Kurt Russell
| Kurt Russell | |
|---|---|
 Russell at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con International promoting The Hateful Eight | |
| Born |
Kurt Vogel Russell March 17, 1951 Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Education | Thousand Oaks High School |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1962–present |
| Spouse(s) | Season Hubley (m. 1979–83) |
| Partner(s) | Goldie Hawn (1983–present) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) |
Bing Russell (father) Louise Julia Crone (mother) |
| Relatives | 3 sisters |
Kurt Vogel Russell (born March 17, 1951)[1] is an American actor. His first roles were as a child in television series, including a lead role in the Western series The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters (1963–64). In the late 1960s, he signed a ten-year contract with The Walt Disney Company, where, according to Robert Osborne, he became the studio's top star of the 1970s.[2]
Russell was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture for his performance in Silkwood (1983). During the 1980s, he starred in several films by director John Carpenter, including anti-hero roles such as army hero-turned-robber Snake Plissken in the futuristic action film Escape from New York and its 1996 sequel Escape from L.A., Antarctic helicopter pilot R.J. MacReady in the horror film The Thing (1982), and truck driver Jack Burton in the dark kung-fu comedy action film Big Trouble in Little China (1986), all of which have since become cult films. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for the television film Elvis (1979), also directed by Carpenter.
In 1993, he starred as Wyatt Earp in the western film Tombstone, and in 1994, had a starring role in the military science fiction film Stargate. In the mid-2000s, his portrayal of U.S. Olympic hockey coach Herb Brooks in Miracle (2004) won the praise of critics. In 2006, he appeared in the disaster-thriller Poseidon, and in 2007, in Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof segment from the film Grindhouse. In 2015, Russell starred in the western films Bone Tomahawk and The Hateful Eight.
Early life
Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, Russell is the son of actor Bing Russell (1926–2003) and dancer Louise Julia (Crone) Russell.[3] He has three sisters, Jill, Jamie and Jody. In 1969, he graduated from Thousand Oaks High School in southern California.[4] His sister Jill is the mother of baseball player Matt Franco.[5]
Career
1957–69
Russell's film career began at the age of eleven in an uncredited part in Elvis Presley's It Happened at the World's Fair,[6] and two extra episodes, celebrating the tenth anniversary of the then defunct series Rin Tin Tin. On April 24, 1963, Russell guest starred in the ABC series Our Man Higgins, starring Stanley Holloway as an English butler in an American family. He played Peter Hall in the 1963 episode "Everybody Knows You Left Me" on the NBC medical drama about psychiatry The Eleventh Hour.
Later in 1963, he landed the lead role as Jaimie in the ABC Western series The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters (1963–64). Based on a book by Robert Lewis Taylor, the series starred Dan O'Herlihy, John Maloney and the young Osmond Brothers. Charles Bronson became a semi-regular in the series. In 1964, he guest-starred in "Nemesis", an episode of the popular ABC series The Fugitive in which, as the son of police Lt. Phillip Gerard, he is unintentionally kidnapped by his father's quarry, Doctor Richard Kimble. That same year he appeared on NBC's The Virginian as a mistaken orphan whose father was an outlaw played by Rory Calhoun who was still alive and recently released from prison looking for his son. Russell played a similar role as a kid named Packy Kerlin in the 1964 episode "Blue Heaven" of the western series Gunsmoke. He also appeared in five episodes of Daniel Boone in various roles.
At age 13, Russell played the role of Jungle Boy on an episode of CBS's Gilligan's Island, which aired on February 6, 1965. He guest-starred on ABC's western The Legend of Jesse James. In 1966, Russell played a 14-year-old Indian boy, Grey Smoke, adopted by the Texas Rangers in the episode "Meanwhile, Back at the Reservation" of the NBC western series Laredo. In the story line, he works for an outlaw gang, but the Rangers take him under their wing and the boy proves helpful when gunslingers try to occupy Laredo, Texas.[7]
In 1966, while on his deathbed, Walt Disney wrote "Kurt Russell" on a piece of paper as his final words. Russell at the time was a child actor whom the Disney studio had just signed to a long term contract.[8] In January 1967, Russell co-starred as Private Willie Prentiss in the episode "Willie and the Yank: The Mosby Raiders" in Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color and the Sherman Brothers theatrical film musical, The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band. It was on the set of Family Band that Russell met his future partner Goldie Hawn. Later, he, Jay C. Flippen and Tom Tryon appeared in the episode "Charade of Justice" of the NBC western series The Road West starring Barry Sullivan. In a March 1966 episode of CBS's Lost in Space entitled "The Challenge", he played Quano, the son of a planetary ruler and Edward's son in Follow Me, Boys!.
