Jane Russell
“A sultry, sharp-witted star who matched glamour with an easy, knowing humor.”
Jane Russell became a star through Howard Hughes's heavily publicized Western 'The Outlaw,' filmed in 1941 and the focus of years of censorship battles before wide release. The notoriety made her a 1940s sex symbol, and 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' (1953) confirmed her box-office appeal. Became a star in the early 1940s.
Hughes Discovery
A Minnesota-born minister's daughter raised in California, Russell was signed by Howard Hughes for 'The Outlaw.' Years of censorship publicity made her a household name before most had seen the film.
Star and Singer
With a wry comic touch and singing voice, she thrived opposite Bob Hope and Marilyn Monroe. 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' showcased her as a sharp, self-assured screen presence.
Faith and Charity
Deeply religious, Russell devoted later decades to her WAIF adoption charity. She continued occasional stage and screen work and remained a beloved figure of Hollywood's golden age.
Career Timeline
- 1921Born June 21 in Bemidji, Minnesota
- 1940Signed by producer Howard Hughes
- 1943'The Outlaw' gets limited, controversial release
- 1946'The Outlaw' finally reaches wide audiences
- 1948Co-stars with Bob Hope in 'The Paleface'
- 1953Stars in 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' with Monroe
- 1955Founds WAIF adoption charity
- 1957Film career slows amid changing Hollywood
- 1971Stars on Broadway in 'Company'
- 2006Honored at TCM and festival tributes
- 2011Dies February 28 in Santa Maria, California
Biggest Hits
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The Moment You Remember
In Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Jane Russell strides among a chorus of athletes in a gymnasium, singing with mock exasperation about finding love. Her cool, comic delivery against Marilyn Monroe's bombshell sparkle proved she could anchor a picture on wit alone.
Portrait: Unknown (studio publicity still) · Public Domain · via Wikimedia Commons