John Lawrence Russell (January 3, 1921 – January 19, 1991) was an American film and television actor, most noted for his starring role as Marshal Dan Troop in the ABC

western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

television series '' Lawman'' from 1958 to 1962 and his lead role as international adventurer Tim Kelly in the syndicated TV series '' Soldiers of Fortune'' from 1955 to 1957.

Early life

Born in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...

to insurance company executive John Henry Russell and his wife, Amy Requa, John Lawrence Russell was the eldest of three children. He attended the

University of California, Los Angeles The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the Californ ...

(UCLA) as a student athlete. Following the start of World War II, he joined the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through c ...

, though he was initially rejected because of his height (). He was commissioned as a 2d Lieutenant on November 11, 1942, and was assigned to the

6th Marine Regiment The 6th Marine Regiment (also referred to as "6th Marines") is an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The regiment falls under the command of the 2nd Marine Division of the ...

. His division was sent to

Guadalcanal Guadalcanal (; indigenous name: ''Isatabu'') is the principal island in Guadalcanal Province of Solomon Islands, located in the south-western Pacific, northeast of Australia. It is the largest island in the Solomon Islands by area, and the se ...

, where he served as an assistant

intelligence officer An intelligence officer is a person employed by an organization to collect, compile or analyze information (known as intelligence) which is of use to that organization. The word of ''officer'' is a working title, not a rank, used in the same way ...

. He contracted

malaria Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. ...

and returned home with a medical discharge.

Career

John Russell-Penny Edwards in The Dalton Girls

Warner Brothers television westerns stars 1959

Russell signed a contract with

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Disn ...

in 1945 and made his first film appearance as a guard in '' A Royal Scandal''. He played several supporting parts while at Fox, acting the role of a junior law partner in the Clifton Webb comedy '' Sitting Pretty'' (1948) as well as a navy pilot in '' Slattery's Hurricane'' (1949). He primarily played secondary roles, often in

western film The Western is a genre set in the American frontier and commonly associated with folk tales of the Western United States, particularly the Southwestern United States, as well as Northern Mexico and Western Canada. It is commonly referred ...

s, including William A. Wellman's 1948 '' Yellow Sky.'' Later, however, he signed with

Republic Pictures Republic Pictures Corporation (currently held under Melange Pictures, LLC) was an American motion picture production-distribution corporation in operation from 1935 to 1967, that was based in Los Angeles. It had studio facilities in Studio City a ...

, where he was cast in a starring role opposite

Judy Canova Judy Canova (November 20, 1913 – August 5, 1983),Although one source gives her birth date as November 20, 1916, (DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). ''Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960''. McFarland ...

in '' Oklahoma Annie'' (1952). In 1955, Russell landed the lead role in a television drama series called '' Soldiers of Fortune''. This half-hour syndicated adventure show placed him and his sidekick (played by

Chick Chandler Fehmer Christy "Chick" Chandler (January 18, 1905 – September 30, 1988) was an American film character actor who appeared in more than 130 films from 1925 through the mid-1950s. Chandler was known for his starring role as Toubo Smith in ...

) in a dangerous setting each week. While the show proved popular with young boys, it did not draw enough adult viewers to its prime slot and was canceled in 1957. That same year, he returned to films briefly to appear as a corrupt agricultural magnate in the

Warner Brothers Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...

low-budget exploitation film ''

Untamed Youth ''Untamed Youth'' is a 1957 American teen film directed by Howard W. Koch, written by John C. Higgins and Stephen Longstreet, and starring Mamie Van Doren and Lori Nelson as two starstruck sisters who are sentenced to farm labor. Plot Sisters ...

''. A year later he returned to the small screen as gunslinger Matt Reardon, in "The Empty Gun" episode of the ABC/ Warners western series, ''

Cheyenne The Cheyenne ( ) are an Indigenous people of the Great Plains. Their Cheyenne language belongs to the Algonquian language family. Today, the Cheyenne people are split into two federally recognized nations: the Southern Cheyenne, who are enr ...

