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Kurt Russell Biography |
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Kurt Russell landed a part in the Elvis Presley movie, It Happened at the World`s Fair (1963) when he was 10 years old. In 1960, Walt Disney himself signed Russell to a 10 year contract. Once his stint as a child actor ended, he spent the early 1970`s playing minor league baseball. In 1979, he gave a classic performance as Elvis Presley in John Carpenter`s ABC-TV movie. He followed with roles in a string of well-received films: Used Cars (1980), Escape from New York (1981), The Thing (1982) and Silkwood (1983). In 1983 he met Goldie Hawn when they worked together on Swing Shift (1984). The two have lived together ever since. The movie was a failure - as was their next one together, Overboard (1987). During the 1980`s, Russell starred in a rash of disappointments: The Best of Times (1986), Big Trouble in Little China (1986) and Winter People (1989). Finally, his career seemed to be seriously stalled. He only landed Tango & Cash (1989) after Patrick Swayze dropped out; Dennis Quaid was the first choice for the part in Backdraft (1991). In the end, these two roles were key in re-establishing him as a box-office draw. Russell and Goldie Hawn live on a 72-acre retreat, Home Run Ranch, outside of Aspen. He has two sons, Boston Russell (from a brief marriage to actress Season Hubley) and Wyatt Russell with Goldie Hawn).
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Trivia |
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Trivia and QuotesQuotes My generation couldn`t stand me and I couldn`t stand them. In high school I was to the right of being straight. I believed in the work ethic, making money, and they all had this beef with the nation. Vietnam disappointed me because we didn`t win. To go on about acting as art is ridiculous. If it is an art, then it`s a very low form. You don`t have to be gifted just to hit a mark and say a line. And as far as I`m concerned, hitting my marks and knowing my lines is 90% of the job. I`m always criticized for talking like that. Maybe the reason I do it is that I never got the chance to develop a real desire to act. I was acting by the time I was nine so it seemed like a natural thing to do. Anyone who finds acting difficult just shouldn`t be doing it. You know, when Escape from New York (1981) first came out, a lot of people said, `I don`t quite understand this movie ... is this some kind of comment that, like, New York is a prison?` and years later a lot of people are saying, `You know, New York is looking a lot like that movie.` In Escape from L.A. (1996), it`s a story about a guy who just wants a cigarette. He just wants a cigarette! Everybody laughed back then because there was no red meat, no cigarettes in the movie. Well, look around! It`s happening! You can barely smoke a cigarette anymore and although I quit smoking six months ago, the anti-smoking laws are enough to make me want to smoke! "I seem to have a knack for picking movies that go on to be cult favorites." "I was brought up as a Republican. But when I realized that at the end of the day there wasn`t much difference between a Democrat and Republican, I became a libertarian." "If it ain`t broke, don`t fix it." (On why he won`t marry Goldie Hawn) "If it hadn`t been for video cassette, I may not have had a career at all." [Talking about the fight scene with Ox Baker from Escape from New York (1981)]:Trivia Auditioned for the role of Flash Gordon (1980). The part went to Sam J. Jones instead. For his role on Tombstone (1993), he was trained by renowned Hollywood Gun Coach Thell Reed, who has also trained such actors as: Val Kilmer, Bill Paxton, Sam Elliot, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Foster and Girard Swan. Has starred in films with two of his former brother-in-laws, Larry Franco in John Carpenter`s The Thing (1982), and Whip Hubley in Executive Decision (1996). He acted as father to Kate Hudson by walking her down the aisle and giving her away at her wedding to rock star Chris Robinson. Is good friends with director John Carpenter. Is good friends with stunt man Dick Warlock, who was his stunt double for over 20 years. Kate Hudson, daughter of his longtime companion Goldie Hawn, named her son Ryder Russell Robinson. The middle name is an homage to Kurt, whom Hudson always considered to be her father. Made his film debut in the Elvis Presley film, It Happened at the World`s Fair (1963). He later went on to play him in Elvis (1979/I) (TV), and to provide his voice in Forrest Gump (1994). Portrayed cult classic heroes in four different movies: Escape from New York (1981), The Thing (1982), Stargate (1994) and Escape from L.A. (1996). The presence of Lee Van Cleef on the set of Escape from New York (1981) inspired him to talk in a raspy voice similar to Clint Eastwood`s from the Man With No Name trilogy. Auditioned for the role of Han Solo in Star Wars (1977). Was one of the first actors to do audio commentary on DVDs. He and partner Goldie Hawn formerly took summer vacations in the Muskoka region in Ontario, Canada. They gave up their cottage after too many unwelcomed visitors would stare at their cottage through binoculars from Lake Rosseau. He appeared in the music video and sang in the choir on the song Is a big fan of Elvis Presley, Patrick Rondat and Tom Robinson. Is a card carrying member of the NRA. Performs many of his stunts himself. Played pro baseball (2nd base, AA club- California Angels) until a torn shoulder muscle forced retirement in 1973. Was hitting .563 at the time. His friend, Ron Shelton wrote the Crash Davis role in Bull Durham (1988) for him - the studio insisted on Kevin Costner though. Rode along with the Chicago Fire Dept.`s Squad 5 in preparation for his role in Backdraft (1991). Was the best man at Ted Nugent`s wedding. | ||
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