Billy Costello

(1898-1971), vaudeville artist and drummer for The Fred Waring Orchestra, in which, he acted as "Red Pepper Sam". The Fleischer studio began in 1933 with the first Popeye cartoons. Billy Costello, who had been in a Betty Boop radio show, as the voice of Gus the Gorilla. Billy was also the voice of the first 26 Popeye films, from 1933 to 1935. "You Gotta Be a Football Hero" was his last Popeye role.