'', starring Clint Walker. In 1958 Russell appeared as Saylor Hornbook on ''Cheyenne'' in the episode titled "Dead to Rights". In 1958, Russell was cast in his best-known role: the stolid, taciturn Marshal Dan Troop, the lead character in '' Lawman'', an ABC/Warners hit western series that ran for four years. Co-starring alongside Peter Brown, who played Deputy Johnny McKay, and Peggie Castle as Birdcage Saloon owner Lily Merrill, Russell portrayed a US frontier peace officer mentoring his younger compatriot. At the same time that ''Lawman'' premiered, Russell played an outlaw, along with

Edd Byrnes Edward Byrne Breitenberger (July 30, 1932 – January 8, 2020), known professionally as Edd Byrnes, was an American actor, best known for his starring role in the television series '' 77 Sunset Strip.'' He also was featured in the 1978 film '' Gr ...

and Rodolfo Hoyos Jr., in the 1958 season premiere episode of ''

Sugarfoot ''Sugarfoot'' is an American Western television series that aired for 69 episodes on ABC from 1957-1961 on Tuesday nights on a "shared" slot basis – rotating with ''Cheyenne'' (first season); ''Cheyenne'' and ''Bronco'' (second season); and ...

'', another ABC/WB hit western, with Will Hutchins in the title role. Russell also appeared in other motion pictures for Warner Bros., notably as a

Sioux The Sioux or Oceti Sakowin (; Dakota: /otʃʰeːtʰi ʃakoːwĩ/) are groups of Native American tribes and First Nations peoples in North America. The modern Sioux consist of two major divisions based on language divisions: the Dakota and ...

chieftain in ''

Yellowstone Kelly ''Yellowstone Kelly'' is a 1959 American Western film based upon a novel by Heck Allen (using his pen name Clay Fisher, which shows in the film credits) with a screenplay by Burt Kennedy starring Clint Walker as Luther Sage "Yellowstone" Kelly ...

'' (1959), as well as a rich, corrupt cattle rancher, Nathan Burdette, in the highly successful

Howard Hawks Howard Winchester Hawks (May 30, 1896December 26, 1977) was an American film director, producer and screenwriter of the classic Hollywood era. Critic Leonard Maltin called him "the greatest American director who is not a household name." A ...

western '' Rio Bravo'' (1959), starring

John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed The Duke or Duke Wayne, was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films made during Hollywood's Go ...

. At the same time, Russell guest-starred in an episode of

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...

's adventure series ''

Northwest Passage The Northwest Passage (NWP) is the sea route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of North America via waterways through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The eastern route along the ...

''. In 1969, Russell appeared in five episodes of the

Robert Wagner Robert John Wagner Jr. (born February 10, 1930) is an American actor of stage, screen, and television. He is known for starring in the television shows '' It Takes a Thief'' (1968–1970), ''Switch'' (1975–1978), and '' Hart to Hart'' (1979� ...

series, '' It Takes a Thief'': "Guess Who's Coming To Rio?" (January 9, 1969), "Saturday Night In Venice" (September 25, 1969), "The Blue, Blue Danube" (October 30, 1969), "Payoff In The Piazza" (November 13, 1969) and "A Friend In Deed" (November 27, 1969). Throughout the remainder of his movie career, he played secondary roles in more than 20 films, including several A.C. Lyles westerns and three films directed by his friend

Clint Eastwood Clinton Eastwood Jr. (born May 31, 1930) is an American actor and film director. After achieving success in the Western TV series '' Rawhide'', he rose to international fame with his role as the " Man with No Name" in Sergio Leone's "'' Do ...

