| Betsy Russell | |
|---|---|
 Betsy Russell at the 2007 Scream Awards |
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| Born | September 6 1963 San Diego, California  |
| Years active | 1982 - present |
| Spouse(s) | Vincent Van Patten (1989-2005, 2 children) |
Betsy Russell (born September 6, 1963) is an American actress who is best remembered for her roles in several 1980s B movie.
Contents |
Biography
Russell was born Elizabet Russell in San Diego, California, daughter of Richard Russell, a stock analyst, and granddaughter of journalist and educator Max Lerner. She began acting in school projects while high school in San Diego, and won the role in a Pepsi commercial that was taped locally while in high school.[1] After graduating from Mission Bay High School in 1981, Russell moved to Los Angeles and began taking acting classes and waitress jobs before she her first role in the 1982 film Let's Do It!. That same year, she landed roles on T.J. Hooker and Family Ties.[1] In 1983, Russell's breakout role came as Phoebe Cates' rival in the sex comedy, Private School. She went on to star in a series of B movies in the 1980s including Tomboy, Avenging Angel, and Cheerleader Camp. In addition to films, Russell also appeared on The A-Team, Murder, She Wrote, 1st & Ten, and Superboy.[1]. It was Russell's appearances in Private School and Tomboy, in which she appeared naked, that left her the fantasy of young men everywhere. After a brief retirement from acting, Russell reappeared in the film series Saw in 2006 and 2007 as John Kramer's ex-wife, Jill Tuck.[1]
Personal life
In 1989, Russell married actor Vincent Van Patten, son of actor Dick Van Patten. The couple had two children before divorcing in 2005.[2]
Filmography
- Let's Do It! (1982)
- Private School (1983)
- Avenging Angel (1985)
- Tomboy (1985)
- Out of Control (1985)
- Cheerleader Camp (1987)
- Trapper County War (1989)
- Camp Fear (1991)
- Delta Heat (1992)
- Amore! (1993)
- The Break (1995)
- The Flunky (2000)
- Saw III (2006)
- Saw IV (2007)
- Chain Letter (Filming, 2009)
Television
- The Powers of Matthew Star (1 episode, 1982)
- T.J. Hooker (1 episode, 1982)
- Family Ties (1 episode, 1982)
- The A-Team (2 episodes, 1984-1986)
- Murder, She Wrote (1 episode, 1986)
- 1st & Ten (3 episodes, 1986-1987)
- Roxanne: The Prize Pulitzer (1989)
- Superboy (1 episode, 1989)
- Platypus Man (1 episode, 1995)
