Kurt Russell’s first acting roles were as a child in television such as the lead role in
the western series The Travels of Jamie McPheeters (1963–1964). In the 1970s he signed a ten-year contract with the Walt Disney company, where he became the
studio’s top star of the ’70s. In 1979, Russell was nominated for an Emmy Award for
the made-for-television film Elvis. In 1983, he was nominated for a Golden Globe
Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for
his performance in the 1984 film, Silkwood. During the 1980s, Russell was cast in
several films by director John Carpenter–in the futuristic action film Escape From New York, the horror film The Thing (1982), and the dark comedy/action film Big Trouble in Little China (1986). In 1994, he had a starring role in the military/science fiction film Stargate.
Kurt Russell with his father Bing Russell (left) who was a character
actor best-known for playing Deputy Clem Foster on Bonanza. Bing
was also the owner of the Portland Mavericks Baseball Club, a minor
league team that began play in the Class A Northwest League in
1973 after the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast league moved
to Spokane, Washington.
Kurt Russell with co-stars ,left to right, Meryl Streep and Cher