Bing Russell
Neil Oliver "Bing" Russell (May 5, 1926 – April 8, 2003) was an American actor and Class A minor-league baseball club owner. He was the father of Hollywood actor Kurt Russell. Although best known as the deputy on Bonanza (1959) and Robert in The Magnificent Seven (1960), Russell's was also well known on a national level as the owner of the Portland Mavericks Baseball Club. Helming the only independent team in the class A Northwest League, Russell was an innovator. Before Bull Durham (1988), there were the Mavericks. Russell kept a 30 man roster because he believed that some of the players deserved to have one last season. His motto was simply one three lettered word - not WIN - although the Mavericks did just that - no, the word was FUN. He created a park that kept all corporate sponsorship outside the gates, hired the first female general manager in professional baseball, and the following year hired the first Asian American GM/Manager. That same season his team set a record for the highest attendance in Minor league history, and went on to win the pennant. Ex-major leaguers and never-weres who couldn't stop playing the game flocked to his June tryouts, which were always open to anyone that showed up. From as far away as Capetown, and France, players would head to Portland for a chance with Russell's Mavericks.
Filmography
The Battered Bastards of Baseball
as Himself (Archive Footage)
The Battered Bastards of Baseball
as Himself (Archive Footage)
Dick Tracy
as Club Ritz Patron
Dick Tracy
as Club Ritz Patron
Tango & Cash
as Van Driver
Tango & Cash
as Van Driver
Sunset
as Studio Guard
Sunset
as Studio Guard
Overboard
as Elk Cove: Sheriff Earl
Overboard
as Elk Cove: Sheriff Earl
Elvis
as Vernon Presley
Elvis
as Vernon Presley
The Loneliest Runner
as Fred Dawkins
The Loneliest Runner
as Fred Dawkins
The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe
The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe
The Apple Dumpling Gang
as Herm Dally
The Apple Dumpling Gang
as Herm Dally
Death Sentence
as Trooper
Death Sentence
as Trooper
The Sex Symbol
as Public Relations Man
The Sex Symbol
as Public Relations Man
A Cry in the Wilderness
as Mr. Griffey
A Cry in the Wilderness
as Mr. Griffey
Runaway!
as Fireman
Runaway!
as Fireman
Satan's School for Girls
as Sheriff
Satan's School for Girls
as Sheriff
Set This Town on Fire
as Chuck
Set This Town on Fire
as Chuck
Now You See Him, Now You Don't
as Alfred
Now You See Him, Now You Don't
as Alfred
A Taste of Evil
as Sheriff
A Taste of Evil
as Sheriff
The Million Dollar Duck
as Mr. Smith
The Million Dollar Duck
as Mr. Smith
Yuma
as Rol King (as Neil Russell)
Yuma
as Rol King (as Neil Russell)
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
as Angelo
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
as Angelo
Journey to Shiloh
as Greybeard
Journey to Shiloh
as Greybeard
Blackbeard's Ghost
as Second Track Meet Official
Blackbeard's Ghost
as Second Track Meet Official
The Ride to Hangman's Tree
as Keller (Uncredited)
The Ride to Hangman's Tree
as Keller (Uncredited)
Madame X
as Sergeant Riley
Madame X
as Sergeant Riley
The Hallelujah Trail
as Horner
The Hallelujah Trail
as Horner
Cheyenne Autumn
as Braden's Telegraph Operator (uncredited)
Cheyenne Autumn
as Braden's Telegraph Operator (uncredited)
One Man's Way
as Tom Rayburn
One Man's Way
as Tom Rayburn
A Gathering of Eagles
as Captain (uncredited)
A Gathering of Eagles
as Captain (uncredited)
The Stripper
as Mr. Mulvaney (uncredited)
The Stripper
as Mr. Mulvaney (uncredited)
How the West Was Won
as Man (uncredited)
How the West Was Won
as Man (uncredited)
Flashing Spikes
as Hogan
Flashing Spikes
as Hogan
Stakeout!
as Joe
Stakeout!
as Joe
The Great Impostor
as Morgan (uncredited)
The Great Impostor
as Morgan (uncredited)
The Magnificent Seven
as Robert
The Magnificent Seven
as Robert
Last Train from Gun Hill
as Skag, Belden Hand
Last Train from Gun Hill
as Skag, Belden Hand
The Horse Soldiers
as Dunker, Yankee Soldier Amputee
The Horse Soldiers
as Dunker, Yankee Soldier Amputee
Rio Bravo
as Cowboy Murdered in Saloon (uncredited)
Rio Bravo
as Cowboy Murdered in Saloon (uncredited)
Good Day for a Hanging
as George Fletcher
Good Day for a Hanging
as George Fletcher
Cattle Empire
as Douglas Hamilton
Cattle Empire
as Douglas Hamilton
Suicide Battalion
as Lt. Chet Hall
Suicide Battalion
as Lt. Chet Hall
Ride a Violent Mile
as Corporal Norman
Ride a Violent Mile
as Corporal Norman
Bombers B-52
as Operator (uncredited)
Bombers B-52
as Operator (uncredited)
The Land Unknown
as Radio Operator (uncredited)
The Land Unknown
as Radio Operator (uncredited)
Without Incident
Without Incident
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
as Harry - Griffin Bartender (uncredited)
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
as Harry - Griffin Bartender (uncredited)
The Deadly Mantis
as State Trooper
The Deadly Mantis
as State Trooper
Drango
as Lieutenant with Supply Wagon
Drango
as Lieutenant with Supply Wagon
Teenage Thunder
as Used-Car Salesman
Teenage Thunder
as Used-Car Salesman
Attack
as Medic
Attack
as Medic
Cult of the Cobra
Cult of the Cobra
A Life at Stake
as Bartender (uncredited)
A Life at Stake
as Bartender (uncredited)
Big Leaguer
Big Leaguer