Harold Russell

Infobox Actor
bgcolour = silver
name = Harold Russell

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caption = Russell in the film "The Best Years of Our Lives" for which he won two Academy Awards.
birthname = Harold John Russell
birthdate = birth date|1914|01|14|mf=y
location = North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
deathdate = death date and age|2002|1|29|1914|1|14
deathplace = Needham, Massachusetts
spouse = Rita Russell-Nixon (1944-1978) Betty Marshallsee (1981-2002)
academyawards = Best Supporting Actor 1946 "The Best Years of Our Lives" Academy Honorary Award 1947 "The Best Years of Our Lives"
goldenglobeawards = Special Award 1947 "The Best Years of Our Lives"

Harold John Russell (January 14, 1914 - January 29, 2002) was a Canadian-American World War II veteran who became one of only two non-professional actors to win an Academy Award for acting (the other being Haing S. Ngor). [imdb name|id=0751174|name=Harold Russell.] Russell also holds the unique honor of being the only person to receive two Academy Awards for the same role.

Biography

Harold Russell was born in North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada and moved to Massachusetts with his family in 1933. In 1941, he was so profoundly affected by the December 7 attack on Pearl Harbor that he enlisted in the Army on the following day, December 8.

While an Army instructor, and training with the U.S. 13th Airborne Division stateside in 1944, a defective fuse detonated an explosive he was handling while making a training film. As a result, he lost both hands and was given two hooks to serve as hands. After his recovery, and while attending Boston University as a full-time student, an Army film called "Diary of a Sergeant" about rehabilitating war veterans was made featuring Russell.

When film director William Wyler saw the film on Russell, he cast him in the film "The Best Years of Our Lives" starring Fredric March and Myrna Loy. Russell played the role of Homer Parrish, a sailor who lost both hands during the War.

For his role as Parrish, Russell won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1947. Earlier in the ceremony, he was awarded an honorary Oscar for "bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans." The special award had been created because the Board of Governors very much wanted to salute Russell, a non-professional actor, but assumed he had little chance for a competitive win. It is the only time the Academy has awarded two Oscars for the same role.

Upon completion of the film, Wyler told Russell to return to school since there "weren't many roles for actors without hands." Russell returned to Boston University and graduated with a business degree in 1949.

Russell authored two autobiographies: "The Best Years of My Life" in 1981 and "Victory in My Hands" in 1949.

Later years

Russell appeared in only two other films after his debut, "Inside Moves" in 1980 and "Dogtown" in 1997. He also appeared in an episode of "Trapper John, M.D." in 1981 and a two-part episode of the television series "China Beach" in 1989.

Russell became active in AMVETS, serving three terms as National Commander. As such, he wrote to President Truman in 1951, supporting his decision to dismiss General MacArthur. In his letter, Russell wrote: "The issue is whether the ultimate civil authority of the United States can tolerate actions in contempt of constitutional lines of authority. Any lessening of civil power over military power must inevitably lead away from democracy."

From the early 1960s to the late 1980s, Russell served as the Chairman of the President's Commission on Employment of the Handicapped, an unpaid position.

In 1992, Russell needed money for his wife's medical expenses. In a controversial decision, he consigned his Oscar for Best Supporting Actor to Herman Darvick Autograph Auctions and on August 6, 1992, in New York City, the Oscar sold to a private collector for $60,500. Russell defended his action, saying: "I don't know why anybody would be critical. My wife's health is much more important than sentimental reasons. The movie will be here, even if Oscar isn't."cite news |last=Bergan| first = Ronald | title =Harold Russell; Brave actor whose artificial hands helped him win two Oscars | publisher ="The Guardian" | date = 2002-02-06 | url =http://www.guardian.co.uk/obituaries/story/0,,645548,00.html |accessdate = 2008-02-05] The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has required all Oscar recipients since 1950 to sign an agreement forbidding them from selling their award. [cite news|last=Rothman| first=Heathcliff| title=I'd Really Like to Thank My Pal at the Auction House| publisher = "New York Times" | date =2006-02-16 | url =http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/12/movies/redcarpet/12rothman.html | accessdate =2008-02-05]

Death

On January 29, 2002, Russell died of a heart attack.

Filmography

References

External links

*imdb name|id= 0751174 Retrieved on 2008-02-07
*Find A Grave|id=6182257 Retrieved on 2008-02-07

Persondata
NAME= Russell, Harold
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Russell, Harold John
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Actor
DATE OF BIRTH= January 14, 1914
PLACE OF BIRTH= North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
DATE OF DEATH= January 29, 2002
PLACE OF DEATH= Needham, Massachusetts