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John Lawrence RussellAmerican actor and World War II veteran
Date of Birth: 03.01.1921
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Biography of John Russell
- Early Acting Career
- Television Success and Film Roles
- Later Career and Personal Life
Biography of John Russell
Early Life and Military ServiceJohn Lawrence Russell was born on January 3, 1921, in Los Angeles, California. He was a tall, dark, and handsome man who perfectly fit the Hollywood aesthetic of that time. Russell was an excellent athlete and attended the University of California on a sports scholarship. However, when World War II began, he joined the United States Marines despite initial reluctance due to his height of 6'4". On November 11, 1942, Russell started his service as a second lieutenant and was assigned to the 6th Marine Regiment. He served as an officer in the intelligence unit on Guadalcanal Island in the Solomon Islands, but was sent home due to contracting malaria.
Early Acting Career
Russell's path to acting began when a talent scout discovered him in a restaurant in Beverly Hills. In 1945, he made his debut in film, although he had previously had a minor role in 1939. He signed a contract with 20th Century Fox and played several supporting roles before moving to Republic Pictures. Mostly known for playing secondary characters, Russell often appeared in Westerns, portraying charming and attractive villains. However, in 1952, he finally landed a leading role in the comedy Western "Oklahoma Annie" alongside Judy Canova.
Television Success and Film Roles
In 1955, Russell secured the lead role in the television drama series "Soldiers of Fortune." The show, which featured Russell's character and his friend played by Chick Chandler, placed them in various dangerous situations. Although the series was popular among teenage boys, it failed to attract a mature audience for prime-time viewing, leading to its cancellation in 1957. During the same year, Russell made a memorable appearance as the character Russ Tropp in the harsh drama "Untamed Youth."
In 1959, Russell guest-starred in the adventure series "Northwest Passage," and in 1958, he joined the cast of the television series "Lawman." He gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of Marshal Dan Troop, the main character of the show, which aired for four years and consisted of 156 episodes. Peter Brown also appeared in the series as Russell's deputy. Additionally, Russell played various roles in several Warner Brothers films. One of his most famous roles was as the Sioux Indian leader Gall in the Western "Yellowstone Kelly" (1959), and as Nathan Burdette in "Rio Bravo" (1959), alongside John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, and Walter Brennan.
Later Career and Personal Life
From the 1960s to the 1980s, Russell returned to playing supporting roles and appeared in over 25 films. Three of these films were directed by his friend, actor, and director Clint Eastwood. Russell was married twice. He was married to Renata Titus for 22 years before their divorce in 1965, despite having three children together. In 1970, he married a woman much younger than him, but the marriage lasted less than a year. John Russell passed away on January 19, 1991, from emphysema and was buried at the National Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