1970–89
In 1971, he co-starred as a young robber released from jail, alongside James Stewart in Fools' Parade. Later, he guest-starred in an episode of Room 222 as an idealistic high school student who assumed the costumed identity of Paul Revere to warn of the dangers of pollution. In 1966, Russell was signed to a ten-year contract with The Walt Disney Company, where he became, according to Robert Osborne, the "studio's top star of the '70s".[2] He then went on to star in The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band and The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, the latter of which spawned two sequels: Now You See Him, Now You Don't (1972) and The Strongest Man in the World (1975).
Russell, like his father, had a baseball career. In the early 1970s, Russell was a switch-hitting second baseman for the California Angels minor league affiliates, the Bend Rainbows (1971)[9][10][11][12] and Walla Walla Islanders (1972) in the short season Class A-Short Season Northwest League,[13][14] then moved up to Class AA in 1973 with the El Paso Sun Kings of the Texas League.[15][16] While in the field turning the pivot of a double play early in the season, the incoming runner at second base collided with him and tore the rotator cuff in Russell's right (throwing) shoulder. He did not return to El Paso, but was a designated hitter for the independent Portland Mavericks back in the Northwest League late in their short season. The team was owned by his father, and he had been doing promotional work for them in the interim.[17] The injury forced his retirement from baseball in 1973 and led to his return to acting.[18]
In the autumn of 1974, he appeared in the ABC series The New Land, inspired by the 1972 Swedish film of the same name. Critically acclaimed, it suffered very low ratings and only aired six of the 13 episodes; it was up against established Saturday night favorites All in the Family on CBS and Emergency! on NBC. In autumn 1976, Russell appeared with Tim Matheson in the 15-episode NBC series The Quest, the story of two young men in the American West seeking the whereabouts of their sister, a captive of the Cheyenne. In 1979, Russell was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special for the made-for-television film Elvis. It was the first time he collaborated with John Carpenter.
During the 1980s, Russell teamed with Carpenter several times, helping create some of his best-known roles, usually as anti-heroes, including the infamous Snake Plissken of Escape from New York and its sequel, Escape from L.A. Among their collaborations was The Thing (1982), based upon the short story Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell, Jr., which had been interpreted on film before, albeit loosely, in 1951's The Thing from Another World. In 1986, the two made Big Trouble in Little China, a dark kung-fu comedy action film in which Russell played a truck driver caught in an ancient Chinese war. The film was a financial failure like The Thing, it has since gained a cult audience. After voicing adult Copper in the animated Disney film The Fox and the Hound, Russell is one of the very few famous child stars in Hollywood who has been able to continue his acting career past his teen years. He was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture for his performance in Silkwood (1983).[19]
1990–present
Russell played Lt. Stephen "Bull" McCaffrey in Backdraft (1991), Wyatt Earp in Tombstone (1993) and Colonel Jack O'Neil in the military science fiction film Stargate (1994).
Elvis Presley connections have run like a thread through his career. Aside from appearing as a child in one of Presley's films and giving a convincing portrayal of the singer in the 1979 television biopic, Russell starred as an Elvis impersonator involved in a Las Vegas robbery in 3000 Miles to Graceland. His portrayal of U.S. Olympic hockey coach Herb Brooks in the 2004 film Miracle, won the praise of critics. "In many ways", wrote Claudia Puig of USA Today, "Miracle belongs to Kurt Russell." Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote, "Russell does real acting here." Elvis Mitchell of The New York Times wrote, "Mr. Russell's cagey and remote performance gives Miracle its few breezes of fresh, albeit methane-scented, air."
