10 Greatest Comedy Duos Of All Time
2. Abbott & Costello
Even if you've never heard the names William "Bud" Abbot and Lou Costello, odds are you've heard their famous "Who's on First?" sketch. The pair began working together in Vaudeville and on radio, television, stage, and film between 1941 and 1956.
They ended up releasing a total of 36 films together, but of all their collaborative work, their most famous is definitely that six-minute sketch about the names of a St. Louis baseball team. Not only was this their most well-known sketch, it's long been considered the best-known comedy duo sketch of all time.
Their popularity began to wane in the 1950s due to the rise of Martin and Lewis. That pair overtook their popularity thanks to their invasion into national television, but Abbot & Costello continued to work together until 1957 when they dissolved their partnership.
Sadly, tax debts to the IRS and personal financial losses led to each man's decline in their later years. Costello died of a heart attack three days shy of his 53rd birthday while Abbot lived to the age of 76 after passing in 1974.