Gentleman Prefer Blondes star Jane Russell has died aged 89. Russell was discovered by Howard Hughes and went on to become one of the biggest stars of the 1940s and '50s.
Her daughter-in-law Etta Waterfield said the actress died Monday at her home in Santa Maria of a respiratory-related illness. 'She always said I'm going to die in the saddle, I'm not going to sit at home and become an old woman,' Waterfield said. 'And that's exactly what she did, she died in the saddle.'
Hughes, the eccentric billionaire, cast Russell in his sexy, and controversial, 1941 Western The Outlaw, about Billy The Kid. The movie was initially subject to strict censorship laws because of the ample cleavage displayed by Russell, born Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell in June 1921 in Minnesota.
When it was released two years later it turned her into an overnight star.
Although her look and her hourglass figure made her the subject of numerous nightclub jokes, unlike Monroe, Rita Hayworth and other pinup queens of the era, Russell was untouched by scandal in her personal life.
The actress was married three times but during her Hollywood career she was married to star UCLA and pro football quarterback Bob Waterfield. Although her film career slowed in the 1960s, Russell remained active throughout her life. She was busy in her church and with charitable organizations until her health began to decline just a couple weeks ago. In recent years fans could see the Hollywood legend singing at a hotel bar near her Santa Maria home.
Russell adopted three children who survive her along with her six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
Her daughter-in-law Etta Waterfield said the actress died Monday at her home in Santa Maria of a respiratory-related illness. 'She always said I'm going to die in the saddle, I'm not going to sit at home and become an old woman,' Waterfield said. 'And that's exactly what she did, she died in the saddle.'
Hughes, the eccentric billionaire, cast Russell in his sexy, and controversial, 1941 Western The Outlaw, about Billy The Kid. The movie was initially subject to strict censorship laws because of the ample cleavage displayed by Russell, born Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell in June 1921 in Minnesota.
When it was released two years later it turned her into an overnight star.
Although her look and her hourglass figure made her the subject of numerous nightclub jokes, unlike Monroe, Rita Hayworth and other pinup queens of the era, Russell was untouched by scandal in her personal life.
The actress was married three times but during her Hollywood career she was married to star UCLA and pro football quarterback Bob Waterfield. Although her film career slowed in the 1960s, Russell remained active throughout her life. She was busy in her church and with charitable organizations until her health began to decline just a couple weeks ago. In recent years fans could see the Hollywood legend singing at a hotel bar near her Santa Maria home.
Russell adopted three children who survive her along with her six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
