Disney Legend: Kurt Russell

Happy Birthday Disney Legend Kurt Russell, born March 17, 1951!

Kurt Russell made his Film Debut in 1963 (uncredited) at 11 yrs old — as the ‘boy who kicks Mike (aka Elvis Presley)’ in It Happened at the World’s Fair.

Russell went on to become a top Disney star during the ’60s and ’70s — starring in some wonderful Disney films including The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit, Follow Me Boys and The Strongest Man in the World. Russell also appeared in a handful of episodes on  TV’s Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color from 1967 to 1972.

Kurt Russell in Disney’s The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1969)

In 1998 Russell received the Disney Legends Award for living up to Disney principals of imagination, skill, discipline, craftsmanship and magic!

Disney Legends Plaza and Kurt Russell’s Handprints

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Of course, Russell went on to appear in some Cult Film Classics — starring as Snake Plissken in John Carpenter’s action flicks, Escape from NY (1981) and Escape from LA (1996), and as helicopter pilot R.J. MacReady in John Carpenter’s horror film The Thing (1982).

I seem to have a knack for picking movies that go on to be cult favorites.
-Kurt Russell

Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken in John Carpenter’s Escape from New York

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And, last but not least, Russell appeared in his share of  ‘mainstream’ films including Mike Nichols’ Silkwood opposite Meryl Streep and Cher (1983), Ron Howard’s Backdraft also starring Robert DeNiro and William Baldwin (1991), and Garry Marshall’s Overboard opposite life-partner Goldie Hawn (1987)

Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn in Overboard (directed by Garry Marshall)

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Annmarie Gatti at Classic Movie Hub

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