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Outside of Hollywood, Russell shared his father's passion for baseball. He
was the top hitter in the Texas league, hitting more than 400 for the California
Angels farm team in El Paso. In his own words. He played pro baseball (2nd base,
AA club- California Angels) until a torn shoulder muscle forced retirement in
1973. Kurt appeared in the music video and sang in the choir on the song "Voices
That Care"; He is an FAA licensed Private Pilot holding single/multi- engine and
instrument ratings; Started Cosmic Entertainment with partner Goldie Hawn,
stepdaughter Kate Hudson, and stepson Olivier.
This child star found an adult career playing tough, athletic heroes and
anti-heroes since the 1980s. Kurt Russell began acting at age nine as a stock
player for Disney's film and TV projects. After several TV guest spots, he
starred in his own Western series, "The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters" (ABC,
1963-64), also featuring Charles Bronson and the very young Osmond brothers.
Russell performed likably in a string of Disney family features through the
mid-70s, including "Follow Me, Boys!" (1966), as a boy scout, "The Horse in the
Gray Flannel Suit" (1968), "The Barefoot Executive" and "The Computer Wore
Tennis Shoes" (both 1970) and "The Strongest Man in the World" (1975). During
his long and generally enjoyable stint as a studio star, Russell also found time
for some additional TV guest spots ("Lost in Space", "Gilligan's Island") and
occasional non-Disney features, including "Fools' Parade", a 1971 Western
starring James Stewart. In most of these films, Russell was not the typical
adorable kid, but rather a tough, thoughtful and sometimes pugnacious youngster.
He also spent several years as a minor-league ballplayer.
As he entered his 20s, Russell became aware that he couldn't--and didn't want
to--continue playing teens and male ingenues indefinitely. He tried two series,
"The New Land" (ABC, 1974) and "The Quest" (NBC, 1976). In 1975, he shed his
nice kid image with a chilling portrayal of mass-murderer Charles Whitman in the
TV-movie "The Deadly Tower" (NBC). A few years later, Russell began the most
important collaboration of his career playing the title role in writer-director
John Carpenter's TV biopic, "Elvis" (ABC, 1979), which garnered him an Emmy
nomination.
Russell finally became a bankable, adult Hollywood star in the 80s. He started
the decade with a fine performance as a fast-talking charmer in Robert Zemeckis'
raucous, under-appreciated comedy, "Used Cars" (1980). He experienced greater
popular success by reteaming with John Carpenter for several sci-fi-tinged
action flicks: "Escape From New York" (1981), in which he delivered a passable
Clint Eastwood impression in a dark, futuristic, prison-like metropolis; the
gory remake of "The Thing" (1982), as a tough guy; and "Big Trouble in Little
China" (1986), doing a hilarious John Wayne turn in Carpenter's special
effects-laden take on Hong Kong action films.
Russell proved adept at more conventional comedy in Jonathan Demme's "Swing
Shift" (1984), as the airplane worker who woos Goldie Hawn away from soldier Ed
Harris, and as Touchstone's crusty "Captain Ron" (1992) to Martin Short's
put-upon straight man. He flexed his dramatic acting muscles co-starring as
Meryl Streep's co-worker and lover in Mike Nichols' "Silkwood" (1983) and as a
stalwart firefighter in Ron Howard's "Backdraft" (1991). Russell continued to be
convincing as a leading man in "Tequila Sunrise" (1988), opposite Mel Gibson and
Michelle Pfeiffer, fighting rogue cop Ray Liotta in "Unlawful Entry" (1992), and
as Wyatt Earp in "Tombstone" (1993), a retelling of the shootout at the O.K.
Corral. "Stargate" (1994), meanwhile, combined the action and sci-fi roles in a
quite conventional manner, with a macho Russell teamed with a nerdy James Spader
as they explore another world reached through use of an ancient cosmic traveling
device. He teamed with Steven Seagal in the thriller "Executive Decision"
(1996), about a hijacked airplane and followed up with the sequel "John
Carpenter's Escape from L.A." (1996), with Russell not only reprising his role
as Snake Pliskin but also co-writing and co-producing (with Debra Hill).
Formerly married to actress Season Hubley, Russell has co-starred twice with
Goldie Hawn, his companion since 1982 (in the romantic comedies "Swing Shift"
and "Overboard" 1987). The two first met in 1968, when Hawn was a dancer in
Russell's Disney film "The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band".
Russell starred next in the surprisingly well done thriller "Breakdown," (1997)
as a man searching for his wife after his car breaks down in the middle of the
desert. His next choice of role wasn't quite as lucky when he starred opposite
Kevin Costner in the disgraceful "3000 Miles to Graceland" in 2001. In 2002,
Russell costarred in the emotionally charged "Dark Blue" as street wise police
veteran in Los Angeles during the 1992 riots
Credit:
biggeststars.com
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