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Betsy Russell

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
34

Gender
Female

Birthday
September 6, 1963 (62 years old)

Place of Birth
San Diego, California, USA

Betsy Russell

Biography

Elizabeth "Betsy" Russell (born 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.

Russell was born in San Diego, California, the daughter of Constance (née Lerner) and Richard Lion Russell, a stock analyst, and the granddaughter of journalist and educator Max Lerner. Her father and maternal grandfather were Jewish. Russell wanted to be an actress since the age of eight and started acting in school plays. She appeared in a Pepsi commercial that was taped locally while in high school. After graduating from Mission Bay High School in 1981, she moved to Los Angeles and began taking acting classes before landing her first role. She did a masters program in Spiritual Psychology at the University of Santa Monica and is a certified hypnotist and life coach, also from the University of Santa Monica.

Russell's first role was in the 1982 film Let's Do It! 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." She 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.

Russell resides in Malibu, California.

In August 1988, Russell was engaged to actor Vincent Van Patten, son of Dick Van Patten. They were married nine months later on May 27, 1989, in North Hollywood. Their wedding reception was at Van Patten's father's Sherman Oaks home which was attended by numerous A-list celebrities. They divorced in 2001 and have two sons: Richard Van Patten (March 1993) and Vincent Van Patten, Jr. (September 3, 1995) Russell was previously engaged to film producer Mark Burg.

After a brief retirement from acting, 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. She played a role in the 2010 film Chain Letter, the SyFy film Mandrake, and My Trip Back to the Dark Side.

Description above from the Wikipedia article Betsy Russell, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known For

Acting

2022Bully Highas Beth White
2020Skin: A History of Nudity in the Moviesas Self
2014Knock 'em Deadas Louanne the Maid / Laurie Grant
2014My Trip Back to the Dark Sideas Destiny
2013Non-Stopas Gayle
2013Blood of 1000 Virginsas Self (archive footage)
2011Celebrity Nude Revue: Easy 80's Volume 1as Self (archive footage)
2010Chiller 13: The Decade's Scariest Movie Momentsas Self
2010Saw 3Das Jill Tuck
2010Chain Letteras Sergeant Hamill
2010Mandrakeas Felicia
2009Saw VIas Jill Tuck
2008Saw Vas Jill Tuck
2007Saw IVas Jill Tuck
2006Saw IIIas Jill Tuck
1995The Breakas Candy
1995Platypus Manas Becky
1993Amore!as Cheryl Schwartz
1992Delta Heatas Vicky Forbes
1991Camp Fearas Jamie
1989Roxanne: The Prize Pulitzeras Liza Pulitzer
1989Trapper County Waras Lacey Luddigger
1988Superboyas Serene
1988Cheerleader Campas Alison Wentworth
1985Out of Controlas Chrissie Baret
1985Tomboyas Tomboy
1985Avenging Angelas Molly Stewart/Angel
1984Murder, She Wroteas Doris Robinson
1983Private Schoolas Jordan Leigh-Jenson
1983The A-Teamas Adrian Prescott
1983The A-Teamas Tina
1982Family Tiesas The Girl
1982Let's Do It!as Kittie
1982T. J. Hookeras Teenager

Production