Kurt Vogel Russell was born on March 17, 1951,[4] atWesson Maternity Hospital inSpringfield, Massachusetts.[5] His father,Bing Russell, was also an actor. His mother, Louise Julia (née Crone) Russell,[6] was a dancer.[7] Russell is of English, Irish, German, and Scottish ancestry.[citation needed] He has three sisters,[7] Jill Franco,[8] Jamie and Jody.[7] His family relocated to California when he was a child, and Russell grew up inThousand Oaks.[9] Russell played little league baseball throughout his grade school years[10][11] and also on his high school baseball team as a second baseman.[12] He graduated fromThousand Oaks High School in California in 1969.[13] He signed a minor league contract in 1971 and played two seasons in the Class A Northwest League where he was an all-star infielder. He suffered a career-ending shoulder surgery in 1973 at Class AA El Paso.[14] His father also played professional baseball in the minor leagues. His older sister, Jill, is the mother of former professional baseball playerMatt Franco.[15] From 1969 to 1975, Russell served in theCalifornia Air National Guard and belonged to the146th Tactical Airlift Wing, then based inVan Nuys.[16]
Russell made his film debut with an uncredited part forIt Happened at the World's Fair, playing a boy who kicked a pilot (Elvis Presley) in the leg.[17] On April 24, 1963, Russell guest-starred in the ABC seriesOur Man Higgins, starringStanley Holloway as an English butler in an American family.[18] Later, he played the title role in the ABCWestern seriesThe Travels of Jaimie McPheeters (1963–64). The show was based onRobert Lewis Taylor's eponymous novel, whichwon the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1959.[19] In 1964, Russell guest-starred in "Nemesis", an episode of the ABC seriesThe Fugitive in which, as the son of police Lt. Phillip Gerard, he is unintentionally kidnapped by his father's quarry, DoctorRichard Kimble. InNBC'sThe Virginian, he played the mistaken orphan whose father, played byRory Calhoun, was an outlaw who was still alive and recently released from prison looking for his son.[20] Russell played a similar role as a kid named Packy Kerlin in the 1964 episode "Blue Heaven" for the Western seriesGunsmoke. At age 13, Russell played the role of Jungle Boy on an episode ofCBS'sGilligan's Island, which aired on February 6, 1965.[21]
In 1966, Russell was signed to a ten-year contract withWalt Disney Productions, where he became, according toRobert Osborne, the "studio's top star of the '70s".[22] Russell's first film for Disney wasFollow Me, Boys! (1966).Walt Disney described Russell as "a 15-year-old boy for whom I predict a great acting future",[23] in what would prove to be Disney's last filmed appearance before his death in December 1966. One of the last things Disney ever wrote was the name "Kurt Russell" (though misspelled as "Kirt") on a piece of paper.[24] In January 1967, Russell played Private Willie Prentiss in the episode "Willie and the Yank: The Mosby Raiders" inWalt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, released theatrically in some markets asMosby's Marauders (1967). During this time, Russell continued to guest star on non-Disney TV shows. He,Jay C. Flippen andTom Tryon appeared in the episode "Charade of Justice" of the NBC Western seriesThe Road West starringBarry Sullivan. In a March 1966 episode of CBS'sLost in Space entitled "The Challenge", he played Quano, the son of a planetary ruler.[25]
Russell was nominated for anEmmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special for the 1979 television filmElvis, in which his then-wifeSeason Hubley playedPriscilla.[29] This would transition Russell's Hollywood career after years as a child actor.[30] It was directed byJohn Carpenter and led to a series of collaborations between the two men. His performance earned him a nomination for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie.[1] Russell starred inAmber Waves (1980) and the comedyUsed Cars (1980). In a welcome image changing opportunity to escape his Disney typecasting, Russell then played the surly anti-heroSnake Plissken in the acclaimeddystopian science fiction film,Escape from New York (1981), directed by Carpenter.[31]
Russell followed up by playing Lt. Stephen "Bull" McCaffrey in the dramaBackdraft (1991), Michael Carr in the psychological thrillerUnlawful Entry (1992), a sailor in the comedyCaptain Ron (1992),Wyatt Earp in the WesternTombstone (1993), andColonel Jack O'Neil in themilitary science fiction filmStargate (1994). He also had an uncredited role as the voice ofElvis Presley in the 1994 filmForrest Gump.[1] In 1996, Russell starred as a military intelligence consultant in the action filmExecutive Decision,[35] and again played Snake Plissken in Carpenter's follow-up to Escape from New York,Escape from L.A.[36] He then starred as the husband of a kidnapped woman in the action thrillerBreakdown (1997), and as a genetically enhanced soldier in the science fiction filmSoldier (1998).
