Bryan Russell, who was a Hollywood child actor and Walt Disney contract player in the 1950s and 1960s, passed away on October 3, 2016 at the age of 63. He died of cancer at his home in Greenbank, Washington, USA. He is survived by his wife, Cathryn Michelle Sands, and two children.
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Early life and career
Bryan Russell was born on December 3, 1952 in Los Angeles, California, USA. His birth name was Bernard Talmadge Russell. His parents were former vaudevillians who encouraged him and his sister, Jeannie, to pursue acting careers. He was first spotted by a film crew shooting an episode of Lassie near his home when he was five years old. He auditioned for the role of Dennis in the television series Dennis the Menace, but was rejected because he looked too young. His sister, Jeannie, later played the role of Dennis’s sister, Margaret, in the same show.
Bryan Russell made his television debut in 1958 in an episode of Lawman. He went on to appear in several other TV westerns such as Death Valley Days, Wanted: Dead or Alive, The Rifleman, Bonanza, and Gunsmoke. He also appeared in some TV comedies such as The Dinah Shore Show, The Donna Reed Show, and The Dick Van Dyke Show.
Disney films and other roles
In 1961, Bryan Russell signed a contract with Walt Disney Studios and starred in several films produced by the company. His first Disney film was Babes in Toyland (1961), a musical fantasy based on the operetta by Victor Herbert. He played the role of Tom Piper Jr., the son of Annette Funicello’s character. He also sang a duet with Funicello called “I Can’t Do the Sum”.
His next Disney film was Emil and the Detectives (1964), an adaptation of the children’s novel by Erich Kästner. He played the title role of Emil Tischbein, a boy who teams up with a group of street-smart kids to catch a thief in Berlin. He also performed a song called “Emil’s Song” in the film.
He also starred in The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin (1967), a comedy western based on the novel by Sid Fleischman. He played Jack Flagg, a young boy who travels to California during the Gold Rush with his butler, Bullwhip Griffin (Roddy McDowall). He also sang a song called “California Gold” in the film.
Besides Disney films, Bryan Russell also appeared in some non-Disney productions such as The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (1962), How the West Was Won (1962), Bye Bye Birdie (1963), and The Sound of Music (1965). He played Friedrich Grimm, one of the sons of Wilhelm Grimm (Laurence Harvey) in The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm; Little Jethro Prescott, one of the grandchildren of Zebulon Prescott (Karl Malden) in How the West Was Won; Hugo Peabody, the boyfriend of Kim McAfee (Ann-Margret) in Bye Bye Birdie; and Kurt von Trapp, one of the children of Captain von Trapp (Christopher Plummer) in The Sound of Music.
Retirement from acting and later life
Bryan Russell retired from acting in 1968 after appearing in an episode of Family Affair. He decided to focus on his education and attended UCLA where he studied political science. He later worked as a real estate agent and a financial planner.
He married Cathryn Michelle Sands on June 23, 1980 and had two children with her. He moved to Greenbank, Washington in 2004 where he lived until his death.
Legacy and tributes
Bryan Russell was one of the most popular child stars of his era and appeared in some of the most beloved films of all time. He was praised for his natural charm, talent, and versatility as an actor and singer. He was also remembered for his kindness and generosity by his co-stars and friends.
Some of his former co-stars paid tribute to him after his death. Annette Funicello said that he was “a wonderful young man who brought joy to everyone who knew him”. Roddy McDowall said that he was “a delightful person who had a great sense of humor”. Christopher Plummer said that he was “a bright and talented boy who grew up to be a fine gentleman”.
Bryan Russell’s films are still enjoyed by millions of fans around the world who appreciate his performances and contributions to cinema history.
According to IMDb, Bryan Russell had a net worth of $1 million at the time of his death.
