Bing Russell

Although he's better known as the father of Kurt Russell, Bing Russell had a long acting career of his own. Born in Brattleboro, Vermont, in 1926, Bing had dreams of becoming an actor from a young age. He studied drama at Brattleboro Middletown High School, and made many television appearances in small parts early in his career. In 1961 he scored the role he is most remembered for, Deputy Clem Foster on the long-running Western series "Bonanza." He appeared in over 50 episodes on the show, while also making appearances on other frontier staples--"Gunsmoke" and "The Virginian"--as well as the undercover cop show "The Mod Squad." In 1979, Russell took the role of the elder Vernon Presley alongside his son Kurt, who played the King of Rock 'N' Roll in the TV movie "Elvis." Outside the acting arena, Russell made a name for himself as the owner of the Portland Mavericks minor-league baseball team.