Kurt Russell (born March 17, 1951) is an American television and film actor who is best known for his roles in the 1986 martial arts comedy film Big Trouble in Little China, the 1982 sci-fi horror film, The Thing, and the 1981 science-fiction action film Escape from New York and its 1996 sequel Escape from L.A. as iconic anti-hero "Snake" Plissken. He voiced Copper as an adult in the 1981 Disney animated film The Fox and the Hound and portrayed Dexter Riley in The Strongest Man in the World, Now You See Him, Now You Don't, and The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, Sidney Bower in The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band as a teenager, and Edward "Whitey" White, Jr as a child in Follow Me, Boys!. As an adult, he played Captain Ron in the film of the same name, Coach Herb Brooks in the 2004 Disney biographical sports film Miracle, and The Commander in the 2005 Disney superhero film Sky High. He plays Ego the Living Planet in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
Disney Roles
Follow Me, Boys!
Captain Ron
Miracle
The Barefoot Executive
Charley and the Angel
The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit
Superdad
Gallery
Trivia
- Russell originally auditioned for the role of Han Solo in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. However, Harrison Ford was cast instead at the end.[1] Years later, Russell was also considered along Denzel Washington, Tom Hanks and Morgan Freeman for the role of Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.[2] However, Liam Neeson was cast at the end.
- Russell also screen-tested in order to audition for the role of Eddie Valiant in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. However, Bob Hoskins ended up being cast in that part.[3]
- Russell was also considered along Jack Davenport and Tommy Lee Jones to voice Commander Lyle Tiberius Rourke in Atlantis: The Lost Empire, but the late James Garner was selected to voice the character at the end.