Harold John Avery Russell[1][2] (January 14, 1914 – January 29, 2002) was an American World War II veteran. 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 an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and an honorary Oscar for being an inspiration to returning veterans, the first and only actor ever to win two Oscars for the same role, the first non-professional actor to win an Academy Award for acting, as well as the first Oscar recipient to sell their award.
Harold Russell was born in North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, and moved to Massachusetts, United States, with his family in 1921,[3] after his father's death in 1920.[4]
At the time of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, he was living in Cambridge, Massachusetts, working at a food market. In his 1949 autobiography, Victory In My Hands, he wrote that he rushed to enlist in the United States Army because he considered himself a failure.[5]
On June 6, 1944, while he was an Army instructor teaching demolition work with the U.S. 13th Airborne Division at Camp Mackall, North Carolina, a defective fuse detonated TNT explosives he was handling.[6] He lost both hands and was given two hooks to serve as hands. After his recovery while attending Boston University, Russell was featured in Diary of a Sergeant, an Army film about rehabilitating war veterans.
For his role as Parrish, Russell won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1947. Earlier in the ceremony, he was awarded an honorary Oscar for ''bringing aid and comfort to disabled veterans through the medium of motion pictures.''[6] The special award had been created because the board of governors wanted to salute Russell, a non-professional actor, but assumed he had little chance for a competitive win.[7] It was the only time in Oscar history that the academy awarded two Oscars for the same performance.[8]
Wyler called it "the finest performance I have ever seen on the screen.'' However, Russell earned under $10,000 for his performance, and did not receive any residual profits.[6]
Later years
Diary of a Sergeant (1945).
Upon completion of the film, Russell returned to Boston University and graduated with a business degree in 1949.[citation needed]
Russell became active in AMVETS, serving three terms as National Commander. He was first elected in 1949.[9] He was elected to his third term in 1960. He also was vice-president of the World Veterans Fund, Inc., the fundraising branch of the World Veterans Federation.[10]
As head of AMVETS, Russell wrote to President Truman in 1951 supporting his decision to dismiss General Douglas MacArthur during the Korean War. Russell's telegram to Truman cited MacArthur's "repeated insubordination in violation of basic American principles governing civil versus military authority." His telegram said those were "obvious grounds" to relieve MacArthur. Erle Cocke, Jr., commander of the American Legion, said that he was "shocked by the news" that AMVETS and the American Veterans Committee supported MacArthur's firing.[11]
From the early 1960s to the late 1980s, Russell served as chairman of the President's Commission on Employment of the Handicapped, an unpaid position.[citation needed]
Russell appeared in two films after his debut, Inside Moves in 1980 and Dogtown in 1997. He also appeared in an episode of Trapper John, M.D., in 1981 and a two-part episode of the television series China Beach in 1989.
Russell authored two autobiographies, Victory in My Hands (1949) and The Best Years of My Life (1981).[citation needed]
In 1992, Russell consigned his Oscar for Best Supporting Actor to Herman Darvick Autograph Auctions, and on August 6, 1992, in New York City, the Oscar sold to a private collector for $60,500. Russell defended his action by saying he needed money for his wife's medical expenses,[5] though this was later disputed.[13] Russell did not sell the special Oscar.[6] After his death, the unidentified collector was identified as Lew Wasserman, a studio executive and talent agent, who donated it back to the Academy.[13]
On January 29, 2002, Russell died at a nursing home in Needham, Massachusetts [5][6] and subsequently interred in Lakeview Cemetery in the nearby town of Wayland.[citation needed]
^ abcBergan, Ronald (February 6, 2002). "Harold Russell; Brave actor whose artificial hands helped him win two Oscars". The Guardian. Retrieved February 5, 2008.
^ abcdeSevero, Richard (February 1, 2002). "Harold Russell Dies at 88; Veteran and Oscar Winner". The New York Times.
^Montgomery, Mark (December 10, 2016). "Remembering Harold Russell, the soldier-actor who won two Oscars for 'Best Years of Our Lives'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
^Stilwell, Blake (December 23, 2019). "This Disabled WWII Veteran Was the Only Actor to Win 2 Oscars for the Same Part". Military.com. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
^"Harold Russell, Handless War Veteran and Movies' Academy Award Winner, Heads AMVETS". Quad-City Times (Associated Press). September 6, 1949. p. 3. Retrieved March 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"3rd Election Charm for Harold Russell". The Miami News. August 29, 1960. p. 7. Retrieved March 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^"AMVETS, AVC Support MacArthur Ouster, Legion Head Shocked". The Gazette and Daily. Associated Press. April 12, 1951. p. 1. Retrieved March 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
harold, russell, zealand, politician, farmer, sportsman, politician, harold, john, avery, russell, january, 1914, january, 2002, american, world, veteran, after, losing, hands, during, military, service, russell, cast, epic, drama, film, best, years, lives, 19. For the New Zealand politician farmer and sportsman see Harold Russell politician Harold John Avery Russell 1 2 January 14 1914 January 29 2002 was an American World War II veteran 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 an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and an honorary Oscar for being an inspiration to returning veterans the first and only actor ever to win two Oscars for the same role the first non professional actor to win an Academy Award for acting as well as the first Oscar recipient to sell their award Harold RussellRussell in 1946BornHarold John Avery Russell 1914 01 14 January 14 1914North Sydney Nova Scotia CanadaDiedJanuary 29 2002 2002 01 29 aged 88 Needham Massachusetts U S Resting placeLakeview Cemetery Wayland MassachusettsSpouse s Rita Russell Nixon m 1944 