, most notably as Marshal Stockburn, the chief villain in Eastwood's 1985 film '' Pale Rider''. Russell also appeared in the second season of the

Filmation Filmation Associates was an American production company that produced animation and live-action programming for television from 1963 until 1989. Located in Reseda, California, the animation studio was founded in 1962. Filmation's founders and ...

children's science-fiction series ''

Jason of Star Command ''Jason of Star Command'' is a 1978-1979 live action television series by Filmation. The series revolves around the exploits of space adventurer Jason (Craig Littler) and his colleagues, including Professor E.J. Parsafoot (Charlie Dell) and the ...

''. He played Commander Stone, a blue-skinned alien from

Alpha Centauri Alpha Centauri ( Latinized from α Centauri and often abbreviated Alpha Cen or α Cen) is a triple star system in the constellation of Centaurus. It consists of 3 stars: Alpha Centauri A (officially Rigil Kentaurus), Alpha Centa ...

. He replaced James Doohan, who had played the commander in the previous season, but left to start working on '' Star Trek: The Motion Picture'' (1979).

Death

Russell died of complications from

emphysema Emphysema, or pulmonary emphysema, is a lower respiratory tract disease, characterised by air-filled spaces ( pneumatoses) in the lungs, that can vary in size and may be very large. The spaces are caused by the breakdown of the walls of the alv ...

in 1991 and was interred in the Los Angeles National Cemetery, a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs cemetery in Los Angeles. He married Renata Titus in 1943. They had three children, and divorced in 1965. He married again in 1970 to Lavergne Warner Pearson but was divorced the following year.

Complete filmography

*'' A Royal Scandal'' (1945) – Guard (uncredited) *'' A Bell for Adano'' (1945) – Capt. Anderson (uncredited) *''

Within These Walls ''Within These Walls'' is a British television drama programme made by London Weekend Television for ITV and shown between 1974 and 1978. It portrayed life in HMP Stone Park, a fictional women's prison. Unlike later women-in-prison TV series, ...

'' (1945) – Rogers *'' The Dark Corner'' (1946) – Policeman at Tony's Apartment (uncredited) *'' Somewhere in the Night'' (1946) – Marine Captain (uncredited) *'' Three Little Girls in Blue'' (1946) – Young Man at Party (uncredited) *'' Forever Amber'' (1947) – Black Jack Mallard *'' Sitting Pretty'' (1948) – Bill Philby *'' Yellow Sky'' (1948) – Lengthy *'' Slattery's Hurricane'' (1949) – Lt. 'Hobbie' Hobson *''

The Gal Who Took the West ''The Gal Who Took the West'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by Frederick de Cordova starring Yvonne De Carlo, Charles Coburn, Scott Brady and John Russell. It was nominated for an award by the Writers Guild of America 1950. Plot A ...

'' (1949) – Grant O'Hara *'' The Story of Molly X'' (1949) – Cash Brady *'' Undertow'' (1949) – Danny Morgan *'' Saddle Tramp'' (1950) – Rocky *'' Frenchie'' (1950) – Lance Cole *'' The Fat Man'' (1951) – Gene Gordon *''

Fighting Coast Guard ''Fighting Coast Guard'' is a 1951 American adventure film directed by Joseph Kane and written by Kenneth Gamet. The film stars Brian Donlevy, Forrest Tucker, Ella Raines, John Russell, Richard Jaeckel, William Murphy and Martin Milner. The fil ...

'' (1951) – Barney Walker *'' The Barefoot Mailman'' (1951) – Theron *'' Man in the Saddle'' (1951) – Hugh Clagg *'' Oklahoma Annie'' (1952) – Dan Fraser *'' Hoodlum Empire'' (1952) – Joe Gray *'' The Sun Shines Bright'' (1953) – Ashby Corwin *'' Fair Wind to Java'' (1953) – Flint *'' Jubilee Trail'' (1954) – Oliver Hale *''

Hell's Outpost ''Hell's Outpost'' is a 1954 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane and starring Rod Cameron, Joan Leslie, Chill Wills, John Russell. Plot Tully Gibbs arrives in a California mining town looking for Kevin Russel, whose late son Al he h ...

