Date of Birth
30 December 1934,
Los Angeles, California, USA
Birth Name
Russell Irving Tamblyn
Height
5' 9" (1.75 m)
Mini Biography
Russ Tamblyn might as well face it...he will be a Jet "till his last dying day." Indelibly linked to the "womb to tomb" role of Riff, the knife-wielding, rocket-tempered, Baryshnikov-styled gang leader of the streetwise Jets in the musical film masterpiece West Side Story (1961), it's not a bad way to be remembered! Russ was actually 27 when he portrayed the teenage troublemaker who became the '50s equivalent of the Mercutio character in the Romeo and Juliet-inspired adaptation.
To describe Tamblyn as talented and extremely agile is a huge understatement. This awesome musical performer was born in Los Angeles, California on December 30, 1934, and groomed early for stardom. Discovered at age ten by actor Lloyd Bridges for the play "Stone Jungle", Russ was soon performing on radio and in L.A.-based musical revues. Billed as "Rusty Tamblyn" then, the tousle-haired scrapper played a student extra in his first film The Boy with Green Hair (1948) starring another child actor, Dean Stockwell. Having taken up dancing and acrobatics from the age of 6, Tamblyn marked his abilities with his very first TV appearance on the "The Ed Sullivan Show." Eventually handed a starring role in the "B" film The Kid from Cleveland (1949), he was signed by an eager MGM who saw his potential as a juvenile actor. Featured in the popular family-oriented comedy Father of the Bride (1950), and its sequel Father's Little Dividend (1951), Tamblyn also had a prime role in the war drama Take the High Ground! (1953) before taking off in musical films. Demonstrating exceptional athleticism in one of MGM's best, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954), Tamblyn's timing was regrettably off as musicals were quickly on the wane. He adjusted, however. A starring role in the low-budget The Young Guns (1956) led to excellent reviews in the ensemble box-office soaper Peyton Place (1957). Tamblyn, along with Lana Turner, Arthur Kennedy, Hope Lange and Diane Varsi, all received Oscar nominations for their participation. Russ scored quite well in the title role of tom thumb (1958), which became a large stepping stone in his being cast as Riff in 1961. Following this achievement, however, the offers started dwindling.
Tamblyn's last co-starring roles in quality films were shot overseas with the British-produced chiller The Haunting (1963/I) with Julie Harris and Claire Bloom, and the British-Yugoslavian Viking costumer The Long Ships (1964) starring Richard Widmark and Sidney Poitier. After that, his career grew quite dismal. Titles such as The Female Bunch (1969), Satan's Sadists (1969), Scream Free! (1969), Dracula vs. Frankenstein (1971) and Blood Screams (1988) pretty much tells the story. On the road in the lean years with minor stage productions here and there, including the musical "Cabaret," Russ all but disappeared from the viewing audience. When he finally nabbed the role of the overtly weird (and who wasn't on that show?) psychiatrist Dr. Lawrence Jacoby in the popular TV cult series "Twin Peaks" (1990), it was the first time Tamblyn had generated interest in over two decades. Barely recognizable with his wild-eyed look, mangy hair and frizzy beard, he has since gained employment off this eccentric image. Married three times, Tamblyn has lately taken on choreographic duties and the managing of actress/daughter Amber Tamblyn's career, she of "Joan of Arcadia" (2003) fame.
IMDb Mini Biography By:
Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net
Spouse
Trivia
Son of Eddie Tamblyn. Brother of Larry Tamblyn of the rock band The Standells. Father of Amber Tamblyn.
Was a gymnast at North Hollywood High School. A buoyant dancer and tumbler, Tamblyn began acting in films in 1948. His abilities as an acrobat and gymnast led to his being cast in such spectacular and dynamic dance films as Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) among others.
Father of Amber Tamblyn
Was a gymnast at North Hollywood High School.
Married three times; all his wives were involved in show business. Venetia Stevenson was a film actress, British Elizabeth Kempton (born 1935) was a Vegas showgirl and present wife, Bonnie Tamblyn, is a folk singer.
In 1997, he made a one-shot guest appearance on "General Hospital" (1963) in a song-and-dance sketch that featured his daughter, Amber Tamblyn.
Appeared in three episodes of "Joan of Arcadia" (2003) on which his daughter Amber Tamblyn starred: "Night without Stars", "Do the Math" and "Friday Night".
Has always claimed that his biggest professional disappointment was not getting the title role in the post-Broadway tour of "Barnum". The part went to Tony Orlando, instead.
Has starred in with Natalie Wood and her sister Lana Wood : as Riff in West Side Story (1961) with Natalie and as Link in Scream Free! (1969) with Lana. Both films also co-starred Richard Beymer.
His standout dance sequence while performing the role of Eric in The Fastest Gun Alive (1956) duplicated some of his dance moves from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) and, in fact, added some athletics that went beyond those original moves.
Has done art work such as painting, drawing and creating collages. His "spacescapes" have been displayed at exhibitions at the Los Angeles County Art Museum and the Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art.
In July 2006, he was a guest at the Western Film Fair in Charlotte, North Carolina along with Ben Murphy, Roger Davis, Steve Kanaly, Marjorie Lord, Coleen Gray, Mark Goddard, Ronnie Schell, Tom Reese and Cheryl Rogers.
Father of China Tamblyn (member of the Kirby Grips musical group).
Co-starred with Richard Beymer in both West Side Story (1961) and "Twin Peaks" (1990).
Originally auditioned for the part of "Tony" in West Side Story (1961), but was cast as "Riff" instead, while the part of "Tony" went to 'Richard Beymer'.
Godfather of his daughter Amber Tamblyn is Dean Stockwell.
Personal Quotes
On his performance as "Riff" in West Side Story (1961): "Life is so strange. "West Side Story" was one of the high points of my career. Yet, when I first saw it, I was really disappointed in how I came off. Since then, Fred Astaire has told me how much he admired my dancing in it. Now I see it very differently".
Where Are They Now
(April 2002) Lives in Santa Monica, California and manages daughter Amber's career.
(June 2003) Currently playing "Capt. John Green" in Neil Young's multimedia "Greendale" tour. He is also directing and choreographing the production numbers for the tour.
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