Norman Abbott

Norman Abbott (July 11, 1922 – July 9, 2016) was an American vaudevillian, actor, producer and television director.

Life and career Abbott was born in New York City, where his mother and his uncle, comedian Bud Abbott of Abbott and Costello, raised him. His early experience in entertainment was as a vaudeville performer, including summers working the 'borscht circuit" in resorts in the Catskill Mountains of New York.

While Abbott and Costello were filming Rio Rita in 1942, Bud Abbott arranged for his nephew to play an unbilled bit in the movie. This led to two more small roles in MGM "B" features. In the early 1940s, he and Pat Costello (brother of Lou Costello) worked as stand-ins for Abbott and Costello during the filming of Who Done It? (1942), He conceived the idea of a Broadway musical based on burlesque after inheriting his uncle's "treasure trove of burlesque material, including written gags, props, music and posters". Despite his having originated the concept, Abbott was fired as director of the show after two weeks of rehearsing.

Abbott died in Valencia, California, on July 9, 2016.

Filmography