'' (1954) – Ben Hodes *'' The Last Command'' (1955) – Lt. Dickinson *''

'' (1957) – Russ Tropp *'' Hell Bound'' (1957) – Jordan *''

The Dalton Girls ''The Dalton Girls'' is a 1957 American Western film directed by Reginald Le Borg and starring Merry Anders, Lisa Davis, Penny Edwards, Sue George and John Russell. Plot Two men on horseback are fleeing a posse. Pistol shots are exchanged ...

'' (1957) – W.T. 'Illinois' Grey *''

Fort Massacre ''Fort Massacre'' is a 1958 Western directed by Joseph M. Newman, starring Joel McCrea, Forrest Tucker, John Russell and Susan Cabot. A possibly mad cavalry commander leads his troops through dangerous Indian territory. Plot An embittered ca ...

'' (1958) – Pvt. Robert W. Travis *'' Rio Bravo'' (1959) – Nathan Burdette *''

'' (1959) – Gall *''

Daniel Boone Daniel Boone (September 26, 1820) was an American pioneer and frontiersman whose exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. He became famous for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky, which was then beyond the we ...

'' (1965) – Amos McAleer *''

Apache Uprising ''Apache Uprising'' is a 1965 American Technicolor Western Techniscope film directed by R. G. Springsteen and written by Max Lamb and Harry Sanford. The film stars Rory Calhoun, Corinne Calvet, John Russell, Lon Chaney Jr., Gene Evans, Richard ...

'' (1965) – Vance Buckner *''

Hostile Guns ''Hostile Guns'' is a 1967 Western starring George Montgomery, Tab Hunter and Yvonne de Carlo. Plot Cast * George Montgomery as Sheriff Gid McCool *Tab Hunter as Mike Reno *Yvonne De Carlo as Laura Mannon *Brian Donlevy as Marshal Willett * ...

'' (1967) – Aaron Pleasant *'' Fort Utah'' (1967) – Eli Jonas *'' Buckskin'' (1968) – Patch *'' Fireball Jungle'' (1968) – Nero Solitarius *'' If He Hollers, Let Him Go!'' (1968) – Sheriff *'' Noon Sunday'' (1970) – Darmody *'' Cannon for Cordoba'' (1970) – John J. Pershing *''

Blood Legacy ''Blood Legacy'' (also called ''Legacy of Blood'' and ''Will to Die'') is a 1971 horror film directed by Carl Monson and starring Rodolfo Acosta, Merry Anders, Norman Bartold, John Carradine, and Faith Domergue. Synopsis In this 1971 effort, Chr ...

'' (1971) – Frank Mantee *'' Smoke in the Wind'' (1975) – Cagle Mondier *''Fugitive Lovers'' (1975) – Harris Alexander *'' The Outlaw Josey Wales'' (1976) – Bloody Bill Anderson *'' Where the Wind Dies'' (1976) *''Mission to Glory: A True Story'' (1977) – Capt. Solis *''Uncle Scam'' (1981) – Art *''Six Tickets to Hell'' (1981) *''

Honkytonk Man ''Honkytonk Man'' is a 1982 American comedy-drama musical western film set in the Great Depression. Clint Eastwood, who produced and directed, stars with his son, Kyle Eastwood. Clancy Carlile's screenplay is based on his 1980 novel of the sam ...

'' (1982) – Jack Wade *'' Pale Rider'' (1985) – Marshal Stockburn *''Under the Gun'' (1988) – Simon Stone (final film role)

References

External links

* *
Unofficial Lawman Western TV Series Homepage
{{DEFAULTSORT:Russell, John American male film actors American male television actors Male Western (genre) film actors United States Marine Corps officers United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II Male actors from Los Angeles Warner Bros. contract players Deaths from emphysema 1921 births 1991 deaths Burials at Los Angeles National Cemetery 20th Century Studios contract players 20th-century American male actors Western (genre) television actors