidal project, in 19th century it was still common for people to speak only regional languages. 2A02:A310:8241:8280:6479:2B24:6601:667D (talk) 23:01, 4 April 2020 (UTC)
 * See WP:OR. No matter if it's origin is Irish, he was born in Italy, so the Italian pronunciation is warranted. If you can go further as to add the Calabrian/Sicilian regional pronunciation, go ahead, but Italian suffices. Vaselineeeeeeee★★★ 03:52, 5 April 2020 (UTC)