Bing Russell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bing Russell
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| Born |
Neil Oliver Russell
May 5, 1926 Brattleboro, Vermont, USA
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| Died | April 8, 2003 (aged 76) Thousand Oaks, California
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| Cause of death | Cancer |
| Occupation | Actor, Baseball club owner |
| Years active | 1951–1990 |
| Spouse(s) | Louise Julia Crone |
| Children | 4, including Kurt Russell |
Bing Russell (born May 5, 1926 – died April 8, 2003) was an American actor and baseball team owner. He was famous for playing Deputy Clem Foster on the TV show Bonanza. He also played Robert in the movie The Magnificent Seven in 1960.
Bing Russell was the father of the well-known actor, Kurt Russell. He was also the grandfather of actor Wyatt Russell, who used to be a professional hockey player. Wyatt is the son of Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. Bing Russell was also the grandfather of Matt Franco, a former major league baseball player. Matt is Kurt Russell's nephew.
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Early Life and Baseball Dreams
Bing Russell was born in Brattleboro, Vermont. From a young age, he dreamed of becoming an actor. He studied drama while in high school. As a boy, he became an unofficial mascot for the New York Yankees baseball team. He even became friends with famous players like Lefty Gomez and Joe DiMaggio.
Another Yankees player, Lou Gehrig, gave Bing Russell the last bat he used to hit a home run. Gehrig gave him the bat before he retired due to an illness called ALS.
Acting on Screen
Russell was best known for his role as a deputy sheriff in the TV show Bonanza. He acted alongside Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, and Pernell Roberts. Bonanza was a very popular cowboy TV series on the NBC network. It aired from 1959 to 1973.
He also had a cowboy role in the movie The Magnificent Seven in 1960. Throughout his career, he appeared as a guest star in many other TV shows.
In 1979, Bing Russell acted with his son, Kurt Russell. Kurt played Elvis Presley in a TV movie called Elvis. Bing Russell played Elvis's father, Vernon Presley, in the movie.
Owning a Baseball Team
Bing Russell owned a baseball team called the Portland Mavericks. This team was special because it was the only independent team in its league. He owned the team from 1973 to 1977.
He liked to keep more players on his team than he strictly needed. He believed that players deserved a chance to play for one last season. He also thought it was important for his players to have fun. Many players who couldn't get on other teams came to his try-outs in June. These try-outs were always open to anyone who wanted to show up.
The Battered Bastards of Baseball Documentary
| The Battered Bastards of Baseball | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Chapman Way Maclain Way |
| Produced by | Juliana Lembi |
| Music by | Brocker Way |
| Cinematography | Chapman Way |
| Editing by | Chapman Way |
| Distributed by | Netflix |
| Release date(s) | January 20, 2014 (Sundance) |
| Running time | 73 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Old film clips of Bing Russell and his team were used in a 2014 documentary film. The movie was called The Battered Bastards of Baseball.
Kurt Russell, Bing's son, played for the Mavericks and was also the team's vice president. He appears in the movie. The film was directed by Chapman Way and Maclain Way, who are Bing Russell's grandsons.
The movie was first shown at the Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2014. It became available on Netflix starting July 11, 2014. The Battered Bastards of Baseball received many good reviews from critics.
For example, Scott Foundas from Variety said the story was so full of surprises, you wouldn't believe it if it wasn't true. Many critics praised the movie for being entertaining and inspiring, even for people who weren't big baseball fans.
Later Life and Death
Bing Russell died from cancer on April 8, 2003. He passed away in Thousand Oaks, California.
