Rosalind Russell, (born June 4, 1907, Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S.died November 28, 1976, Beverly Hills, California), American actress who was best remembered for her film and stage portrayals of witty, assertive, independent women. Six years after the loss of her second husband, she fell for an estate agent named John Calvin Peoples. Finally, the film gained general release in 1946. Jane ended up being the first of five children for the Russell family. 483623. Russell married three times, adopted three children, and in 1955 founded Waif, the first international adoption program. After her disastrous and lengthy contract with Howard Hughes through RKO Pictures, Russell was finally able to strike out on her own. She was one of Hollywood's leading sex symbols in the 1940s and 1950s. Jane Russell (1921-2011) Jane Russell. She had a character role in The Born Losers (1967) and Darker Than Amber (1970). She was one of the few actresses of her time to portray women in professional roles such as judges, reporters, and psychiatrists. Actress Jane Fonda also modeled her Oscar-nominated role in the 1986 film The Morning After on the life of Gail Russell. Grant sheepishly explained that the odd fellow was Freddie Brisson, the man whom he had mentioned so often, and they set off for dinner, with Freddie in tow. However, she also revealed her own dark suspicions about Monroes infamously tragic end. Rosalind Russell (4. jun 1907 - 28. novembar 1976.) When something happens to you, you either let it defeat you, or you defeat it. The film went over budget by $600,000 and was a box office failure.[15]. She was a recovering alcoholic who had gone into rehab at age 79, and described herself in a 2003 interview, saying, "These days, I am a teetotal, mean-spirited, right-wing, narrow-minded, conservative Christian bigot, but not a racist. Her family was Irish Catholic and she was one of seven children. In 1959, she debuted with a tour of Janus in New England, performed in Skylark and also starred in Bells Are Ringing at the Westchester Town House in Yonkers, New York. 3 1,200YouTubeFunnyorDie . submissions or preferences. A self-titled solo LP was issued on MGM Records in 1959. She starred in more than 20 films. Hannah McDermott, meanwhile, was charged with breaking adoption laws, and people angrily protested outside Russells home. Her buxom chest was so popular, variety show host Bob Hope even once introduced her by saying The two and only Jane Russell., Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, Glamorous Facts About Hollywood Actresses, These Bad Dates Are Straight Out Of Our Nightmares, Wild Facts About Howard Hughes, The Most Eccentric Man In Hollywood, Couldnt Pay Me To Go Back: Absolutely Wild Stories Of High School Drama, Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, Frances Uncrowned Queen, Absolute Legends: The Wildest Pranks Ever Pulled. Her children, Thomas K. Waterfield, Tracy Foundas and Robert "Buck" Waterfield . She left a pub with a man, and the next day her remains were found in her burned out home. Daughter-in-law Etta Waterfield told CNN that Russell was a "pillar of health" but caught a bad cold and died of respiratory difficulties. Her publicist and mentor Howard Hughes was said to be apoplectic at the move but Russell stood her ground and refused to give the child up. Russell confessed that she began to drink after the loss of her husband, and that her family had to confront her about her problem and urge her to seek treatment. Her favorite co-star Bob Hope once introduced her as "the two and only Jane Russell". Most Popular. Carole Lombard, circa 1930s. 2 large storage sheds, Big back yard for lots of sunny fun. Her funeral was held at Pacific Christian Church. Russell and Barrett were only married for three months when Barrett suffered a sudden, fatal heart attack. Russell sang two songs in the movie. Her son married actress Patricia Morrow on March 15, 1975. The persnickety Hughes demanded an entire years worth of reshoots for the film, with the castnow annoyed and fighting each othereven throwing an anniversary party for the shoots. When she first arrived on the lot, she was ignored by most of the crew and later told the press she felt terrible and humiliated at Universal, which affected her self-confidence. [11] She starred in many comedies such as Forsaking All Others (1934) and Four's a Crowd (1938), as well as dramas, including Craig's Wife (1936) (the second of three film adaptations of the play of the same name; Joan Crawford starred in the third) and The Citadel (1938). Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell (June 21, 1921 - February 28, 2011) was an American actress, singer, and model. She received a Special Academy Award, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, in 1972, which came with an Oscar statuette. Jane Russell was a popular American actress of the 1940s and 1950s. 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 to show off her sexy side. Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death. She put in the work, and eventually, the critics came around to appreciating her not just for her body, but for her talent as well. and RollingNews.ie unless otherwise stated. A noted comedienne,[3] she won all five Golden Globes for which she was nominated. [26], Russell has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the 1700 block of Vine Street. [20], On October 25, 1941, Russell married Danish-American producer Frederick Brisson (19121984), son of actor Carl Brisson. After traveling to California to attain higher education, Rosalind L. Walton-Russell completed coursework at San Francisco City College. Russells mother was a stage mom if there ever was one. A group of actress signed photographs. For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can help keep paywalls away. Gail Russell has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6933 Hollywood Blvd. In a 2007 interview, Russell said that she was suspicious of Monroes passing. Jane Austen Book Club (2007) . Just two short months after her divorce, Russell hastily married actor Roger Barrett. In 1972, Russell received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement. . Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. Russell played Dorothy Shaw in the hit film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) opposite Marilyn Monroe for 20th Century Fox. In the film, a reworking of Ben Hecht's story The Front Page, Russell plays quick-witted ace reporter Hildy Johnson, who was also the ex-wife of her newspaper editor Walter Burns (Cary Grant). In the end, Waterfields affair with his secretary drove Russell to file for divorce. Is Jane Russell related to Gail Russell? . In the 1940s, Russell made more comedies including The Feminine Touch (1941), Take a Letter, Darling and My Sister Eileen (both 1942), dramas including Sister Kenny (1946) and Mourning Becomes Electra (1947), and a murder mystery: The Velvet Touch (1948). Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. In fact, while making her most famous film, the classic Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Jane Russell actually tried to convert her co-star, Marilyn Monroe, to Christianity. Russell is honored at the Rosalind Russell Medical Research Center for Arthritis. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. [1][23], Russell was a registered Republican who supported the 1960 campaign of Richard Nixon. Growing up, Russell was always called Jane; apparently her mother, a former actress . 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. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . The screen siren was 89 years old. The type of films that Hughes cast Russell in focused only on her body, and she never really got a chance to show off her acting chops in those years. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes was just around the corner, and cemented Russells status as Hollywood royaltyIn fact, Russell even got paid more than her co-star Marilyn Monroe. She was named Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell. After being reminded by his wife, Alice, of his reluctance to attend even a party that Jane Russell was throwing, an insulted Kramden rants, "I was talking about Jane Russell: I said nothing about any party that Norton's running!". Sadly, the failure of The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown went far beyond disappointing ticket sales. services and As a young girl she was an adventurous tomboy who loved to climb . Shortly after the passing of her third husband, Russell revealed a dark and surprising secret. Speaking about her sex appeal, Russell later said, "Sex appeal is good but not in bad taste. She died at her home in 507 Boscoe Ct, Santa Maria. There were dirty tricks.. At first, filming went off without a hitchthat is, until Howard Hughes stepped in, While making His Kind of Woman, Mitchum came up with a cheeky nickname for Russell, calling her Hard John for her rigid Christian beliefs. According to Jane's 1985 autobiography, she said that the bra was so uncomfortable that she secretly discarded it and wore her own bra with the cups padded with tissue and the straps pulled up to elevate her breasts. The Handbook is organized around three foundational questions: first, what . Knowing she was right for comedy, she tested five times for the role of Sylvia Fowler in The Women (1939). [34] Russell was voted one of the 40 Most Iconic Movie Goddesses of all time in 2009 by Glamour (UK edition). Jane Russell may be best known for being the brunette in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell was born on June 21, 1921, in Bemidji, Minn., the daughter of Roy and . She received several accolades for her achievements in film. Hughes also produced Underwater! 135 Hipes Patrick July 20 2018 Julia Roberts And Sam Esmails Homecoming Gets from ENGLISH 101 at Northville High School, Northville Her last on-screen appearance was in a 1986 episode of Hunter.[32]. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. Four years later she was . Born in London, having lived in southwest Wales, and now, southern France, she drew from the castles and landscapes there to inspire her historical fiction. With filming on His Kind of Woman completed, the cast looked forward to moving on to the next film project, but there was a dark twist around the corner. Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? The actor Jane Russell, who has died aged 89, was among the most desired women of the 20th century. A Charmed Childhood. in an effort to pique the actress's curiosity. She also fulfilled later engagements in the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America and Europe. Boost. She did and got the part. Mini Bio (1) Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell was born on June 21, 1921, in Bemidji, Minnesota. Finally, in 1948, Russell began to make something of a comeback when she was cast as Calamity Jane in The Paleface. She was a staunch Republican and devout Christianthat's not an exaggeration. She also modeled for photographers, and, at the urging of her mother, studied drama and acting with Max Reinhardt's Theatrical Workshop and with actress and acting coach Maria Ouspenskaya.