Biography

Leon De Costa was born in Barcelona, Spain. He was the son of a Spanish diplomat and had spent much of childhood living in a number of European cities. He came to America in 1910, gaining his citizenship seven years later. Before the Great War, De Costa supported himself as a piano player and by writing songs and sketches for the vaudeville stage. When the United States joined the war, De Costa enlisted in the army and served with the American Expeditionary Force from 1917 to 1919. He saw action with the 105th Field Artillery, 27th Division at the battles of Meuse-Argonne, St. Mihiel and Bois de Forge. While overseas De Costa also served as an Army Band Leader.

After the war De Costa became a Broadway playwright and later served as secretary/treasurer of Metropole Theatrical Enterprises, Inc. of New York. His best known play, "Kosher Kitty Kelley", a musical comedy, was first produced at the Times Square Theatre in 1925. The following year "Blonde Sinner" was a hit at the Cort Theatre

His wife, the former Elizabeth "Alice" Olive North (1886-1963), had been a first prima donna at the New York Hippodrome Theatre and was the sister of actress May McCabe. She had played the lead in such Broadway productions as "Brewster's Millions", "A Knight for a Day", "Over the River" (opposite Eddie Foy) and "Prince of Pilsen". In later years she limited herself to concert engagements and studio recordings. The couple married on 13 (or 15) May, 1918 in New York City.

Leon De Costa passed away at Bellevue Hospital in New York City on 10 May, 1951. His wife followed him in death twelve years later on the day President Kennedy was assassinated. They are both interned at the Long Island National Cemetery.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: John F. Barlow