John Costelloe

Career overview

Role: Meticulous television and film archivist.
Task: Write a 180-260 word career overview of John Costelloe (Acting).
Constraints:
Use ONLY verifiable facts from provided sources.
No invented titles, names, dates, awards, etc.
Original, neutral, encyclopedic prose.
Plain text only (no markdown, no asterisks, no headings, no bullet points).
Length: 180-260 words.
Structure: 2-3 short paragraphs.
No preamble or JSON.
Name: John A. Costelloe.
Born: November 8, 1961, in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA.
Died: December 16, 2008 (age 47).
Occupation: American actor.
Pre-acting career: Firefighter (NYFD) for over a decade.
Known for:
Jim "Johnny Cakes" Witowski in the HBO series The Sopranos (lover of Vito Spatafore).
Die Hard 2 (1990).
Black Rain (1989).
Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993).
Other work: Doubt, Kazaam, Kiss of Death, Billy Bathgate, and The Hard Way.
Paragraph 1: Introduction and early life/career.
John A. Costelloe was an American actor born on November 8, 1961, in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. Before entering the acting profession, Costelloe spent over a decade working as a firefighter for the NYFD, where he earned commendations for his bravery and dedication.
Paragraph 2: Acting career and notable roles.
Costelloe is best known for his role as Jim "Johnny Cakes" Witowski, the lover of Vito Spatafore, in the HBO television series The Sopranos. His film credits include appearances in Black Rain, Die Hard 2, and Manhattan Murder Mystery. Other works in his filmography include Doubt, Kazaam, Kiss of Death, Billy Bathgate, and The Hard Way.
Paragraph 3: Death (optional/if needed for length/context).
Costelloe died on December 16, 2008, at the age of 47.
Drafting for word count:
John A. Costelloe was an American actor born on November 8, 1961, in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. Prior to his career in acting, Costelloe spent more than ten years working as a firefighter with the NYFD, earning commendations for his dedication and bravery.

In his acting career, Costelloe was best known for portraying Jim "Johnny Cakes" Witowski, the lover of Vito Spatafore, in the HBO television series The Sopranos. He also appeared in several films, including Black Rain, Die Hard 2, and Manhattan Murder Mystery. His additional film credits include Doubt, Kazaam, Kiss of Death, Billy Bathgate, and The Hard Way.

Costelloe passed away on December 16, 2008, at the age of 47.
Word Count Check:
"John A. Costelloe was an American actor born on November 8, 1961, in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. Prior to his career in acting, Costelloe spent more than ten years working as a firefighter with the NYFD, earning commendations for his dedication and bravery.

In his acting career, Costelloe was best known for portraying Jim "Johnny Cakes" Witowski, the lover of Vito Spatafore, in the HBO television series The Sopranos. He also appeared in several films, including Black Rain, Die Hard 2, and Manhattan Murder Mystery. His additional film credits include Doubt, Kazaam, Kiss of Death,