Jane Russell – R.I.P.



One of classic Hollywood’s true sex sirens, Jane Russell has died at her Santa Monica home at the age of 89 due to respiratory complications, her family confirmed today.


Daughter-in-law Etta Waterfield stated that the former brunette bombshell had been actively working with the church and charitable organisations until her health began to deteriorate a couple of weeks ago.

Mrs Waterfield said:

“She always said, ‘I’m going to die in the saddle, I’m not going to sit at home and become an old woman’. And that’s exactly what she did, she died in the saddle.”


Eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes threw her into the limelight after casting her in Western movie ‘The Outlaw‘ which was made in 1941 but not put on general release until 1946 because of a public outcry, partly over a poster of Russell reclining in hay holding a pistol.


Hughes even designed an underwired bra to emphasise her figure but she revealed years later in an interview that she refused to wear it because “the contraption” was too uncomfortable and she hid it under her bed. She then became a pin-up for Second World War soldiers and starred with Bob Hope in the 1948 hit comedy ‘Western The Paleface‘.

Her most notable movie appearance came in 1953 with ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes‘ alongside blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe. One of her follow-ups was ‘Gentlemen Marry Brunettes‘. Her career began to die out and Russell later said:

“You couldn’t go on acting then if you were over 30.”


Russell battled with alcoholism over the years. Her 24-year marriage to quarterback Bob Waterfield ended in bitter divorce in 1968. That same year she married actor Roger Barrett who died three months later. In 1978 she married John Peoples who died in 1999 of heart failure.

She is survived by her children, Thomas Waterfield, Tracy Foundas and Robert “Buck” Waterfield, six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Jane Russell – R.I.P.




CATEGORIES
TAGS
Share This

COMMENTS

Wordpress (0)