[1]. Her parents thought Russell was studying to become a teacher and were unaware that she was planning to become an actress. The film was supposed to come out in 1941, but the Hollywood Production Code Administration objected to the amount of skin that was shown, particularly by Russell. Russell counted the 1957 film The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown among her best work, but it was a flop. "Take the Stand, Rosalind Russell" by Ed Sullivan. While Hughes didnt get as creepy with her as he did other starlets, he was once quoted as saying: There are two good reasons why men go to see [Russell], and those are enough.. Are Rosalind Russell and Jane Russell related? Miss Russell's younger sister, Mary Jane (Mrs. F. Kenneth Beirn) of Southport, Conn., said, "I didn't know whether I would be able to watch all this but it was truly a 'celebration' of Roz . However, Russell later revealed the truth about the whole thing. Columbia, worried the public would think she had the female lead in Picnic (1955), billed her "co-starring Rosalind Russell as Rosemary." Columbia Records released her innuendo-laden album Lets Put Out the Lights in 1947, but Russell later revealed that she hated the album, saying it was horrible. One song in the albums reissue? She won all 5 Golden Globes for which she was nominated, and was . The movie's penultimate moment showed Russell in a form-fitting one-piece bathing suit with strategic cutouts, performing a then-provocative musical number titled "Lookin' for Trouble". A Town Called Hollywood: Top Stars Now Share in Profits of Major Pictures". The procedure was difficult, and afterexperiencing severe complications, Russell went to see her family doctor for a check-up. The story was unearthed by Derry historian Willie Deery who said the move caused all sorts of problems for Russell at the time, according to the Belfast Telegraph. Content copyright Journal Media Ltd. 2023 Registered in Dublin, registration number: It was directed by George Cukor for MGM. [citation needed]. It was a critical and commercial failure. 2011 due to respiratory-related illness. [40] At the height of her career, Russell started the "Hollywood Christian Group", a weekly Bible study at her home which was attended by many of the leading names in the film industry. [21] Her contract with Hughes ended in February 1954. [27] Later, another Hollywood bombshell, Rhonda Fleming, joined them for more gospel recordings. Fifties movie bombshell Jane Russell died Monday morning at her home in Santa Maria, California, her family said. Contrary to countless incorrect reports in the media since the release of The Outlaw,[citation needed] Russell did not wear the specially designed underwire bra that Howard Hughes had designed and made for her to wear during filming. As Monroe put it, Jane tried to convert me (to religion), and I tried to introduce her to Freud. Obviously, neither woman budged in her beliefs. It turns out that both spouses had cheated on the other. Making distraction rewarding since 2017. [10], Under contract to MGM, Russell debuted in Evelyn Prentice (1934). Details are scant, but the book indicates that health problems and the deaths of a sister and a brother were major factors leading to her breakdown. Before her being cast, Howard Hawks had asked Katharine Hepburn, Irene Dunne, Claudette Colbert, Jean Arthur, Margaret Sullavan, and Ginger Rogers if they would like to play the brash, fast-talking reporter in his film. She had worked with Marilyn Monroe on Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and defended the star, saying that Monroes pin-up calendar had been artistic, which kept it from being vulgar. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. Russell attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and made her Broadway debut in 1930 in the Theatre Guild's Garrick Gaieties. The Irish Times reports that in 1951 Russell expressed her desire to adopt an Irish boy as a brother to her adopted daughter as she could not have children. At 5'7" and sporting measurements of 38D-24-36, Russell quickly became a Hollywood sex symbol. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? [19], Back at RKO, she was in Howard Hughes's production The French Line (1954), a musical. The story of Jane Russell's adopted Irish son that nearly ended her career. She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The film was a moderate success, earning $2 million.[25]. After hearing the audio for the film day after day while traveling, Brisson decided he had better sit down and watch the whole film. Tue 1 Mar 2011 13.02 EST. Russell moved from the Midwest to California, where she had her first film role in Howard Hughes' The Outlaw (1943). Her next project was the Hughes-produced Macao, and this time she had to deal with temperamental Austrian director Josef von Sternberg, who quickly made enemies of most of the castbut who had a special dislike for Russell. She explained that the blonde bombshell had been preparing to remarry Joe DiMaggio, and had been excited about a new movie contract. [42] Russell appeared occasionally on the Praise the Lord program on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, a Christian television channel based in Costa Mesa, California. Bette Davis, circa 1930s. [6] The family then moved to Southern California where her father worked as an office manager. Over the course of her career, Russell earned four Academy Award nominations for Best Actress: My Sister Eileen (1942); Sister Kenny (1946); Mourning Becomes Electra (1947); and Auntie Mame (1958), the film version of her Broadway comedy hit. There, she took voice lessons and had a brief career in opera, which was cut short because she had difficulty reaching high notes. This film showed Jane's comedic side very well. Many felt she would have won had she cooperated. [17] Russell used the pen name C.A. 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.