In 2006, Russell revealed that he was the director of Tombstone, not George P. Cosmatos, as credited.[20] According to Russell, Cosmatos was recommended by Sylvester Stallone and was, in effect, a ghost director, much as he had been for Rambo: First Blood Part II. Russell said he promised Cosmatos he would keep it a secret as long as Cosmatos was alive; Cosmatos died in April 2005.[20] Russell owns the rights to the masters and makes reference to possibly re-editing the film, as he was not originally involved in the editing.[20]
Russell played the villain Stuntman Mike in Quentin Tarantino's segment Death Proof of the film Grindhouse. After a remake of Escape from New York was announced, Russell was reportedly upset with the casting of Scottish actor Gerard Butler for his signature character, Snake Plissken, as he believed the character 'was quintessentially [...] American.'[21][22]
Russell appeared in The Battered Bastards of Baseball, a documentary about his father and the Portland Mavericks, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in 2014.[23] He co-starred in the action thriller Furious 7 (2015).[24]
Personal life
Russell married actress Season Hubley, while filming Elvis in 1979. Their son Boston was born in February 16, 1980. In 1983, in the middle of his divorce from Hubley, Russell re-connected with Goldie Hawn on the set of the film Swing Shift, and they have been in a relationship ever since. They own a home in Palm Desert, California.[25] They have a son Wyatt, who was born in July 10, 1986. In 1987, the couple starred in the film Overboard. Hawn's son and daughter with Bill Hudson, actors Oliver and Kate Hudson, consider Russell to be their father.[26]
Russell is a libertarian. In 1996, he was quoted in the Toronto Sun saying: "I was brought up as a Republican, but when I realized that at the end of the day there wasn't much difference between a Democrat and Republican, I became a libertarian."[27] In February 2003, Russell and Hawn moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, so that their son could play hockey. Russell is an avid gun enthusiast, a hunter and a strong supporter of the Second Amendment.[28] He is also an FAA licensed private pilot holding single/multi-engine and instrument ratings and is an Honorary Board Member of the humanitarian aviation organization Wings of Hope.[29][30]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | It Happened at the World's Fair | Boy Kicking Mike | Uncredited |
| 1965 | Guns of Diablo | Jamie McPheeters | |
| 1966 | Follow Me, Boys! | Whitey | |
| 1968 | The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band | Sidney Bower | First film with Goldie Hawn (who played Giggly Girl) |
| 1968 | The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit | Ronnie Gardner | |
| 1969 | The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes | Dexter Riley | |
| 1971 | The Barefoot Executive | Steven Post | |
| 1971 | Fools' Parade | Johnny Jesus | |
| 1972 | Now You See Him, Now You Don't | Dexter Riley | |
| 1973 | Charley and the Angel | Ray Ferris | |
| 1973 | Superdad | Bart | |
| 1975 | The Strongest Man in the World | Dexter Riley | |
| 1976 | The Captive: The Longest Drive 2 | Morgan 'Two Persons' Bodeen | |
| 1980 | Used Cars | Rudolph "Rudy" Russo | |
| 1981 | Escape from New York | Snake Plissken | |
| 1981 | The Fox and the Hound | Adult Copper (voice) | |
| 1982 | The Thing | R.J. MacReady | |
| 1983 | Silkwood | Drew Stephens | |
| 1984 | Swing Shift | Mike "Lucky" Lockhart | |
| 1984 | Terror in the Aisles | R.J. MacReady | |
| 1985 | The Mean Season | Malcolm Anderson | |
| 1986 | Big Trouble in Little China | Jack Burton | |
| 1986 | The Best of Times | Reno Hightower | |
| 1987 | Overboard | Dean Proffitt | |
| 1988 | Tequila Sunrise | Det. Lt. Nicholas 'Nick' Frescia | |
| 1989 | Winter People | Wayland Jackson | |
| 1989 | Tango & Cash | Lt. Gabriel Cash | |
| 1991 | Backdraft | Stephen 'Bull' McCaffrey, Dennis McCaffrey | |
| 1992 | Unlawful Entry | Michael Carr | |
| 1992 | Captain Ron | Captain Ron | |
| 1993 | Tombstone | Wyatt Earp | |
| 1994 | Forrest Gump | Elvis Presley (voice) | Uncredited[31][32] |
| 1994 | Stargate | Col. Jonathan "Jack" O'Neil | |
| 1996 | Executive Decision | Dr. David Grant | |
| 1996 | Escape from L.A. | Snake Plissken | Also writer & producer |
