ACTOR · BORN 1951
Kurt Russell
- Born
- 17 March 1951
- Known for
- The Thing (1982), Poseidon (2006), Escape from L.A. (1996), Executive Decision (1996)
29 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Kurt Russell (born 17 March 1951) is an actor best known for The Thing, Poseidon and Escape from L.A..
29 Interesting Facts About Kurt Russell
Interesting Facts (19)
- #001
Snake Plissken, the anti-hero of Escape from New York (1981) and Escape from L. A. (1996), is Kurt Russell's favorite among all the characters he has played.
- #002
In his audio commentary for Big Trouble in Little China (1986), Kurt Russell said test audiences responded so well to the film that he was sure he and his director friend John Carpenter had a box office hit on their hands. However, the studio put so little effort into promoting the film that it ultimately did not do well at the box office and instead became a cult favorite.
- #003
Kurt Russell claims that because of his libertarian beliefs he often felt ostracized in Hollywood, and that this led him to start living in an area outside Aspen, Colorado, where he began trying his hand at writing.
- #004
To prepare for his role in Backdraft (1991), Kurt Russell rode along with the Chicago Fire Department's Squad 5.
- #005
Kurt Russell made his film debut with It Happened at the World's Fair (1963), starring Elvis Presley. He later went on to play Elvis in Elvis (1979) and to voice him in Forrest Gump (1994).
- #006
Lee Van Cleef's presence on the set of Escape from New York (1981) inspired Kurt Russell to speak in a raspy voice similar to Clint Eastwood's in the Man with No Name trilogy.
- #007
He was offered the role of Alan Grant in Jurassic Park (1993), but his asking price was too high. The role went to Sam Neill.
- #008
Kurt Russell played professional baseball until he retired in 1973 due to a torn shoulder muscle (second base, AA club — California Angels). At the time he was batting 0.563. His friend Ron Shelton wrote the role of Crash Davis in Bull Durham (1988) for him. However, the studio insisted on Kevin Costner.
- #009
Walt Disney's last filmed appearance was on October 27, 1966. Disney was promoting Follow Me, Boys! (1966) and closed with the words, "you're about to meet a 15-year-old boy, for whom I predict a great acting future. His name is Kurt Russell."
- #010
Kurt Russell turned down the role of Connor MacLeod in Highlander (1986) to take a part in Big Trouble in Little China (1986). The role went to Christopher Lambert.
- #011
In his audio commentary for The Thing (1982), Kurt Russell joked with director John Carpenter about the scene in which he throws a stick of dynamite at the Palmer character (who is transforming into the Thing) and the explosion being stronger than he expected. He could in fact have been seriously injured.
- #012
While discussing the character MacReady for The Thing (1982), Kurt Russell and director John Carpenter considered making him a former Vietnam helicopter pilot who felt displaced by his war service and was consequently far more isolated from the other characters. This ultimately did not make it into the film.
- #013
Kurt Russell was the best man at Ted Nugent's wedding.
- #014
Dino De Laurentiis wanted Kurt Russell to star in Flash Gordon (1980). Russell turned down the offer because he felt the role of Flash Gordon had no character. The part went to Sam J. Jones.
- #015
Kurt Russell was asked to voice Solid Snake in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004) but turned the offer down. Interestingly, the character was actually based on Snake Plissken.
- #016
Kurt Russell was originally set to play John Nada in They Live (1988), but John Carpenter felt he had to cast someone else after having cast Russell in his three previous films (Escape from New York (1981), The Thing (1982) and Big Trouble in Little China (1986)).
- #017
Kurt Russell, a member of the conservative Wednesday Morning Club in Hollywood, introduced guest speaker Newt Gingrich (1999).
- #018
Kurt Russell appeared in two films that had a character with the last name "Fuchs": Used Cars (1980) and The Thing (1982).
- #019
Kurt Russell got his first acting break in TV commercials, including a series of children's spy devices called "Zero M" for the toy company Mattel.
Characters & Cast (6)
- #020
The lead role in They Live (1988) was actually written with Kurt Russell in mind. However, John Carpenter, who had previously cast him in three films — Escape from New York (1981), The Thing (1982) and Big Trouble in Little China (1986) — decided to give someone else a chance and chose Roddy Piper.
- #021
Kurt Russell was Sylvester Stallone's first choice for the Church in The Expendables (2010), and he turned it down. The role went to Bruce Willis.
- #022
While filming 3000 Miles to Graceland (2001) in Vancouver, Kurt Russell visited the nearby set of Stargate SG-1 (1997) and met the cast. Russell had played Colonel Jack O'Neil in the original Stargate (1994). The role was taken up in the spin-off series by Richard Dean Anderson, and the character's name was slightly changed (to Colonel Jack O'Neill).
- #023
Kurt Russell was originally set to play Crash Davis in Bull Durham (1988) and even helped Ron Shelton develop the script. However, the role went to Kevin Costner. After the film was made, Russell was so impressed that he wrote fan letters to Costner and Shelton.
- #024
Tom Cruise wanted Kurt Russell for the role of Rowdy Burns in Days of Thunder (1990). It was thanks to Cruise that Russell became aware of Backdraft (1991).
- #025
Kurt Russell was initially cast in the Rutger Hauer role in Ladyhawke (1985), while Hauer was cast in a different role. Russell left and Hauer was recast.
Career & Awards (1)
- #026
Like his father, Kurt Russell had a baseball career. In the early 1970s he was a fast second baseman in the Class A-Short Season Northwest League, playing short seasons for the California Angels affiliates the Bend Rainbows (1971) and the Walla Walla Islanders (1972), then advanced to Class AA (1973) with the El Paso Sun Kings of the Texas League. Early in the season, while turning the pivot on a double play, a runner coming into second base collided with him and tore the rotator cuff in Russell's right (throwing) shoulder. He did not return to El Paso, but late in the short season he served as a designated hitter for the independent Portland Mavericks of the Northwest League. His father owned the team and was meanwhile handling its publicity. The injury caused him to retire from baseball (1973) and led him back to acting.
Life & Family (3)
- #027
Kate Hudson, the daughter of his long-time partner Goldie Hawn, named her son Ryder Russell Robinson. The middle name is a tribute to Kurt, whom Hudson has always regarded as her father.
- #028
John Wayne was one of Kurt Russell's heroes from childhood. In Grindhouse (2007) he was able to use a full John Wayne impression (to a jarring effect).
- #029
In Elvis (1979), while Kurt Russell played Elvis Presley, his real-life father, Bing Russell, played Elvis's father, Vernon Presley.
Related pages
- The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy — Kurt Russell comes up in the facts on that page
- Bird on a Wire — Kurt Russell comes up in the facts on that page
- Once Upon a Time in Mexico — Kurt Russell comes up in the facts on that page
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Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
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