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Harold John RussellNon-professional actor, Canadian-American World War II veteran
Date of Birth: 14.01.1914
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Biography of Harold John Russell
- Transition to Acting
- Unique Achievement and Further Career
- Lifetime Contributions and Personal Life
Biography of Harold John Russell
Early Life and Military ServiceHarold John Russell was born on January 14, 1914, in the small town of North Sydney on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. In 1933, he and his family moved to Massachusetts. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese on December 7, 1941, the 27-year-old Harold was deeply affected and enlisted in the army the next day. He served as an instructor in the 13th Airborne Division within the United States but tragically lost both his hands in a training accident in 1944. Despite this setback, Harold persevered and used prosthetic hooks instead of hands.
Transition to Acting
After receiving medical treatment, Harold enrolled at Boston University and became one of the main subjects in the documentary film "The Diary of a Sergeant" about war veterans' rehabilitation. It was through this film that director William Wyler discovered Harold and invited him to join the cast of "The Best Years of Our Lives," a 1946 melodrama about soldiers returning from war. The film, which starred Frederick March, Dana Andrews, Myrna Loy, and Virginia Mayo, became a critical and commercial success, winning seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Harold portrayed the character of Homer Parrish, a sailor who lost his hands in the war. His performance was highly acclaimed, and he received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1947.
Unique Achievement and Further Career
Harold Russell became the first person to receive two Academy Awards for the same role, solidifying his place in cinematic history. Despite his success, Wyler advised him to continue his education, as there were limited roles in the film industry for actors without hands. Harold returned to Boston University and graduated in 1949 with a business degree. He went on to write two autobiographies, "Victory in My Hands" in 1949 and "The Best Years of My Life" in 1981.
Throughout his life, Harold made a few more appearances in film and television, including the movies "Inside Moves" in 1980 and "Dogtown" in 1997. He also had guest roles in TV series such as "Trapper John, M.D." in 1981 and "China Beach" in 1989.
Lifetime Contributions and Personal Life
Harold Russell actively participated in the American Veterans of World War II and served three terms as the National Commander. From the 1960s to the 1980s, he held the position of Chairman of the Presidential Commission on Employment of the Handicapped, a voluntary and unpaid role. In 1982, his son Gerald, a pilot for Eastern Airlines, was convicted of murdering another pilot due to a dispute involving a flight attendant from the same airline. Gerald received a life sentence with a mandatory minimum of 25 years, and his request for early release in 2007 was denied.
Harold was married twice. His first marriage, to Rita Russell-Nixon, his childhood sweetheart, lasted for 34 years until her death in 1978. They had two children, Adele and Gerald. In 1981, he remarried Betty, but she fell ill, and he needed money for her medical expenses. In August, Harold put one of his Academy Awards, the one he received for Best Supporting Actor, up for auction, and it was sold to a private collector for $60,500. This decision generated controversy, and Harold defended himself, stating that his wife's health was more important than sentimental objections, and no one had the right to criticize him. He believed that the film would remain even if the Oscar was gone.
Harold Russell passed away on January 29, 2002, at the age of 88, due to a heart attack in Natick, Massachusetts.
