Frank Costello

**Francis "Frank" Costello** is the main antagonist of Martin Scorsese's 2006 crime drama film, *The Departed*. He is an Irish crime lord working in South Boston, who works alongside his cop on the inside, Colin Sullivan and the, unbeknownst to him, the undercover cop Billy Costigan.

He was portrayed by Jack Nicholson.

## Biography

### 1985

During 1985, Frank Costello is a crime lord in the Irish mob, who reigns over South Boston. In the opening scene, Costello is seen introducing himself to a young Colin Sullivan, in order to have a mole in the Massachusetts State Police. It is implied that around this time, Sullivan did various jobs for Costello, despite being around 14 at the time.

### 2006

By 2006, Costello is still a powerful crime lord, now working alongside Colin Sullivan, who is now a high ranking police officer. Around this time, wannabe cop Billy Costigan is hired by the MSP to act as an undercover cop to work in Costello's mob, due to his being the nephew of Jackie Costigan, who was affiliated with Costello. After committing various crimse to catch Frank's attention, Billy is encountered by Costello's partner-in-crime, Arnold French, with Frank agreeing to work with Billy after Costigan swearing to be no longer a cop.

### 2007

Over the next year, Frank grows closer to Billy, who becomes more involved in Costello's operations after he is released from prison. Later, it is revealed that Costello had previously commissioned one of his men, Myles Kennefick to steal 20 microprocessors and to then sell them to Triads. However, Myles betrays Frank and attempts to flee to Florida, before Costello then sells them back to the Triads. Some time later, Costello learns about their being a mole in his gang, while Billy learns of Costello actually being an FBI informant.

Late one night, Costello meets up with Colin Sullivan in order for Sullivan to cross reference police records with the help of an envelope from Costello, at an adult theater, while Costigan spies on them from afar. Eventually, while setting up a meeting with Captain Oliver Queenan, it is revealed that Billy was followed by Costello's crew in order to find the rat. This fails however, as Billy is saved by Queenan and escapes the Costellos.

Later, it is revealed that one of Costello's men, Timothy Delahunt, who had previously died in a shootout, was an undercover cop for the Boston Police Department, although Costello figures it being a way for Costello to stop looking for the actual mole. Eventually, Sullivan decides to turn on Costello after finding out about Costello being an FBI informant and confirming it. During, a cocaine drop-off, Sullivan tails Costello, where a shootout begins, killing mostly everyone in Costello's gang. A wounded Frank is confronted by Sullivan, who after admitting he is an FBI informant, is murdered Sullivan.

## Deaths

### Murders Committed by Frank

* **Unnamed man:** Shot in the back of the head.
* **Unnamed woman:** Shot in the back of the head.
* **Two unnamed gangsters:** Tortured and shot to death by Frank and Arnold French.
	+ Total: 4

### Murders Connected to Frank

* **Myles Kennefick:** Presumably shot to death by the Costello Crime Family on Frank's orders.
* **Unnamed man:** Beaten to death by Patrick Fitzgibbons on Frank's orders.
* **Ryan:** Shot in the head by Arnold French on Frank's orders.
* **Oliver Queenan:** Thrown off a building by the Costello Crime Family indirectly ordered by Frank.
	+ Total: 4
		- Total Murders: 8

## Trivia

* Costello was based on real life Irish mobster, Whitey Bulger, who had worked with corrupt FBI agent John Connolly. Despite this, Costello was named after the Italian mobster, Frank Costello.
* Costello was also based on Hon Sam, the main antagonist of *Internal Affairs*, which *The Departed* was a remake of.