Kurt Russell

A total icon of the 80s and 90s with a massive filmography to back it up! Check some of them out::Used cars (1980), Escape from New York, The Thing, Big Trouble in Little China, Tango & Cash, Tombstone, Stargate, Executive Decision, Escape from L.A., Breakdown, Soldier, 3000 Miles to Graceland, Dark Blue, Miracle, Poseidon, Death Proof (2007)!

For me, nothing beats his legendary turns as Snake Plissken in Escape from NY or L.A., Jack Burton in Big Trouble in Little China, stuntman Mike in Death Proof, plus those roles in Tango & Cash and Soldier. But honestly? His absolute peak performance for me has to be in The Thing!

Breakdown is top-tier. 😁

I’ve always somehow mixed him up with Patrick Swayze. No clue why—probably just that hair.
He's a solid actor, though. Honestly, he carries half of Tango & Cash on his back.🙂

Kurt Russell was actually a killer athlete—a total standout on the baseball diamond. He eventually signed with the California (later Los Angeles) Angels, grinding through their minor league system and juggling acting gigs during the off-season back when he was just starting out. In 1973, Russell made it to the Angels' AA farm team in El Paso, Texas. But everything changed

That June, a nasty injury cut his baseball dreams short right in the middle of a double play. An opponent came in with a high slide, leaving him with a massive tear in his arm muscle. After that, he pivoted to acting full-time. Looking back on those days, Russell told the New York Times’ Jamie Diamond, “I really loved baseball. I thought acting was something I could do to make money. It wasn’t until I was in my mid-20s that I began to take it seriously.”

Even though he got some help aging up on screen during his Disney roles, moving into more mature parts in TV and film was a bit of a struggle until the tail end of the 70s. Everything clicked in 1979, when Russell had his breakthrough role playing singer/actor Elvis Presley in the television movie Elvis Presley. Interestingly enough, his own father played Presley’s father in the movie, and his wife at the time, Season Hubley, played Elvis Presley's wife, Priscilla Presley. The movie received high ratings when it aired, and Russell was nominated for an Emmy Award for his work in the role, which he took very seriously.

Since he's an actor who has jumped into pretty much every genre imaginable, Russell has always stuck to a pretty straightforward philosophy. He told Columnist of The Los Angeles Times, “I’ve had a career of making all kinds of movies. For us, the process is always the same: You create something that you think an audience is going to have a great time with.”

Nathan Ruiz33 said:I don't know why, but I always used to mix him up with Patrick Swayze—honestly, it’s probably just because of the hair.
He’s a solid actor, honestly—he basically carries half of Tango & Cash on his back.🙂

Like my mom—she can never tell which one of those two is which, haha.

Hands down my absolute favorite actor... I’ve been hooked since I saw him back in the day in Tango & Cash. He absolutely kills it in The Thing, and honestly, he's easily the go-to leading man for a legendary director like John Carpenter. Then you've got Breakdown, which is one of those movies I can watch over and over again without getting bored. The guy just has this massive catalog of films that are basically indestructible—total classics.

Hail to the king, baby! 🙏🙏🙏🙏

granitemarlin38 said:Man, honestly, she can never tell which one is which between those two—classic haha

Hands down my favorite actor... I’ve been hooked since I was a kid watching Tango & Cash, he absolutely kills it in The Thing, and obviously, he's the go-to leading man for the legendary John Carpenter. Breakdown is one of those movies I can watch over and over again—the guy just has a massive catalog of absolute classics....

Hail to the king, baby 🙏🙏🙏🙏

Totally agree
with you👍, these are timeless classics.... when I was a kid, my absolute favorite was Big Trouble in Little China... such a freaking classic 😁... and man, the number of legendary quotes in there:
Jack Burton:
"Everybody relax, I'm here"
"I was born ready"
"This is Jack Burton in the Porkchop Express and I'm talkin' to whoever's listening out there"
Like I told my last wife, I said, "Honey, I never drive faster than I can see. Besides, it's all in the reflexes"🙏
"Son of a bitch must pay!"
"Just remember what old Jack Burton does when the earth quakes, the poison arrows fall from the sky, and the pillars of heaven shake. Yeah, Jack Burton just looks that big old storm right in the eye and says, 'Give me your best shot. I can take it.'"
🙏🙏🙏
Behind the scenes, Big Trouble in Little China
And Snake... man... don't even get me started... xDD

hahahahaha 🙏🙏

Snake Plisken—man, what a face... Kurt just has that rebel look about him, like he couldn't care less if you're looking at him or not. *Big Trouble in Little China* is such a blast, but honestly, I’m down for pretty much anything he’s in. Those classics like *The Thing*, *Escape from LA*, *Escape from NY*, *Big Trouble*, and *Stargate* (nobody even mentioned that one, apparently?)... man, you can watch those anytime, they never get old. And when you throw "dad" Carpenter into the mix, it’s basically a guaranteed win. *Soldier* is a fun ride too, and in that Tarantino flick, he’s absolutely killer—like a stuntman gone rogue. The guy is the real deal, seriously glad you started this thread 🙂

because I love hockey, it was awesome seeing him in *Miracle*. He’s a phenomenal actor and I’ve been a fan for the longest time!

