Russ Tamblyn facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Russ Tamblyn
Tamblyn in 2010
Born	Russell Irving Tamblyn (1934-12-30) December 30, 1934 (age 90) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor dancer artist
Years active	1948–present
Spouse(s)	Venetia Stevenson ​ ​ (m. 1956; div. 1957)​ Elizabeth Kempton ​ ​ (m. 1960; div. 1979)​ Bonnie Murray ​ (m. 1981)​
Children	2, including Amber Tamblyn
Parent(s)	Eddie Tamblyn (father)
Relatives	David Cross (son-in-law)

Russell Irving Tamblyn (born December 30, 1934), also known as Rusty Tamblyn, is an American actor and dancer. He has appeared in many films and TV shows.

Born in Los Angeles, California, Tamblyn was a talented gymnast when he was young. He started acting as a child for the movie studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). He became famous for his roles in the musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) and the drama Peyton Place (1957). For Peyton Place, he was even nominated for an Academy Award! He also played Riff, the leader of the Jets gang, in the classic musical West Side Story (1961).

Later in his career, Tamblyn worked as a choreographer, which means he created dance routines. In 1990, he starred as Dr. Lawrence Jacoby in the TV show Twin Peaks. He returned to this role when the show came back in 2017.

Early Life and Interests

Russ Tamblyn was born on December 30, 1934, in Los Angeles, California. His parents, Sally Aileen and Eddie Tamblyn, were also actors. His younger brother, Larry Tamblyn, was a musician in the band the Standells in the 1960s.

As a child, Russ was very energetic and loved gymnastics and performing. He would often perform tumbling acts during intermissions at local movie theaters. When he was 13, he lived in North Hollywood and studied acting and dancing. His parents owned and ran the North Hollywood Academy where he learned these skills.

Acting Career Highlights

Starting as a Child Actor (1948–1952)

When he was young, Russ dreamed of being a circus performer. He was very good at acrobatics and dancing. He even created a musical act that included singing, dancing, juggling, and comedy!

Actor Lloyd Bridges discovered Russ when he was just 10 years old after seeing him in a play. Russ's first movie role was a small part in The Boy With Green Hair (1948). After that, he appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, a very popular TV show.

At 13, he was in a stage play called The Stone Jungle. He also got a bigger role in the movie The Kid from Cleveland (1949), where he was credited as "Rusty Tamblyn." He played young Saul in Samson and Delilah (1949) and was Elizabeth Taylor's younger brother in Father of the Bride (1950) and its sequel, Father's Little Dividend (1951).

Becoming a Star at MGM (1953–1962)

The movie studio MGM was impressed with Russ's acting and signed him to a long-term contract. His gymnastics skills helped him get his big break in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954). In this musical, he played Gideon, the youngest brother. Even though he didn't see himself as a trained dancer, the movie was a huge hit and made him a well-known actor at MGM.

Russ Tamblyn and Gia Scala in Don't Go Near the Water (1957)

Russ appeared in other musicals like Hit the Deck (1955). He also acted in Westerns, including The Fastest Gun Alive (1956), where he performed an amazing "shovel" dance. He even helped create dance moves for Elvis Presley in the 1957 movie Jailhouse Rock.

Russ Tamblyn in Peyton Place (1957)

In 1957, Russ played Norman Page in Peyton Place. His performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He then starred in the musical Tom Thumb (1958), playing the tiny main character. His career was paused when he joined the United States Army in 1958.

After returning from the army, Russ took on one of his most famous roles: Riff, the leader of the Jets street gang, in West Side Story (1961). He also appeared in two large-screen movies, The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm and How the West Was Won (both 1962).

Television and Later Films (1963–Present)

After his success in West Side Story, Russ decided to focus more on his art and took fewer movie roles. He appeared in TV shows like The Greatest Show on Earth (1963) and Channing (1963).

He played a Viking in The Long Ships (1965) and starred in the Japanese monster movie War of the Gargantuas (1966). He also guest-starred on TV shows like Tarzan (1966) and Iron Horse (1967). Around this time, he became more interested in art than acting.

In the 1980s, Russ worked as a choreographer and also appeared in films like Human Highway (1982) and Commando Squad (1987).

Russ Tamblyn at the 1990 Emmy Awards

From 1990 to 1991, Russ starred as Dr. Lawrence Jacoby in the popular TV series Twin Peaks. He continued to act in various films and TV shows, including Babylon 5 (1994). He also appeared on the soap opera General Hospital with his daughter, Amber Tamblyn. In 2004, they worked together again in the show Joan of Arcadia, where he played God. They also appeared together in the film Django Unchained (2012).

More recently, Russ has had roles in movies like Drive (2011) and Hits (2014). He also returned to his role as Dr. Lawrence Jacoby in the 2017 revival of Twin Peaks.

Personal Life

Russ Tamblyn has been married three times. He married actress Venetia Stevenson in 1956, but they divorced a year later. In 1960, he married Elizabeth Kempton. He has two daughters, China Faye Tamblyn and actress and author Amber Tamblyn. Amber was born in 1983 to his third wife, Bonnie Murray.

In 2012, it was announced that Russ was writing a book about his life called Dancing On The Edge, which was released in 2024. In 2014, he had heart surgery and has since recovered.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Russ Tamblyn para niños