| He was born 17 March 1951 in Springfield, | | | | collaborated on a total of five movies to date. Mr. |
| Massachusetts. His parents are Louise Crain and Bing | | | | Russell co-produced, co-wrote and/or starred in all five. |
| Russell. The senior Mr. Russell was a character actor | | | | He met his lifemate, Goldie Hawn, while filming "Swing |
| who had a recurring role as a deputy on the long - | | | | Shift" in 1984. They also co-starred in the movie |
| running Western television series "Bonanza". He (Bing) | | | | "Overboard" in 1987. They have been together since, |
| had been a professional baseball player but changed | | | | having one child together, one child from Kurt's first |
| his career to acting, which took the family to California. | | | | marriage to Season Hubley and the two children from |
| Kurt grew up in Thousand Oaks, California, not | | | | Ms. Hawn's marriage to Bill Hudson. Ms. Hawn's |
| necessarily your typical Hollywood kid. He had a keen | | | | daughter, Kate Hudson, considers Mr. Russell to be her |
| interest in baseball and wanted to play professionally | | | | dad. Their extended family seems to work quite well. |
| as his father had before him. But in 1961, his dad heard | | | | Among his film credits is that of a supporting role in the |
| about a part in a film called "It Happened at the World's | | | | critically acclaimed movie "Silkwood", which he did in |
| Fair". The lead male star in the movie was Elvis | | | | 1983. Meryl Streep and Cher were the co-stars in the |
| Presley. Kurt's part was that of a young boy who | | | | film. Mr. Russell was nominated for an Academy |
| kicked him in the shin. He did not get billing for that part. | | | | Award for Best Supporting Actor for the film and won |
| It wasn't much more than a glorified extra role. | | | | a Golden Globe Award for his role. |
| However, this was the beginning of his acting career. | | | | In 1986, he again teamed up with John Carpenter to do |
| He went on to do some bit parts on television. In 1963, | | | | "Big Trouble in Little China". This was a spoof on |
| he was cast as the lead in a short - lived television | | | | martial arts movies of the times and reminded |
| series called "The Travels of Jamie McPheeters". This | | | | Hollywood and his fans, of his ability to do comedic |
| was followed by more character parts on numerous | | | | roles. |
| other TV shows. This, in turn, led to a contract with | | | | Other notable movies which he did include: |
| Walt Disney. The ten-year contract encompassed | | | | 1988 - Tequila Sunrise, co-starring Mel Gibson 1989 - |
| such films as "The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes" | | | | Tango and Cash, co-starring Sylvester Stallone 1993 - |
| (1969), "The Barefoot Executive" (1971) and "The | | | | Tombstone, in which he played Wyatt Earp 1994 - |
| Strongest Man in the World" (1975). Once his contract | | | | Stargate, co-starring James Spader 1996 - Executive |
| with Disney expired, he went back to appearing in | | | | Decision, also starring Sylvester Stallone 2001 - 3000 |
| character roles on television. In 1975, he did a | | | | Miles to Graceland, with Kevin Costner 2002 - Dark |
| made-for-TV movie called "The Deadly Tower". The | | | | Blue, he plays a dirty cop 2004 - Miracle, based on the |
| story was based on a true event which occurred at | | | | true story of Olympic coach Herb Brooks 2006 - |
| the University of Texas in 1966. Then in 1979 he | | | | Poseidon, a remake of 1972's "Poseidon Adventure" |
| starred in another TV movie titled "Elvis". He was | | | | While probably not one of the most acclaimed actors |
| nominated for an Emmy for his quasi-biographical role | | | | of our times, Kurt Russell has the distinction of being |
| in that film. | | | | one of the few who successfully segued from being a |
| Although he took time out from his acting career to | | | | child actor to continuing an acting career which spans |
| make a serious attempt to become a pro baseball | | | | a little over four decades. His credits range from bit |
| player with the California Angels, that was cut short by | | | | parts to doing stunts, directing, producing, writing and |
| a rotator cuff injury in 1973. So he returned to acting | | | | starring in a very diverse cross of roles. He's a |
| full-time. | | | | versatile person who has contributed to both the film |
| In 1981, he teamed up with producer/writer/director | | | | and television industries. |
| John Carpenter for the classic cult film "Escape From | | | | While not receiving screen credit for it, Russell did the |
| New York". The film became a big hit with fans of the | | | | voice of Elvis Presley in the 1994 blockbuster, "Forrest |
| genre and continues to be favored by the same. He | | | | Gump". He's also been responsible for helping to launch |
| reprised his role of "Snake Plissken" in 1996 with the | | | | the film industry careers of several budding actors, |
| sequel, "Escape From L.A". He and Mr. Carpenter have | | | | writers, producers and directors. |