Charles Russell

Charles Russell, who was born on March 31, 1918, in New York City, was a movie and radio actor who appeared in 17 films between 1943 and 1949. Russell made his debut in an uncredited part as a ball player in Ladies' Day (1943) at RKO and had his first credited role in his second film, RKO's Bombardier (1943), a World War II propaganda film. Signed by 20th Century-Fox, he appeared in another propaganda movie, The Purple Heart (1944), a prestigious A-list picture written and produced by studio boss Darryl F. Zanuck. Starring Dana Andrews, it featured up-and-coming actors Richard Conte and Farley Granger, who would go on to have far longer and successful careers than would Russell. One of Russell's more memorable films was The Late George Apley (1947), in which he played Ronald Colman's son. The following year, billed as "Charlie Russell", he appeared in Fox's A-list musical Give My Regards to Broadway (1948), headlined by song-and-dance man Dan Dailey. That same year he played his only two leads--in the Fox B-picture Night Wind (1948) and in Film Classics' Inner Sanctum (1948), a Poverty Row production directed by the incredibly prolific Lew Landers. Russell appeared as a second lead in two more Fox "B" pictures before going over to Columbia for a supporting role in Mary Ryan, Detective (1949). His last picture was in support of Hurd Hatfield in Columbia's Chinatown at Midnight (1949). Russell originated the role of insurance investigator Johnny Dollar in the CBS Radio series "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar" in 1949, playing the role until being replaced by Edmond O'Brien at the beginning of the 1950 season. Russell married fellow 20th Century-Fox contract player Nancy Guild in 1947. They divorced in 1950. Charles Russell died on January 18, 1985, in Beverly Hills, California. He was 66 years old.