Harold Russell

Harold Russell
Russell in 1946
Born
Harold John Avery Russell

(1914-01-14)January 14, 1914
DiedJanuary 29, 2002(2002-01-29) (aged 88)
Resting placeLakeview Cemetery
Wayland, Massachusetts
Spouses
Rita Russell-Nixon
(m. 1944; died 1978)
Betty Marshalsea
(m. 1981)
Children2
Military career
Allegiance United States
Service / branch United States Army
Years of service1941–1945
RankSergeant
Unit13th Airborne Division
Battles / warsWorld War II

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 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.

  1. ^ Cameron Rollins, Beth (April 20, 2020). "Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics". Nova Scotia Genealogy.
  2. ^ Cameron Rollins, Beth. "1930 US Census". Ancestry .com.