Harold Russell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Harold Russell
Russell in 1946
Born	Harold John Russell (1914-01-14)January 14, 1914 North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
Died	January 29, 2002(2002-01-29) (aged 88) Needham, Massachusetts, U.S.
Spouse(s)	Rita Russell-Nixon ​ ​ (m. 1944; died 1978)​ Betty Marshalsea ​ ​ (m. 1981)​
Children	2

Harold John Avery Russell (born January 14, 1914 – died January 29, 2002) was a brave Canadian-born American soldier. He fought in World War II. After the war, he became a famous actor.

He was one of only two people who were not professional actors to win an Oscar for acting. An Oscar is a very special award for movies. Harold Russell is also the only person ever to sell his Oscar award.

Harold Russell's Early Life and Army Days

Russell and Cathy O'Donnell in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

Harold Russell was born in North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. In 1921, his family moved to Massachusetts in the United States. This was after his father passed away.

When the attack on Pearl Harbor happened in 1941, Harold was working in a food market. He quickly joined the United States Army. He felt it was his duty to serve his country.

On June 6, 1944, Harold was an Army instructor. He was teaching about explosives. An accident happened with some TNT explosives he was handling. He sadly lost both of his hands. Doctors gave him two special hooks to use instead of hands.

After he recovered, Harold went to Boston University. He was then featured in a special Army film. This film was called Diary of a Sergeant. It showed how war veterans could recover and live full lives.

Acting in The Best Years of Our Lives

A famous movie director named William Wyler saw Harold in Diary of a Sergeant. He was so impressed that he asked Harold to act in his new movie. The movie was called The Best Years of Our Lives.

Harold Russell played a character named Homer Parrish. Homer was a United States Navy sailor who also lost both hands during the war. He acted alongside famous stars like Fredric March and Dana Andrews.

For his amazing acting as Homer Parrish, Harold Russell won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1947. This was a huge honor!

He actually won two Oscars for the same role. Earlier in the ceremony, he received an honorary Oscar. This special award was given to him for "bringing aid and comfort to disabled veterans through the medium of motion pictures." The movie academy wanted to celebrate him. They thought he might not win the main award because he wasn't a professional actor. It was the only time in Oscar history that someone won two Oscars for one performance.

William Wyler, the director, said Harold's acting was "the finest performance I have ever seen on the screen." Harold earned less than $10,000 for his role. He did not get extra money from the movie's success.

Harold Russell's Later Life and Work

After the movie, Harold went back to Boston University. He earned a business degree in 1949.

He became very involved with a group called AMVETS. This group helps American veterans. He was elected as their National Commander three times. He also helped raise money for veterans around the world.

From the 1960s to the 1980s, Harold worked for the President's Commission on Employment of the Handicapped. This was a job where he helped people with disabilities find work. He did this job without pay.

In 1965, he received another special award. It was the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.

Harold Russell acted in a few more movies and TV shows. He was in Inside Moves in 1980 and Dogtown in 1997. He also appeared in TV shows like Trapper John, M.D. and China Beach.

He wrote two books about his life. They were called Victory in My Hands (1949) and The Best Years of My Life (1981).

In 1992, Harold Russell sold his Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. He sold it for $60,500. He said he needed the money to pay for his wife's medical bills. He did not sell his special honorary Oscar. After Harold passed away, the person who bought the Oscar gave it back to the Academy.

Harold Russell passed away on January 29, 2002, in Needham, Massachusetts. He was 88 years old. He left behind his daughter, Adele, his son, Gerald, four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Harold Russell's Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Harold Russell para niños