In 2001, Russell played a court psychologist in the thriller filmVanilla Sky. His portrayal of U.S. Olympic hockey coachHerb Brooks in the 2004 filmMiracle, won the praise of critics. "In many ways", wrote Claudia Puig ofUSA Today, "Miracle belongs to Kurt Russell."Roger Ebert of theChicago Sun-Times wrote, "Russell does real acting here."[37]Elvis Mitchell ofThe New York Times wrote, "Mr. Russell's cagey and remote performance gives ''Miracle'' its few breezes of fresh air."[38] In 2005, he played a horse trainer father in the family sports filmDreamer and a father with superhuman strength in the superhero filmSky High.
In 2006, Russell claimed in one interview that he had ghost-directed the hit 1993 Western filmTombstone on behalf of credited directorGeorge P. Cosmatos, saying he gave Cosmatos shot lists.[39] Russell claimed Stallone recommended Cosmatos to him after the removal of the first director, writerKevin Jarre, but Cosmatos had also worked withTombstone executive producerAndrew G. Vajna before onRambo: 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.[39] Russell said he did not get a chance to edit his version, but Vajna gave him a tape of "everything on the movie" and that he might try to "reconstruct the movie", although he would need to go back to the script and all his notes.[39]
While Russell was in the field turning the pivot of adouble play early in the season, the incoming runner at second base collided with him and tore therotator cuff in Russell's right (throwing) shoulder. He did not return to El Paso, but was adesignated hitter for the independentPortland Mavericks 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.[62] The injury forced his retirement from baseball in 1973 and led to his return to acting.[63]
Russell married actressSeason Hubley, whom he met while filmingElvis, in 1979, and they had a son, Boston (born February 16, 1980). After his divorce from Hubley in 1983, Russell began his relationship withGoldie Hawn, and appeared alongside her inSwing Shift andOverboard, having previously appeared with her inThe One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band in 1968. They have a son,Wyatt Russell (born July 10, 1986), and have owned homes inVancouver,British Columbia,[64][26]Snowmass Village, Colorado,[65]Manhattan, New York,[66]Brentwood,[67] andPalm Desert, California.[68] In an interview withPeople in December 2020, Russell revealed that he and Hawn never felt the need to marry, stating that a "marriage certificate wasn't going to create anything that otherwise we wouldn't have."[69]
Russell is alibertarian.[70] In 2020, he stated that celebrities should keep their political opinions to themselves, believing that it negatively impacts their work.[71]
Russell is a hunter and a staunch supporter ofgun rights, and said that gun control will not reduce terrorism.[72] He is also an FAA-licensed private pilot holding single/multi-engine andinstrument ratings, and is an Honorary Council Member of the humanitarian aviation organizationWings of Hope.[73] In 2010, he was inducted as part of theLiving Legends of Aviation, receiving the "Aviation Mentor Award" from fellow actor-pilotJohn Travolta.[74]
In February 2003, Russell and Hawn moved to Vancouver so that their son could play ice hockey.[64]
^Aaker, Everett (2017)."Kurt Russell".Television Western Players, 1960–1975: A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland. p. 371.ISBN978-1-4766-6250-3.Archived from the original on October 23, 2022. RetrievedOctober 23, 2022.
^abcBeck, Henry Cabot (October 2006)."The 'Western' Godfather".True West Magazine.Archived from the original on January 22, 2007. RetrievedDecember 10, 2007.
^Anstine, Dennis (May 6, 1971)."Actor to play for Rainbows".The Bulletin. Bend, Oregon. p. 6.Archived from the original on April 29, 2022. RetrievedFebruary 19, 2021.
^Hopper, Betty (August 14, 1972)."Russell combines acting, baseball".The Telegraph. Nashua, New Hampshire. Associated Press. p. 18.Archived from the original on April 29, 2022. RetrievedFebruary 19, 2021.
^Witbeck, Charles (October 11, 1974)."Bad timing".Boca Raton News. Florida. KFS. p. 9,Tele-Viewer.Archived from the original on April 29, 2022. RetrievedFebruary 19, 2021.
^"Kurt Russell".Baseball-Reference.com.Archived from the original on February 14, 2011. RetrievedFebruary 18, 2011.
^Meeks, Eric G. (2012).Palm Springs Celebrity Homes: Little Tuscany, Racquet Club, Racquet Club Estates and Desert Park Estates Neighborhoods. Horatio Limburger Oglethorpe. p. 452 (location number).ASINB00A2PXD1G.
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