| 1997 | Breakdown | Jeffrey "Jeff" Taylor | |
| 1998 | Soldier | Todd | |
| 2001 | 3000 Miles to Graceland | Michael Zane | |
| 2001 | Vanilla Sky | McCabe | |
| 2002 | Interstate 60 | Captain Ives | |
| 2003 | Dark Blue | Eldon Perry | |
| 2004 | Miracle | Herb Brooks | |
| 2005 | Sky High | Steve Stronghold, The Commander | |
| 2005 | Dreamer | Ben Crane | |
| 2006 | Poseidon | Robert Ramsey | |
| 2007 | Death Proof | Stuntman Mike | |
| 2007 | Cutlass | Dad | Short film |
| 2011 | Touchback | Coach Hand | |
| 2013 | The Art of the Steal | Crunch Calhoun | |
| 2014 | The Battered Bastards of Baseball | Himself | Documentary |
| 2015 | Furious 7 | Mr. Nobody | [33][34] |
| 2015 | Bone Tomahawk | Sheriff Franklin Hunt | |
| 2015 | The Hateful Eight | John "The Hangman" Ruth | |
| 2016 | Deepwater Horizon | Brendan | In post-production |
| 2017 | Fast 8 | Frank "Mr. Nobody" Petty | Filming |
| 2017 | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 | Filming |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Dennis the Menace | Kevin | Episode: "Wilson's Second Childhood" (uncredited)[35][36] |
| 1962 | The Dick Powell Show | Boy, Vernon | 3 episodes |
| 1963 | Sam Benedict | Knute | Episode: "Seventeen Gypsies and a Sinner Named Charlie" |
| 1963 | The Eleventh Hour | Peter Hall | Episode: "Everybody Knows You Left Me" |
| 1963 | Our Man Higgins | Bobby | Episode: "Delinquent for a Day" |
| 1963–1964 | The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters | Jaimie McPheeters | Series regular (26 episodes) |
| 1964 | The Man From U.N.C.L.E. | Christopher Larson | Episode: "The Finny Foot Affair" |
| 1964, 1965 | The Virginian | Toby Shea, Andy Denning | Episodes: "A Father for Toby", "The Brothers" |
| 1964, 1966 | The Fugitive | Eddie, Philip Gerard Jr. | Episodes: "Nemesis", "In a Plain Paper Wrapper" |
| 1964, 1974 | Gunsmoke | Packy Kerlin, Buck Henry | Episodes: "Blue Heaven", "Trail of Bloodshed" |
| 1965 | Gilligan's Island | Jungle Boy | Episode: "Gilligan Meets Jungle Boy" |
| 1965–1969 | Daniel Boone | Various | 5 episodes |
| 1966 | Lost In Space | Quano | Episode: "The Challenge" |
| 1966 | Laredo | Grey Smoke | Episode: "Meanwhile Back at the Reservation" |
| 1967 | The Road West | Jay Baker | Episode: "Charade of Justice" |
| 1967–1972 | Disneyland | Rich Evans, Pvt. Willie Prentiss, Narrator | 7 episodes |
| 1969 | Guns in the Heather | Rich | Originally broadcast on Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color; a.k.a. The Secret of Boyne Castle (European theatrical release) |
| 1969 | Then Came Bronson | William P. Lovering | Episode: "The Spitball Kid" |
| 1970 | Men at Law | Jerry Patman | Episode: "This is Jerry, See Jerry Run" |
| 1970 | The High Chaparral | Dan Rondo | Episode: "The Guns of Johnny Rondo" |
| 1970 | Love, American Style | Johnny | Segment: "Love and the First-Nighters" |
| 1971 | Room 222 | Tim | Episode: "Paul Revere Rides Again" |
| 1973 | Love Story | Scott | Episode: "Beginner's Luck" |
| 1974 | Gunsmoke | Buck Henry Woolfe | Episode: "Trail of Bloodshed" |
| 1974 | Hec Ramsey | Matthias Kane | Episode: "Scar Tissue" |
| 1974 | The New Land | Bo Larsen | Series regular (6 episodes, plus 7 unaired) |
| 1974 1975 |
Police Story | J.D. Crawford Officer David Singer |
"Country Boy" "The Empty Weapon" |
| 1975 | Harry O | Todd Conway | Episode: "Double Jeopardy" |
| 1975 | Deadly Tower, TheThe Deadly Tower | Charles Whitman | Movie |
| 1975 | Search for the Gods | Shan Mullins | Movie |
| 1976 | The Quest | Morgan 'Two Persons' Bodeen | Series regular (15 episodes) |
| 1977 | Hawaii Five-O | Peter Valchek | Episode: "Deadly Doubles" |
| 1977 | Christmas Miracle in Caufield, U.S.A. | Johnny | Movie |
| 1979 | Elvis | Elvis Presley | Movie |
Accolades
| Year | Association | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie | Elvis | Nominated |
| 1984 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Silkwood | Nominated |
References
- ↑ "Kurt Russell News, Kurt Russell Bio and Photos". TV Guide Network. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
- 1 2 Introduction by Robert Osborne to the TCM premiere of The Barefoot Executive, April 13, 2007.
- ↑ "Kirk Russell Film Reference bio". Filmreference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
- ↑ "Kurt Russell Timeline and Biography".
