Connie Russell (May 9, 1923 – December 18, 1990) was an American singer and movie actress. Born in New York City, she appeared in seven films from the 1930s through the 1950s. She was far better known as a singer than as an actress, as her singing career was quite extensive.
Russell was the daughter of Tommy and Nina Russell, a vaudeville team. Her grandparents were also entertainers, performing as Glenroy and Russell. She attended Lawrence High School in Cedarhurst, Long Island, and the Professional Children's School in New York City.
While she was still a teenager, Russell performed at venues such as the Starlight Club at New York's Waldorf-Astoria, the 500 Club in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the Famous Door, and the Paramount Theater in New York City. In late December, 1952, she appeared, along with Danny Thomas, Lou Wills, Jr., and Ray Sinatra and his orchestra, at the opening night gala of the Copa Room at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
By the time she was 16, Russell had signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Her film debut came in Cruisin' Down the River (1953). (Another source says that her "first socko movie appearance was in Lady Be Good" in 1941.) She played a lead role in the 1956 movie, Nightmare.
On radio, Russell was the featured female singer on Let Yourself Go on CBS (1944-1945). She also appeared frequently on the syndicated Naval Air Reserve Show.:475 In 1947, she became a network staff singer on NBC, joining Manor House Summer Party for an eight-week stint as the program's featured singer.
On television, she was a regular singer on Club Embassy, Garroway at Large (1949-1951):379 and on The Buick-Berle Show on NBC (1953-1955). She also had success on Eddie Cantor's TV program when he liked her so well in a guest appearance that he signed her to a contract.
Actress
1956
Nightmare as
Gina - Stan's Girl
1955
The Red Skelton Hour (TV Series) as
Luana
- The Sweetie of Tahiti (1955) - Luana
1955
The Eddie Cantor Comedy Theater (TV Series) - Garage (1955)
1954
This Is My Love as
Connie Russell - Nightclub Singer
1954
Max Liebman Spectaculars (TV Series) - The Follies of Suzy (1954)
1953
Cruisin' Down the River as
Melissa Curry
1943
Red Hot Riding Hood (Short) as
Red (singing voice, uncredited)
1942
Ship Ahoy as
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
1942
Joe Smith, American as
Jane Babcock (uncredited)
1941
Unholy Partners as
Singer (scenes deleted)
1941
Lady Be Good as
The Singer
Soundtrack
2017
The Last Word (performer: "A Woman's Love Is Never Done")
2014
Criminal Minds (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Boxed In (2014) - (performer: "A Woman's Love Is Never Done")
1956
Nightmare (performer: "What's Your Sad Story", "The Last I Ever Saw Of My Man")
1954
This Is My Love (performer: "This Is My Love")
1954
The Milton Berle Show (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Episode #7.1 (1954) - (performer: "The Continental")
1954
The 26th Annual Academy Awards (TV Special) (performer: "Sadie Thompson's Song (Blue Pacific Blues)")
1943
Red Hot Riding Hood (Short) (performer: "Daddy" (1941) - uncredited)
1941
Lady Be Good (performer: "Fascinating Rhythm" (1924) - uncredited)
Self
1959
America Pauses for the Merry Month of May (TV Movie) as
Self
1959
The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (TV Series) as
Self
- The Three Stooges, Connie Russell, David Allen, Lenny Bruce (1959) - Self
1957
The Jackie Gleason Show (TV Series) as
Self
- At Sixty-Five (1957) - Self
1956
The Juke Box Jury (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 21 September 1956 (1956) - Self
1956
The Vic Damone Show (TV Series) as
Self - Vocalist
- Bobby Van, the Baird Puppets, Connie Russell (1956) - Self - Vocalist
1956
The Jimmy Durante Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #2.25 (1956) - Self
1956
Max Liebman Spectaculars (TV Series) as
Self
- Heaven Will Protect the Working Girl (1956) - Self
1956
The NBC Comedy Hour (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #1.5 (1956) - Self
1955
Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall (TV Series) as
Self
- Connie Russell, Arnold Stang, Dunninger, George Prentice, The Four Lads (1955) - Self
1955
Frankie Laine Time (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #1.1 (1955) - Self
1955
The Stork Club (TV Series) as
Self
- Connie Russell, Morey Amsterdam, Stan Fisher (1955) - Self
1951
The Milton Berle Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #7.1 (1954) - Self
- Episode #6.26 (1954) - Self
- Jane Froman (1954) - Self
- Episode #3.32 (1951) - Self
1953
The Colgate Comedy Hour (TV Series) as
Self
- guests Milton Berle, Eddie Fisher, Connie Russell (1954) - Self
- Host: Eddie Cantor; Guest Stars: Groucho Marx, Connie Russell, Wally Cox (1954) - Self
- Host: Eddie Cantor; guest stars: Gloria Grahame, Connie Russell, The Will Maston Trio (featuring Sammy Davis, Jr.) (1953) - Self
- Eddie Cantor host: guests Danny Kaye, Connie Russell, Tom D'Andrea, Sharon Baird, Hal March (1953) - Self
- Hosts: Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis; film clips of the best Comedy Hour shows of the last year (1953) - Self
1953
The Dave Garroway Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Eddy Arnold (1953) - Self
- Brian Aherne (1953) - Self
- Ethel Waters (1953) - Self
- Ezio Pinza (1953) - Self
- Peter Lorre, Patsy Kelly (1953) - Self
- Wally Cox (1953) - Self
1954
The 26th Annual Academy Awards (TV Special) as
Self - Performer
1952
The Ed Sullivan Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #6.45 (1953) - Self
- Episode #6.7 (1952) - Self
1953
All Star Revue (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #3.33 (1953) - Self
1952
Wonderful Town, U.S.A. (TV Series) as
Self
- Ski Town (1952) - Self
1951
The Paul Whiteman's Goodyear Revue (TV Series) as
Self
- Connie Russell (1952) - Self
- Connie Russell (1952) - Self
- Connie Russell (1951) - Self
1949
Garroway at Large (TV Series) as
Self
- Big Sid Catlett (1951) - Self
- Eddie South (1951) - Self
- Christmas Show (1950) - Self
- The Picnic Song (1950) - Self
