8 fascinating tidbits about Kurt Russell

Throughout his illustrious career, versatile actor Kurt Russell has taken on a wide range of roles, from the iconic Snake Plissken in Escape From New York (1981) to the rugged Jack Burton in Big Trouble in Little China (1986) and the renowned lawman Wyatt Earp in Tombstone (1993). SSP has prepared interesting facts about the actor.

1. Kurt Russell once aspired to be a professional baseball player. Born on March 17, 1951, in Springfield, Massachusetts, Kurt Russell grew up in Thousand Oaks, California. Inspired by his father, Bing Russell, an actor and owner of the Portland Mavericks minor league baseball team, Kurt pursued a career in both acting and baseball. Alongside acting in family-friendly Disney films like The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1969) and The Strongest Man in the World (1975), he played for the Bend Rainbows and the Portland Mavericks. However, a shoulder injury in 1973 forced him to shift his focus entirely to acting.

2. Kurt Russell turned down a role in Star Wars for a television Western. During the casting of Star Wars in 1975, Kurt Russell auditioned for both the roles of Han Solo and Luke Skywalker. At the same time, he was offered a part in a television Western titled The Quest. When he approached George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, to make a decision, Lucas couldn't provide a clear answer on which role was best suited for Russell. Consequently, Russell chose The Quest over Star Wars.

3. Kurt Russell's portrayal of Elvis Presley earned him an Emmy nomination. After his successful stint in Disney films, Russell began tackling more mature roles, including his portrayal of Elvis Presley in the 1979 television miniseries Elvis, directed by John Carpenter. This groundbreaking performance garnered Russell an Emmy Award nomination and marked the beginning of his collaboration with Carpenter, who went on to cast him in several movies such as Escape From New York (1981), Escape From L.A. (1995), and The Thing (1982). Interestingly, Russell also appeared in It Happened at the World's Fair (1963), a film featuring Elvis Presley, when he was still a child actor. In 2001, he portrayed an Elvis impersonator in 3000 Miles to Graceland and even provided the voice-over for an actor playing Presley in 1994's Forrest Gump.

4. Kurt Russell was the original choice for Bull Durham. Despite his background in baseball, Kurt Russell never starred in a baseball movie. However, screenwriter and director Ron Shelton specifically wrote the role of an aging slugger named Crash Davis in the film Bull Durham (1988) for Russell. Ultimately, due to studio demands, Kevin Costner was cast in the leading role.

5. Kurt Russell was paid a premium for a film role because of his unparalleled likeability. One of Kurt Russell's distinguishing qualities is his inherent likeability. It has been said that audiences may not necessarily enjoy every film he appears in, but they resonate with the actor himself. This attribute was supported by research conducted by the producers of the science-fiction film Stargate (1994). The producers offered Russell twice his usual salary to secure his involvement after running a worldwide questionnaire that rated actors on their likeability. Russell's result of "zero unlikeability" sealed the deal, despite the character being initially written as less likable.

6. Kurt Russell may have unofficially directed Tombstone. In the critically acclaimed Western film Tombstone (1993), where Russell portrays the weary Wyatt Earp bringing order to an unruly town, directorial credit officially goes to George P. Cosmatos. However, according to Russell's interview with True West magazine in 2006, he claimed to have taken on the majority of the behind-the-scenes responsibilities. After screenwriter Kevin Jarre was replaced as the director, the producers asked Russell if he wanted to direct the film without crediting himself as the director. Russell allegedly provided Cosmatos with a shot list every night for the following day's shooting, a similar arrangement to what Sylvester Stallone had with Cosmatos on Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985). Russell subsequently chose not to discuss the details of his involvement publicly.

7. Kurt Russell reported a UFO sighting while piloting an airplane. Apart from his acting career, Kurt Russell is also an aviation enthusiast and holds a pilot's license. In 1997, while flying with Oliver Hudson (Goldie Hawn's son, whom Russell considers his own), he witnessed an intriguing event. While approaching their destination, they noticed six uniformly aligned lights in a V-shaped pattern above the airport. This sighting, later known as the Phoenix Lights, was reported by Russell to air traffic control. However, he kept his experience private until revealing it publicly in 2017.

8. Kurt Russell firmly associates himself with the role of Snake Plissken. Escape From New York (1981) propelled Kurt Russell into the realm of action hero stardom with his portrayal of the iconic character Snake Plissken. When asked about the potential for someone else to play Snake Plissken in a remake of the film, Russell emphasized that he created the character and still considers himself to be Snake Plissken. He made it clear that he has no interest in making a cameo or playing a supporting role in a remake.