- ↑ "SI Vault Sports Beat". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. September 2, 2002. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
- ↑ "It Happened at the World's Fair -- (Movie Clip) Kick Me". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
- ↑ Billy Hathorn, "Roy Bean, Temple Houston, Bill Longley, Ranald Mackenzie, Buffalo Bill, Jr., and the Texas Rangers: Depictions of West Texans in Series Television, 1955 to 1967", West Texas Historical Review, Vol. 89 (2013), p. 115
- ↑ White, Micah (November 26, 2013). "Walt Disney: 7 Things You Didn't Know About the Man & the Magic".The Biography Channel.
- ↑ Anstine, Dennis (May 6, 1971). "Actor to play for Rainbows". The Bulletin (Bend, Oregon). p. 6.
- ↑ Anstine, Dennis (May 12, 1971). "Kurt Russell: Rainbow determined not to fade". The Bulletin (Bend, Oregon). p. 8.
- ↑ Cawood, Neil (May 13, 1971). "Islander raid 'World of Disney,' get infielder for Bend farm club". Eugene Register-Guard (Oregon). p. 1C.
- ↑ "Switch hitting Kurt Russell wants acting and baseball". Milwaukee Journal. July 8, 1971. p. 4.
- ↑ Stewart, Chuck (June 20, 1972). "Movie star seeking success in baseball role". Spokane Daily Chronicle (Washington). p. 15.
- ↑ Hopper, Betty (August 14, 1972). "Russell combines acting, baseball". The Telegraph (Nashua, New Hampshire). Associated Press. p. 18.
- ↑ Witbeck, Charles (October 11, 1974). "Bad timing". Boca Raton News (Florida). KFS. p. 9, Tele-Viewer.
- ↑ "Kurt Russell". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
- ↑ "Wise, Kurt Russell to join Mavericks for rest of season". The Bulletin (Bend, Oregon). Associated Press. July 27, 1973. p. 11.
- ↑ Freedman, Richard (August 2, 1981). "Baseball player Kurt Russell banging out hits in new field". Youngstown Vindicator (Ohio). Newhouse News Service. p. B6.
- ↑ "Silkwood". Golden Globes. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
- 1 2 3 Beck, Henry Cabot. "The 'Western' Godfather". at the Wayback Machine (archived January 22, 2007) True West Magazine. October 2006.
- ↑ Stax (March 22, 2007). "IGN: Kurt Blasts 'Escape' Remake". Movies.ign.com. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
- ↑ "News Russell Enraged with New Snake Plissken". Pr-inside.com. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
- ↑ "Movie News – Movie Reviews – Entertainment Weekly". ew.com. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
- ↑ "Kurt Russell Joins 'Fast and Furious 7' Cast". FlickSided. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
- ↑ Meeks, Eric G. (2012). Palm Springs Celebrity Homes: Little Tuscany, Racquet Club, Racquet Club Estates and Desert Park Estates Neighborhoods (Kindle). Horatio Limburger Oglethorpe. p. 452 (location number). ASIN B00A2PXD1G.
- ↑ "goldie's girl". Venus.com. Archived from the original on December 6, 2005. Retrieved June 21, 2006.
- ↑ "Kurt Russell". The Advocates for Self-Government.
- ↑ Kaitlan Collins (December 22, 2015). "Kurt Russell Gun Control Won't Stop Terrorists Interview". The Daily Caller.
- ↑ ":.: The Official Wings Of Hope Homepage :.:". Wings-of-hope.org. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
- ↑ "A Plane Crazy America". AOPA Pilot: 79. May 2014.
- ↑ "20 Things You Probably Don't Know About "Forrest Gump" [VIDEO] KBMX. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
- ↑ Susman, Gary (July 4, 2014). "Here's Everything You Never Knew About 'Forrest Gump'". Moviefone.
- ↑ Taylor, Drew (March 18, 2015). "This Exclusive 'Furious 7' Scene Will Really Rev Your Engine (VIDEO)". The Moviefone Blog. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
- ↑ McCarthy, Tyler (April 1, 2015). "'Furious 7' Cast Member Kurt Russell Reveals Plot Details, Teases Eighth Movie [VIDEO]". International Business Times. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
- ↑ "Kurt Russell". La Fila Cero. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
- ↑ "Dennis the Menace (TV series 1959–63)". Rare Film Finder. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kurt Russell. |
- Kurt Russell at the Internet Movie Database
- Kurt Russell at AllMovie
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference (Minors)
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