Search Dumb.com:

Dumb.com » » Celebrity Biographies » » Jane Russell

  Jane Russell Biography

This section contains Jane Russell Biography


Jane Russell was born Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell in Minnesota. She had German and Canadian lineage. Her parents were married in 1917 and when Jane was still a child, the family moved to Canada. Then they returned to the United States in San Fernando Valley and then in Burbank in 1930. As a child, Jane studied piano and when she attended the Van Nuys High School she participated in many of its stage productions. After high school she worked as a model for minor photographers and as a receptionist. But with the influence of her mother, she trained for drama and acting at Max Reinhardt’s Theatrical Workshop.

In 90, millionaire Howard Hughes signed her up for a seven-year movie contract. In 1943, Jane Russell first appeared as a professional actress in the movie The Outlaw. The movie was about the notorious Billy the Kid and in one scene, Jane was seen with her cleavage. This caused the movie problems with censorship and so the film was released in 1946 though it was completed by 1941.

The Outlaw became a box office hit and Jane Russell became a star. With her sexy and tough woman image, it was rumored that she refused to play the role of Dona Sol in the movie Blood and Sand when Darryl Zanuk offered her the role. She wanted to do more versatile characters which will showcase her acting abilities. In 1946, she appeared in Young Widow by RKO as Joan Kenwood.

Then in 1947, Jane Russell recorded her first single, "As Long As I Live " to showcase her singing talent. Then she continued to play different roles including the 1948 hit The Paleface. She starred opposite Bob Hope and played the role of Calamity Jane. In 1951, she appeared in the films His Kind of Woman with Robert Mitchum and with Frank Sinatra and Groucho Marx in the hit Double Dynamite. The following year, she appeared opposite Robert Mitchum again in the movie Macao. The same year, she was also in The Las Vegas Story, with Vincent Price, Hoagy Carmichael and Victor Mature.

In 1952, she reprised her role in Son of Paleface. In 1953, with Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell showcased her comedic talent in the blockbuster movie, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. In 1955, she starred opposite Clark Gable in The Tall Men and opposite Jeff Chandler in the film Foxfire.

Jane Russell appeared in many films including Gentlemen Marry Brunettes, The Revolt of Mamie Stover and Fate Is the Hunter. She also performed in Las Vegas and in Broadway.