From his turn as antihero Snake Plissken in 1981’sEscape From New Yorkto problematic - hombre motortruck equipment driver Jack Burton in 1986’sBig Trouble in Little Chinato westerly peace officer Wyatt Earp in 1993’sTombstone , Kurt Russell hasenduredas one of the more versatile leading men in Hollywood . For more on Russell , including his early athletic ambitions and playing Elvis Presley , keep read .
1. Kurt Russell originally had his sights set on being a professional baseball player.
On March 17 , 1951 , Kurt Russell was born in Springfield , Massachusetts , to parent Bing and Louise Russell , but turn up in Thousand Oaks , California . He took lowering stirring from his father , himself an doer and posterior possessor of a modest league baseball squad , the Portland Mavericks . In increase to acting in sept films for The Walt Disney Company like 1969’sThe Computer Wore Tennis Shoesand 1975’sThe Strongest Man in the World , Russell was alsopursuinga career in professional baseball . In 1971 , he bring together the Bend Rainbows and subsequently played for his father ’s Mavericks . When a shoulder combat injury arrest his athletic ambitions in 1973 , he commence focusing on pretend full - time .
The tidings was not get around to him so softly . Remembering the doctor whotoldhim his shoulder joint would terminate his baseball game calling , Russell think him asking , “ Are n’t you also an actor ? ” When Russell say he was , the doctor said , “ Well , you ’re an actor all the time now . ”
2. Kurt Russell passed up a chance to be inStar Warsto do a television Western.
When George Lucas was castingStar Warsin 1975 , he saw a number of player , include Russell , whoauditionedfor both Han Solo and Luke Skywalker . Russell was concerned in the moving-picture show , but by and by say that he was also being offered a role on a television receiver Western calledThe Questaround the same time and asked Lucas if he could make a decision about whether he require Russell in the movie — and if so , in which part .
“ I do n’t bed which part I prefer you in , ” Russell recalled Lucas as pronounce . “ I do n’t know if I like you as Han and this guy as Skywalker , or this bozo as Han and you as Skywalker . I do n’t know . ” When Lucas could n’t give him an answer , Russell opted to doThe Quest .
3. Kurt Russell was nominated for an Emmy for playing Elvis Presley.
The King has follow Russell around , or vice versa . Russell had a modest part in an Elvis photographic film while as a child actor , appearing in 1963’sIt happen at the World ’s Fair . In 2001 , he appeared as a criminal who was also an Elvis impersonator in3000 Miles to Graceland . Most notably , he agree todubover an actor playing Presley in 1994’sForrest Gumpas a favor to Robert Zemeckis , who directed Russell in 1980’sUsed Cars .
4.Bull Durhamwas written for Kurt Russell.
If you ’ve ever wondered why a former baseball game player like Russell never made a baseball game movie , he amount secretive . Writer and director Ron Shelton wrote 1988’sBull Durham , about an age slugger name Crash Davis , specifically for Russell . The studio , however , insistedthat Shelton cast Kevin Costner instead .
5. Kurt Russell was paid twice his going rate forStargatebecause he was considered impossible to dislike.
It ’s often been say of Russell that he possesses an inherent likeability . Perhaps audience wo n’t like every film he appears in , but they wish the actor himself . According to Russell , that was once backed by research . Recalling that the producers of 1994 ’s science - fiction movieStargateoffered him twice his going rate to secure his service , he cited hearing satisfaction as the intellect why . “ They said , ‘ Oh , well , we ran a questionnaire around the humankind , ’ ” RusselltoldGQin 2016 . “ They wanted to value actors on their unlikeability . They want to find someone who was likeable because the part , as written , was not . And they said , ‘ You know the only star out there who has zero unlikeability ? ’ ‘ Kurt Russell . ’ Zero unlikeability ! ” Russell sum up that the inquiry was done a foresightful clock time ago and “ that bit may have changed significantly . ”
6. Kurt Russell may have stealth-directedTombstone.
In 1993’sTombstone , Russell play a world - weary Wyatt Earp set about to land gild to the anarchic town of Tombstone . aim by George P. Cosmatos , the film has become a classic of the Western genre . concord to aninterviewwith Russell inTrue Westmagazine in 2006 , it was he , not Cosmatos , who did most of the heavy lifting behind the scene . After screenwriter Kevin Jarre was rent go from directing , producer asked Russell if he need to direct it . He did , but he did n’t want to put his name on it . Instead , he order , he gave Cosmatos a shot list every night for the follow day ’s shot , an placement that Cosmatos agree to and manifestly had withSylvester Stalloneon 1985’sRambo : First Blood Part II .
Russell later on criticized theTrue Westinterview , saying that he preferred not to hash out what went on withTombstonein a public assembly . “ I narrate [ George ] that if the studio heads talked to me and the producer talk to me about what took place onTombstonein terms of George ’s involvement , in trust I would state them the secret and veridical truth , ” hetoldThe San Diego Readerin 2016 . “ Publicly , I have no interest in tainting anything aboutTombstone . The credit are what the credit are , and I will leave it at that . ”
7. Kurt Russell once reported a UFO sighting while flying an airplane.
Russell is an air travel yellowish brown who has his pilot ’s permit . While flying his plane with Oliver Hudson ( Goldie Hawn ’s boy , who Russell raised and considers his own son ) in 1997 , hereporteda unusual event . “ I was vaporize Oliver to go see his lady friend , and we were on approach , ” Russell told the BBC . “ I saw six lights over the aerodrome in absolute uniform in a V build . Oliver said to me — I was just expect at him , I was coming in , we ’re maybe a half - mile out — and Oliver said , ‘ pappa , what are those lights ? ’ Then I kind of come out of my reverie and I said , ‘ I do n’t know what they are . He said , ‘ Are we OK here ? ’ And I said , ‘ Yeah , I ’m gon na call in , ’ and I reported it . ” The lights soon became known as the Phoenix Lights , which were witnessed by several people . Russell did n’t make his sighting world until 2017 .
8. Kurt Russell is not crazy about anEscape From New Yorkremake.
Talks have been on-going for a remake ofEscape From New York , the 1981 picture that put Russell on the mathematical function as a viable action hero . Speaking toEntertainment Weeklyin 2017 , Russell wasaskedhow he felt about someone else play Snake Plissken . “ I did n’t play Snake Plissken , ” Russell said . “ I created him ! ” Asked if he would do a cameo or act a supporting role , he was more succinct . “ F**k that ! IamSnake Plissken ! ”