👍👍

granitemarlin38 said:Snake Plisken—what a damn icon.

Call me Snake
I don't give a fuck about your war... or your president.
Sad story. You got a smoke?
You going to kill me, Snake? Not now, I'm too tired. Maybe later.
Swear to God Snake, I thought you were dead... Yeah, you and everybody else!🙏
You'd better hope I don't make it back!

[throws cigarette down, shaking his head with disgust, Snake walks away] unrepeatable

Unrepeatable... honestly, Russell isn't quite on the level of guys like Jack Nicholson or Al Pacino right now—not that anyone expects him to be, he's just playing in a different league—but the roles he grabs and how he pulls them off are legendary. His Escape movies and Big Trouble are definitely his trademark!🙏

As far as Sci-Fi/Action goes, Soldier from '98 is another one of his really solid films for me👍, and we don't even need to talk much about Tango & Cash—it’s great, especially with that killer Faltermeyer's soundtrack.🙏

Big Trouble in Little China

🙏🙏🙏

Should I add anything else 😍?

I’ve got a huge soft spot for him since I practically grew up watching his movies... He’s just one of those classic faces from the past, haha. My absolute favorites have to be Stargate and Tombstone. I’m especially big on Stargate; it’ll always hold a special place in my heart. 😁

John Carpenter and Kurt Russell
Even though they’ve only knocked out four feature films and a single TV movie as a duo, it feels like Carpenter & Russell have been basically inseparable for the last twenty years. Now, look—their collaborations might not carry the same "prestige" weight as some of those legendary director-actor pairings you see in Hollywood history, but let's be real: Carpenter & Russell's movies are absolute cult classics that people still obsess over.

At the end of the day, the real sign of a killer director/star combo isn't just how many projects they grind through together—it's about whether they actually bring out the best in one another. And this is certainly true of Carpenter and Russell. Sure, both guys have crushed it on plenty of other solo ventures, but the films that Carpenter and Russell have made together are among the best and most popular in their respective filmographies.

amberwalker4 said:Big Trouble in Little China

🙏🙏🙏

Is there anything else I even need to say 😍?

👍but man, this scene Quite Possibly The Best scene ever Filmed😂🙏="it's all in the reflexes"

Tango & Cash and Breakdown are probably his best... 😁

Jacob Lopez51 said:Unrepeatable... look, I don't think Russell is playing in the same league as someone like Jack Nicholson or Al Pacino right now—not that anyone expects him to, he's just in a different stratosphere—but the roles he’s landed and how he pulls them off? Unrepeatable. Those Escape from LA vibes and Big Trouble in Little China are definitely his trademark!🙏

As for sci-fi/action, Soldier from '98 is a personal favorite of mine too👍, and honestly, we don't even need to debate Tango & Cash—it's a blast, especially with that killer Faltermeyer's soundtrack.🙏

Look, the guy is just a charismatic actor and a great human being—he doesn't need to prove anything to anyone. Sure, he might not be sitting at the very top of the Mount Rushmore tier alongside guys like Al Pacino, De Niro, Clint, or Jack Nicholson, but the man makes movies that just grab you by the heart...

And regarding Soldier? I could watch that anytime. I've still got it on VHS and DVD... I'm telling you, his movies are UNSTOPPABLE!!!!

That's just my take... 😂🙏👍

Jacob Lopez51 said:👍but man, this specific bit Quite Possibly The Best scene ever Filmed😂🙏="it's all in the reflexes"

Look at that face—he was such a kid back then, haha... 🙏

granitemarlin38 said:Man, look at that face when he was younger... haha... 🙏

👍We really are obsessed with Kurt Russell.😁...when he’s basically unkillable—For God's sake! Don't do it, Snake! The name is Plissken.😂He’s always throwing counters!
When I get back, you're dead meat. — ma najjači😁🙏

Tango & Cash , obviously! 😁

Jacob Lopez51 said:👍we really are total Russell fanatics😁...I mean, when he’s in that unstoppable mode—"For God sake. Don't do it, Snake! The name is Plissken"😂—he just nails the comeback every single time!
When I get back, I'm gonna kill you.—absolute legend.😁🙏

Honestly, I love seeing it—just us hanging out here... always pushing back against everything, pure defiance... just legendary stuff...🙂🙂🙂

Stuntman Mike. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

There really is only one Stuntman Mike. 😁

Jacob Lopez51 said:👍but this scene Quite Possibly The Best scene ever Filmed😂🙏="it's all in the reflexes"

The best part is that look on his face when he misses 😂👍