Betsy Russell
24 movies · 6 TV shows
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Sep 6, 1963 (age 63)
- Place of birth
- San Diego, California, USA
- Also known as
- Elizabeth 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.
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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.
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Known for
Betsy Russell: movies and TV shows
Acting (30)
- 2022 Bully High
as Beth White
- 2017 Born and Missing
as Dr. Taylor
- 2014 Knock 'em Dead
as Louanne the Maid / Laurie Grant
- 2014 My Trip Back to the Dark Side
as Destiny
- 2013 Non-Stop
as Gayle
- 2010 Saw 3D
as Jill
- 2010 Chain Letter
as Sergeant Hamill
- 2010 Mandrake
as Felicia
- 2009 Saw VI
as Jill
- 2008 Saw V
as Jill
- 2007 Saw IV
as Jill
- 2006 Saw III
as Jill
- 1995 The Break
as Candy
- 1995
- 1993 Amore!
as Cheryl Schwartz
- 1992 Delta Heat
as Vicky Forbes
- 1991 Camp Fear
as Jamie
- 1989 Roxanne: The Prize Pulitzer
as Liza Pulitzer
- 1989 Trapper County War
as Lacey Luddigger
- 1988
- 1988 Cheerleader Camp
as Alison Wentworth
- 1985 Out of Control
as Chrissie Baret
- 1985 Tomboy
as Tomasina ‘Tomboy’ Boyd
- 1985 Avenging Angel
as Molly Stewart/Angel
- 1984
- 1983 Private School
as Jordan Leigh-Jenson
- 1983
- 1982
- 1982 Let's Do It!
as Kittie
- 1982
Talk shows and appearances (4)
- 2020
- 2013
- 2011
- 2010