died 1978 wbr Betty Marshalsea m 1981 wbr Children2 Contents 1 Early life 2 The Best Years of Our Lives 3 Later years 4 Filmography 5 References 6 External linksEarly life Edit Russell and Cathy O Donnell in The Best Years of Our Lives 1946 Harold Russell was born in North Sydney Nova Scotia Canada and moved to Massachusetts United States with his family in 1921 3 after his father s death in 1920 4 At the time of the December 7 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor he was living in Cambridge Massachusetts working at a food market In his 1949 autobiography Victory In My Hands he wrote that he rushed to enlist in the United States Army because he considered himself a failure 5 On June 6 1944 while he was an Army instructor teaching demolition work with the U S 13th Airborne Division at Camp Mackall North Carolina a defective fuse detonated TNT explosives he was handling 6 He lost both hands and was given two hooks to serve as hands After his recovery while attending Boston University Russell was featured in Diary of a Sergeant an Army film about rehabilitating war veterans The Best Years of Our Lives EditWhen film director William Wyler saw the film on Russell he cast him in The Best Years of Our Lives with Fredric March and Dana Andrews Russell played the role of Homer Parrish a United States Navy sailor who lost both hands during the war For his role as Parrish Russell won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1947 Earlier in the ceremony he was awarded an honorary Oscar for bringing aid and comfort to disabled veterans through the medium of motion pictures 6 The special award had been created because the board of governors wanted to salute Russell a non professional actor but assumed he had little chance for a competitive win 7 It was the only time in Oscar history that the academy awarded two Oscars for the same performance 8 Wyler called it the finest performance I have ever seen on the screen However Russell earned under 10 000 for his performance and did not receive any residual profits 6 Later years Edit source source source source source source source source source source source source Diary of a Sergeant 1945 Upon completion of the film Russell returned to Boston University and graduated with a business degree in 1949 citation needed Russell became active in AMVETS serving three terms as National Commander He was first elected in 1949 9 He was elected to his third term in 1960 He also was vice president of the World Veterans Fund Inc the fundraising branch of the World Veterans Federation 10 As head of AMVETS Russell wrote to President Truman in 1951 supporting his decision to dismiss General Douglas MacArthur during the Korean War Russell s telegram to Truman cited MacArthur s repeated insubordination in violation of basic American principles governing civil versus military authority His telegram said those were obvious grounds to relieve MacArthur Erle Cocke Jr commander of the American Legion said that he was shocked by the news that AMVETS and the American Veterans Committee supported MacArthur s firing 11 From the early 1960s to the late 1980s Russell served as chairman of the President s Commission on Employment of the Handicapped an unpaid position citation needed In 1965 Russell received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement 12 Russell appeared in two films after his debut Inside Moves in 1980 and Dogtown in 1997 He also appeared in an episode of Trapper John M D in 1981 and a two part episode of the television series China Beach in 1989 Russell authored two autobiographies Victory in My Hands 1949 and The Best Years of My Life 1981 citation needed In 1992 Russell consigned his Oscar for Best Supporting Actor to Herman Darvick Autograph Auctions and on August 6 1992 in New York City the Oscar sold to a private collector for 60 500 Russell defended his action by saying he needed money for his wife s medical expenses 5 though this was later disputed 13 Russell did not sell the special Oscar 6 After his death the unidentified collector was identified as Lew Wasserman a studio executive and talent agent who donated it back to the Academy 13 On January 29 2002 Russell died at a nursing home in Needham Massachusetts 5 6 and subsequently interred in Lakeview Cemetery in the nearby town of Wayland citation needed Filmography EditYear Title Role Notes1945 Diary of a Sergeant himself Official Film of the United States War Department1946 The Best Years of Our Lives Homer Parrish Academy Award for Best Supporting ActorHonorary Academy AwardGolden Globes Special Award for Non professional acting1980 Inside Moves Wings1981 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 amp 2 1997 Dogtown Blessed William final film role References Edit Cameron Rollins Beth Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics Nova Scotia Genealogy Cameron Rollins Beth 1930 US Census Ancestry com Join Ancestry Cameron Rollins Beth Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics Nova Scotia Genealogy a b c Bergan Ronald February 6 2002 Harold Russell Brave actor whose artificial hands helped him win two Oscars The Guardian Retrieved February 5 2008 a b c d e Severo Richard February 1 2002 Harold Russell Dies at 88 Veteran and Oscar Winner The New York Times Montgomery Mark December 10 2016 Remembering Harold Russell the soldier actor who won two Oscars for Best Years of Our Lives Los Angeles Times Retrieved November 12 2020 Stilwell Blake December 23 2019 This Disabled WWII Veteran Was the Only Actor to Win 2 Oscars for the Same Part Military com Retrieved November 12 2020 Harold Russell Handless War Veteran and Movies Academy Award Winner Heads AMVETS Quad City Times Associated Press September 6 1949 p 3 Retrieved March 19 2021 via Newspapers com a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint url status link 3rd Election Charm for Harold Russell The Miami News August 29 1960 p 7 Retrieved March 19 2021 via Newspapers com AMVETS AVC Support MacArthur Ouster Legion Head Shocked The Gazette and Daily Associated Press April 12 1951 p 1 Retrieved March 19 2021 via Newspapers com Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement www achievement org American Academy of Achievement a b Rothman Heathcliff February 16 2006 I d Really Like to Thank My Pal at the Auction House The New York Times Retrieved February 5 2008 External links EditHarold Russell at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Harold Russell amp oldid 1131359932, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
