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Betsy Russell

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Betsy Russell
Russell in 2007
Born
Elizabeth Russell

(1963-09-06) September 6, 1963 (age 61)
San Diego, California, U.S.
EducationMission Bay High School
Alma materUniversity of Santa Monica
Occupations
  • Actress
  • producer
Years active1982–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1989; div. 2001)​
Children2
ParentRichard Russell (father)
RelativesMax Lerner (maternal grandfather)
Websiteimbetsyrussell.com
Signature

Betsy Russell (born Elizabeth Russell; September 6, 1963) is an American actress who is best known for her roles in Private School (1983), Tomboy (1985), and as Jill Tuck, one of the primary characters of the Saw film series from 2006 to 2010.

Early life

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Russell was born in San Diego, California, on September 6, 1963,[1][2] the daughter of Constance (née Lerner) and Richard Lion Russell, a stock analyst. Russell was the granddaughter of journalist and educator Max Lerner.[3] Her father and maternal grandfather were Jewish.[2] Russell attended Mission Bay High School and graduated in 1981.[4] While in high school, she appeared in a Pepsi commercial that was taped locally.[5]

Career

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Russell at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre in 2010

Russell's first role was in the 1982 film Let's Do It!.[6] That same year, she landed roles on T. J. Hooker, Family Ties, and The Powers of Matthew Star. In 1983, Russell's breakout role came as Jordan Leigh-Jensen in the sex comedy Private School. While shooting the action film Avenging Angel, she was offered to audition for the 1985 film Silverado but turned it down. She said in an interview, "Everything happens for a reason. I always believe my career would have been different had I done that part. I can't say if it would have been better or worse. I've had a great run."[3]

Russell went on to star in a series of B movies in the 1980s, including the comedy Tomboy and the slasher film Cheerleader Camp. Russell also appeared on TV series such as The A-Team, Murder, She Wrote, 1st & Ten, and an episode of Superboy, which was a reunion with her Tomboy co-star Gerard Christopher. After 15 years of retirement from acting to focus on family,[7] Russell appeared in a small role in Saw III playing John Kramer's ex-wife, Jill Tuck.

She went on to star in the sequels, Saw IV, Saw V, Saw VI, and Saw 3D.[8] She played a role in the 2010 film Chain Letter, the SyFy film Mandrake, and My Trip Back to the Dark Side.[9][10]

Personal life

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In August 1988, Russell became engaged to actor Vincent Van Patten and they married nine months later, on May 27, 1989, in North Hollywood. The wedding reception was at Van Patten's father's Sherman Oaks home.[11] They have two sons and divorced in 2001.[12][13] Russell was previously engaged to film producer Mark Burg.[14] As of 2010, Russell resided in Malibu, California. She has completed a masters program in Spiritual Psychology at the University of Santa Monica and is a certified hypnotist and life coach.[13][7]

Credits

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Film

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List of films and roles
Year Title Role Notes
1982 Let's Do It! Kittie
1983 Private School Jordan
1985 Avenging Angel Molly "Angel" Stewart
Tomboy Tomasina 'Tommy' Boyd
Out of Control Chrissie Baret
1988 Cheerleader Camp Alison Wentworth
1989 Trapper County War Lacey Luddigger
1991 Camp Fear Jamie
1992 Delta Heat Vicky Forbes
1993 Amore! Cheryl Schwartz
1995 The Break Candy
2000 The Flunky Candy
2006 Saw III Jill Tuck Cameo
2007 Saw IV
2008 Saw V
2009 Saw VI
2010 Chain Letter Sergeant Hamill
Saw 3D Jill Tuck
2012 Lose Yourself Destiny Direct-to-video
2014 My Trip Back to the Dark Side Destiny
Knock 'em Dead Louanne the Maid / Laurie Grant
2022 Bully High Beth White Also co-producer[15]

Television

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List of television appearances and roles
Year Title Role Notes
1982 The Powers of Matthew Star Dawn Episode: "Jackal"
1982 T. J. Hooker Teenager Episode: "Second Chance"
1982 Family Ties Girl Episode: "Not with My Sister You Don't"
1984-1986 The A-Team Tina
Adrian Prescott
1986 Murder, She Wrote Doris Robinson Episode: "Menace, Anyone?"
1986–1987 1st & Ten Christy
  • Episode: "Yinessa's Interview"
  • Episode: "Easy Come, Easy Go
  • Episode: "The Big One"
1989 Roxanne: The Prize Pulitzer Liza Pulitzer Television film
1989 Superboy Serene Episode: "Superboy... Rest in Peace"
1995 Platypus Man Becky Episode "The Crush"
2010 Mandrake Felicia Television film
2013 First Class Fear Gayle Television film
2017 Born and Missing Dr. Taylor Television film
2018 Robot Chicken Lori / Teenage Girl (voice) Episode: "Your Mouth Is Hanging off Your Face"

References

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  1. ^ Rose, Mike (September 6, 2022). "Today's famous birthdays list for September 6, 2022 includes celebrities Idris Elba, Macy Gray". Cleveland.com. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Marriage In April For Miss. C. Lerner; Columnist's Daughter Engaged to Richard Russell, Former Air Force Bombardier". The New York Times. February 15, 1953. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
  3. ^ a b McDonald, Patrick (October 27, 2010). "Interview: Betsy Russell Completes the Jigsaw Puzzle in Saw 3D". HW Chicago. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ^ "MBHS Taroga 1981". Mission Bay Senior High School. 1981. p. 198. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  5. ^ "Betsy Russell". Haute Living. July 28, 2012. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  6. ^ "Let's Do It". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Aushenker, Michael (October 13, 2010). "Malibu's queen of Halloween". The Malibu Times. Archived from the original on January 25, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2010.
  8. ^ Topel, Fred (October 26, 2007). "Betsy Russell on Saw IV". CraveOnline. Archived from the original on March 10, 2008. Retrieved May 31, 2008.
  9. ^ Miska, Brad (November 8, 2009). "AFM '09: New Films Acquires 'Chain Letter', New Trailer". Bloody Disgusting. The Collective. Retrieved December 23, 2010.
  10. ^ Seidman, Robert (August 30, 2010). "Syfy Original Movie 'Mandrake' Premieres Saturday, September 11 at 9pm". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved December 23, 2010.
  11. ^ Swertlow, Frank (June 2, 1989). "Hollywood Freeway - Tears and Cheers for 'Phantom'". Los Angeles Daily News.
  12. ^ Noor, Star (November 2010). "Betsy Russell on MF Magazine". Music Fashion Magazine. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2010.
  13. ^ a b Bryant, Jessica (August 26, 2010). "Haute Secrets Los Angeles: Betsy Russell". Haute Living Magazine. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2010.
  14. ^ Bowles, Duncan (November 9, 2009). "Interview with Saw actress Betsy Russell". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2010.
  15. ^ Hixon, Michael (June 3, 2019). "Independent film 'Bully High' tackles issues making headlines while filming in Hermosa Beach". Daily Breeze. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
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