Harold Russell

Harold John Avery Russell (January 14, 1914 – January 29, 2002) was an American World War II veteran and actor. After losing his hands during his military service, Russell was cast in the epic drama film The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), which earned him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was the first non-professional actor to win an Academy Award for acting and the first Oscar recipient to sell his award.

Infobox

Born

Harold John Avery Russell(1914-01-14)January 14, 1914North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada

Died

January 29, 2002(2002-01-29) (aged 88)Needham, Massachusetts, U.S.

Resting place

Lakeview Cemetery Wayland, Massachusetts

Spouses

mw- Rita Russell-Nixon (m. 1944; died 1978) Betty Marshalsea (m. 1981)

Children

Allegiance

United States

Branch

United States Army

Years of service

1941–1945

Rank

Sergeant

Unit

13th Airborne Division

Battles / wars

World War II

Service years

1941–1945

Conflicts

World War II

Tables

· Filmography

1945

Diary of a Sergeant

Role(s)

himself

Notes

Official Film of the United States War Department

1946

The Best Years of Our Lives

Role(s)

Homer Parrish

Notes

Academy Award for Best Supporting ActorHonorary Academy AwardGolden Globes – Special Award for Non-professional acting

1980

Inside Moves

Role(s)

Wings

1981

Trapper John, M.D.

Role(s)

Leo Hopkins

Notes

TV episode – "The Days of Wine and Leo"aka: "Harold Russell Story"

1989

China Beach

Role(s)

Uncle Conal

Notes

TV episodes – "The World, Pts. 1 & 2"

1997

Dogtown

Role(s)

Blessed William

Notes

(final film role)

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1945	Diary of a Sergeant	himself	Official Film of the United States War Department
1946	The Best Years of Our Lives	Homer Parrish	Academy Award for Best Supporting ActorHonorary Academy AwardGolden Globes – Special Award for Non-professional acting
1980	Inside Moves	Wings
1981	Trapper John, M.D.	Leo Hopkins	TV episode – "The Days of Wine and Leo"aka: "Harold Russell Story"
1989	China Beach	Uncle Conal	TV episodes – "The World, Pts. 1 & 2"
1997	Dogtown	Blessed William	(final film role)

References

Nova Scotia Genealogy
https://www.novascotiagenealogy.com/ItemView.aspx?ImageFile=89-103&Event=marriage&ID=232454
Ancestry .com
https://search.ancestry.ca/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1930usfedcen&indiv=try&h=15803313
"Join Ancestry®"
https://search.ancestry.ca/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1930usfedcen&indiv=try&h=15803313
Nova Scotia Genealogy
https://www.novascotiagenealogy.com/ItemView.aspx?ImageFile=57-219&Event=death&ID=143384
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/feb/06/guardianobituaries
The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/01/arts/harold-russell-dies-at-88-veteran-and-oscar-winner.html
Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-ca-classic-hollywood-harold-russell-20161130-story.html
Military.com
https://www.military.com/off-duty/2019/12/23/disabled-wwii-veteran-was-only-actor-win-2-oscars-same-part.html
Bergman, Anne (September 8, 1996). "Film Clips: A True Veteran Actor; Sure, It's Typecasting—But He's Used to It". Los A
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/138508438/
Quad-City Times (Associated Press)
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/73855812/harold-russell-elected-commander-of/
The Miami News
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/73856417/russell-elected-amvets-chief-for-third/
The Gazette and Daily
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/73856980/amvets-supports-firing-macarthur/
Performance: The Story of the Handicapped
https://books.google.com/books?id=kYxGAQAAIAAJ&pg=RA16-PA5
www.achievement.org
https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#public-service
Victory in My Hands
https://archive.org/details/victoryinmyhands00haro
The Best Years of My Life
https://archive.org/details/bestyearsofmylif0000russ/page/n5/mode/2up
The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/12/movies/redcarpet/12rothman.html
"Deaths". The Boston Globe. February 1, 2002. p. B9. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
https://www.newspapers.com/image/442600163/?clipping_id=138503736