Jane Russell

Jane Russell

If you know more information about Jane Russell help us to improve this page
Birthday: 
21 June 1921, Bemidji, Minnesota, USA
Birth Name: 
Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell
Height: 
170 cm
Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell was born on June 21, 1921 in Bemidji, Minnesota. Her father was a United States Army lieutenant and her mother had been a student of drama and an actress with a traveling troupe. Once Mr. Russell was mustered out of the service, the family took up residence in Canada, but moved to California when he found employment... Show more »
Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell was born on June 21, 1921 in Bemidji, Minnesota. Her father was a United States Army lieutenant and her mother had been a student of drama and an actress with a traveling troupe. Once Mr. Russell was mustered out of the service, the family took up residence in Canada, but moved to California when he found employment there. The family was well-to-do and although Jane was the only girl among four brothers, her mother saw to it that she took piano lessons. In addition to music, Jane was interested in drama much as her mother had been and participated in high school stage productions. Upon graduation, Jane took a job as a receptionist for a doctor who specialized in foot disorders. Although she had originally planned on being a designer, her father died and she had to go to work to help the family. Jane modeled on the side and was very much sought-after especially because of her figure.She managed to save enough money to go to drama school, with the urging of her mother. She was ultimately signed by Howard Hughes for his production of The Outlaw (1943) in 1941, the film that was to make Jane famous. The film was not a classic by any means, but was geared to show off Jane's ample physical assets. Although the film was made in 1941, it was not released until two years later and then only on a limited basis due to the way the film portrayed Jane's assets. It was hard for the flick to pass the censorship board. Finally, the film gained general release in 1946. The film was a smash at the box-office.Jane did not make another film until 1946 when she played Joan Kenwood in Young Widow (1946). She had signed a seven year contract with Hughes and it seemed the only films he would put her in were those that displayed Jane in a very flattering light due to her body. Films such as His Kind of Woman (1951) and The Las Vegas Story (1952) did nothing to showcase her true acting abilities. Probably the pinnacle of her career was in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) as Dorothy Shaw, with Marilyn Monroe. This film showed Jane's comedic side very well. Jane did continue to make films throughout the 1950s, but the films were at times not up to par, particularly with Jane's talents being wasted in forgettable movies in order to show off her sexy side. Films such as Gentlemen Marry Brunettes (1955) and The Revolt of Mamie Stover (1956) did do Jane justice and were able to show exactly the fine actress she was.After The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown (1957) (a flop), Jane took a hiatus from films, to dabble a little in television, returning in 1964 to film Fate Is the Hunter (1964). Unfortunately, the roles were not there anymore as Jane appeared in only four pictures during the entire decade of the 1960s. Her last film of the decade was The Born Losers (1967). After three more years away from the big screen, she returned to make one last film called Darker Than Amber (1970). Her last play before the public was in the 1970s when Jane was a spokesperson for Playtex bras. Had Jane not been wasted during the Hughes years, she could have been a bigger actress than what she was allowed to show. Jane Russell died at age 89 of respiratory failure on February 28, 2011 in Santa Maria, California. Show less «

Jane Russell's FILMOGRAPHY

Loose Women - Season 28

EPS24

The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes

HD

Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies

HD

The True Adventures of Raoul Walsh

HD

The 84th Annual Academy Awards

HD

Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration

SD

L.a Confidential

HD

Hunter - Season 7 (1984)

EPS22

Hunter - Season 6 (1984)

EPS22

Hunter - Season 5 (1984)

EPS22

Hunter - Season 4 (1984)

EPS22

Hunter - Season 3 (1984)

EPS22

Hunter - Season 2 (1984)

EPS23

Hunter - Season 1 (1984)

EPS19

Darker Than Amber

HD

The Born Losers

HD

Johnny Reno

HD

The Tall Men

HD

The Revolt of Mamie Stover

HD

Hot Blood

HD

Foxfire

HD

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

HD

Death Valley Days - Season 1

EPS18

NEXT PAGE

Example Example Example
HD
Country:
Genre:

Jane Russell'S roles

Dorothy Shaw
Dorothy Shaw