Jane Russell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jane Russell
Russell in 1945
Born	Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell (1921-06-21)June 21, 1921 Bemidji, Minnesota, U.S.
Died	February 28, 2011(2011-02-28) (aged 89) Santa Maria, California, U.S.
Education	Van Nuys High School
Occupation	Actress singer model
Years active	1943–1986
Known for	The Outlaw Gentlemen Prefer Blondes The Tall Men The French Line Foxfire
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Bob Waterfield ​ (m. 1943⁠–⁠1968)​ Roger Barrett ​ (m. 1968⁠–⁠1968)​ John Calvin Peoples ​ (m. 1974⁠–⁠1999)​
Children	3
Signature

Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell (born June 21, 1921 – died February 28, 2011) was a famous American actress, singer, and model. She starred in more than 20 movies during her career.

Jane Russell grew up in the Midwest before moving to California. There, she got her first big movie role in Howard Hughes' film The Outlaw (1943). After this, she also started a music career. In the 1950s, she appeared in many popular films, including Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953).

Russell was married three times and adopted three children. In 1955, she started Waif, which was the first international adoption program. She received many awards for her work in movies. Her handprints and footprints are even in the famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre, and she has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Jane Russell's Early Life and Dreams

Russell with Bob Hope in 1944

Jane Russell was born on June 21, 1921, in Bemidji, Minnesota. She was the oldest of five children and the only girl. Her parents were Geraldine and Roy William Russell. Her father was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army, and her mother was an actress.

Her family moved to Southern California when she was young. Jane's mother encouraged her to take piano lessons. Jane was also very interested in drama and performed in plays at Van Nuys High School.

At first, Jane wanted to be a designer. But after her father passed away, she decided to work as a receptionist. She also worked as a model and studied acting with famous coaches like Max Reinhardt and Maria Ouspenskaya.

Jane Russell's Movie Career Begins

Her First Big Role in The Outlaw

In 1940, a movie producer named Howard Hughes signed Jane Russell to a seven-year contract. Her first movie was The Outlaw (1943). This film was about the famous outlaw Billy the Kid.

The movie was finished in 1941 but was not released widely until 1946. During this time, Jane Russell became very well-known across the country because of all the publicity.

After The Outlaw, Jane Russell did not appear in another movie until 1946. This film was called Young Widow, but it was not very successful.

Starting a Music Career

With Dorothy Lamour, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope in Road to Bali (1952)

In 1947, Jane Russell began her music career. She sang on the radio with the Kay Kyser Orchestra. She also recorded several songs, including an album called Let's Put Out the Lights.

Later, in 1950, she recorded a song called "Kisses and Tears" with Frank Sinatra. Jane Russell also formed a gospel quartet in 1954. Their song "Do Lord" was very popular, selling two million copies.

Becoming a Star with The Paleface

Jane Russell's movie career got a big boost when she starred with Bob Hope in The Paleface (1948). She played the role of Calamity Jane. This movie was a huge success, earning $4.5 million.

After this, she filmed Montana Belle in 1948, where she played Belle Starr. This movie was released in 1952.

Working with RKO Pictures

Robert Mitchum and Russell in His Kind of Woman (1951)

Howard Hughes, who signed Jane Russell, bought RKO Pictures. For the next few years, RKO was her main employer.

At RKO, she starred with Groucho Marx and Frank Sinatra in the musical comedy Double Dynamite (1951). She also appeared with Robert Mitchum in His Kind of Woman (1951). Jane Russell sang two songs in that movie.

She made two more films called The Las Vegas Story (1952) and Macao (1952). Both of these movies were minor hits. She also had a small appearance in Road to Bali (1953).

Her Big Hit: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Russell as Dorothy Shaw in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

Photo of Marilyn Monroe and Russell from the front cover of the New York Sunday News magazine. The photo was taken during the filming of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

In 1953, Jane Russell played Dorothy Shaw in the very popular film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. She starred alongside Marilyn Monroe. This movie was a massive success, earning over $5 million. It was her biggest hit since The Outlaw.

Back at RKO, she appeared in the musical The French Line (1954). Howard Hughes also produced Underwater! (1955), an adventure film with Russell. Her contract with Hughes ended in 1954.

Starting Her Own Production Company

In 1953, Jane Russell and her first husband, Bob Waterfield, started their own company called Russ-Field Productions. They made a deal with United Artists to produce six movies.

Russ-Field Productions loaned Jane Russell to Universal for the movie Foxfire (1955). She was paid $200,000 for her role. This film was a moderate success.

Russell also starred with Clark Gable in The Tall Men (1955). This was one of the most popular movies of that year.

Russ-Field Productions also made Gentlemen Marry Brunettes (1955), which was a follow-up to Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. However, it was not as successful as the first movie. Their last production was The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown (1957), which also starred Jane Russell.

Later Career and Television Appearances

In October 1957, Jane Russell started a successful solo singing act in Las Vegas. She performed in many places, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America, and Europe. She released a solo album in 1959.

Russell also started appearing on television shows. She was on Colgate Theatre, Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, and The Red Skelton Hour. She once said she stopped making movies because she felt she was getting too old for the roles.

Jane Russell was mentioned in a 1956 episode of The Honeymooners and a 1970s episode of Maude. Her last appearance on screen was in a 1986 episode of the show Hunter.

She returned to movies in Fate Is the Hunter (1964), where she played herself. She also appeared in two Western films, Johnny Reno (1966) and Waco (1966).

In 1971, Jane Russell made her debut on Broadway in the musical Company. She played the role of Joanne for almost six months. In the 1970s, she also became a spokesperson for Playtex bras in television commercials.

Jane Russell wrote her autobiography, Jane Russell: My Path and My Detours, in 1985. In 1989, she received the Women's International Center Living Legacy Award. She was also voted one of the 40 Most Iconic Movie Goddesses of all time in 2009 by Glamour magazine.

Jane Russell's Personal Life

Marilyn Monroe and Russell putting signatures, hand, and footprints in wet concrete at Grauman's Chinese Theater, 1953.

Jane Russell was married three times. Her first husband was Bob Waterfield, a famous football player. They were married from 1943 until 1968. Two months after their divorce, she married actor Roger Barrett, but he sadly passed away two months later. In 1974, she married real-estate broker John Calvin Peoples, and they were together until his death in 1999.

Jane Russell and Bob Waterfield adopted three children: Tracy in 1952, Thomas in 1952, and Robert John in 1956. In 1955, she founded Waif, an organization that helped place children with adoptive families. This organization was a pioneer in helping Americans adopt children from other countries.

At the peak of her career, Jane Russell started the "Hollywood Christian Group." This was a weekly Bible study held at her home, and many famous people from the film industry attended.

Jane Russell was a strong supporter of the Republican Party. She attended the inauguration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Jane Russell lived in Santa Maria, California, for many years. She passed away at her home on February 28, 2011, from a respiratory illness. Her funeral was held in Santa Maria.

Filmography

Russell's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Images for kids

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  Russell in 1945

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  Jane Russell's signature

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  Russell with Bob Hope in 1944

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  With Dorothy Lamour, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope in Road to Bali (1952)

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  Robert Mitchum and Russell in His Kind of Woman (1951)

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  Russell as Dorothy Shaw in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

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  Photo of Marilyn Monroe and Russell from the front cover of the New York Sunday News magazine. The photo was taken during the filming of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

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  Marilyn Monroe and Russell putting signatures, hand, and footprints in wet concrete at Grauman's Chinese Theater, 1953.

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  Russell in February 2008

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  Russell's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

See also

In Spanish: Jane Russell para niños