Harold Russell
Harold Russell | |
|---|---|
 Russell in 1946 | |
| Born | Harold John Avery Russell January 14, 1914 North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Died | January 29, 2002 (aged 88) Needham, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Resting place |
|
| Spouses | Rita Russell-Nixon
(m. 1944; died 1978)Betty Marshalsea (m. 1981) |
| Children | 2 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
Branch | United States Army |
Service years | 1941–1945 |
Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | 13th Airborne Division |
Conflicts | World War II |
Harold John Avery Russell (January 14, 1914 – January 29, 2002) was an American World War II veteran and actor. 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.