Jane Russell, perhaps best known for her breakout performance in the 1943 Howard Hughes film, The Outlaw, died Monday, at age 89, in her Santa Monica, California home of a respiratory-related illness.
She was born Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell on June 21, 1921 in the small town of Bemidji, Minnesota. The family moved to Canada before settling in California where Jane worked and modeled on the side. Her voluptuous figure in her first film, The Outlaw, caused quite a stir in Hollywood and the movie finally got a limited release five years after production ended. It was a box office success and she quickly became a pinup favorite among World War II soldiers.
Unfortunately, she had a hard time securing roles that highlighted her acting ability rather than her looks. The 1953 gem, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, opposite Marilyn Monroe, was a bright spot in her career because of how it showcased her comedic talents and singing abilities. She worked steadily up until 1960, where the roles became fewer and far between. Her last film role was Darker Than Amber in 1970, and although it was not successful at the box office, it did receive critical acclaim with future viewers and has become a minor cult classic. Her last role was in the TV series, Hunter, in 1986.
Unable to have children of her own, she adopted three children and in 1955 founded the World Adoption International Fund (WAIF) which pioneered adoption of children by foreign parents. She also started a bible study group for the film industry called the Hollywood Christian Group that took place weekly in her home. She was a devote Christian and spoke of speaking in tongues.
She is one of my favorite actresses. In her roles, she was smart, sexy and didn’t let anyone tell her what to do. It’s a shame that she was not able to get better roles in her career. One of my favorite quotes is in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, “I like a man who can run faster than I can.” Jane, you will be missed.
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