Joe Kirk

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

Joe Kirk
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)
NationalityAmerican
OccupationActor
Years active1941-1958
Known forMr. Bacciagalupe
Notable work
The 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

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

Kirk was a regular voice actor on Abbott and Costello's radio show during World War II and the postwar era of the 1940s. In addition to his ongoing—and best-known—role as Mr. Bacciagalupe, the highly excitable Italian neighbor, Kirk played many other bit parts on the show as well.

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 improvised asides in the Italian language, which were obviously appreciated by many in the audience. Lou Costello, who was Italian-American himself, also understood these side remarks, and sometimes could not stay in character but laughed along as well.

Television career

In 1952 Kirk brought the popular role of Mr. Bacciagalupe to 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.

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

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

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.

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1941Spooks Run WildCamp CounselorUncredited
1941Dick Tracy vs. Crime, Inc.Brownstone Heavy 3Serial, Uncredited
1942Mr. Wise GuyMan in Newsreel with Prize MoneyUncredited
1942Rio RitaPet Shop OwnerUncredited, had a small cameo in this Abbott & Costello movie
1942Smart AlecksMike
1942Pardon My SarongHenchman with TaborUncredited
1942Who Done It?Harry - the Radio TechnicianUncredited
1942X Marks the SpotHenchman Jerry
1942PittsburghNightclub Bit RoleUncredited
1942Over My Dead BodySailor
1943Margin for ErrorOfficer SolomonUncredited
1943Pistol Packin' MamaJoe McGurn
1944Phantom LadySanders - Stage ManagerUncredited
1944Sweethearts of the U.S.A.Ghost of Napoleon
1944Moon Over Las VegasTicket TakerUncredited
1944Ghost CatchersMugUncredited
1944Christmas HolidayAirline AttendantUncredited
1944Bowery to BroadwayBillboard ManUncredited
1944The House of FrankensteinSchwartzUncredited
1945Here Come the Co-EdsHonest Dan Murphy the Bookie
1945See My LawyerBookieUncredited
1945Blonde RansomBender
1945The Naughty NinetiesCroupier
1945River GangGangsterUncredited
1946Little GiantSalesman
1946Smooth as SilkJoeUncredited
1946Inside JobFenwayUncredited
1947Buck Privates Come HomeReal Estate Salesman
1947The WebJoe - PlainclothesmanUncredited
1948The Noose Hangs HighGangsterUncredited
1948Abbott and Costello Meet FrankensteinMan at Costume Party in FezUncredited
1948My Dear SecretaryProcess Server with Divorce PapersUncredited
1948Mexican HayrideSecond BusinessmanUncredited
1949The Big SombreroMan With CigarUncredited
1949ImpactHotel Clerk
1949Red LightReporter in NewsreelUncredited
1950The Jackie Robinson StoryTonyUncredited
1951Comin' Round the MountainConcession Stand CountermanUncredited
1952Jack and the BeanstalkVillagerUncredited
1952Lost in AlaskaHenchman
1952Abbott and Costello Meet Captain KiddFlirtatious PirateUncredited
1952-1954The Abbott and Costello ShowMr. Bacciagalupe / Double Crossing Dan / Indian19 episodes, played a major supporting role in the shows' first season
1953The Mississippi GamblerOnlooker at Poker GameUncredited
1953Abbott and Costello Go to MarsDr. Orvilla
1953Fort AlgiersLuigi
1954The Long WaitServo's Hit ManUncredited
1955Night FreightBartender
1956Beyond a Reasonable DoubtClothing Store Clerk
1956Hot ShotsDetective Adams - Arresting OfficerUncredited
1957Monkey on My BackFight SpectatorUncredited
1957Official DetectiveAl the Bartender / BeckTV series (US), 2 episodes
1965I'll Take SwedenMan in Bunny CostumeUncredited, (final film role)

References
  1. Mulholland, Jim. "The Abbott and Costello Book." 1977, Popular Library
  2. AllMovie Guide profile/New York Times
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