Craig Russell (Canadian actor)
| Craig Russell | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Russell Craig Eadie January 10, 1948 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | October 30, 1990 (aged 42) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Cause of death | AIDS-related stroke |
| Resting place | Pine Grove Cemetery |
| Occupation | Female impersonator, actor |
| Spouse(s) | Lori Jenkins (m. 1982–90) |
Russell Craig Eadie (January 10, 1948 – October 30, 1990), better known by his stage name Craig Russell, was a Canadian female impersonator and actor.
Born in Toronto, Russell became president of Mae West's fan club as a teenager, and he briefly worked and lived in Los Angeles as her secretary. He returned to Toronto where he moved in with the writer Margaret Gibson. He worked as a hairdresser while pursuing his career as a stage performer. By 1971, he was a regular performer in Toronto gay clubs and had a burgeoning international following. He toured performing in Las Vegas, Hollywood, San Francisco, Berlin, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Hamburg and Sydney.
His impersonations included Carol Channing, Bette Davis, Mae West, Barbra Streisand, Tallulah Bankhead, Marlene Dietrich, Bette Midler, Anita Bryant, Shirley Bassey, Peggy Lee and Judy Garland. While performing, he always spoke and sang in the voices of the celebrities he was impersonating.
In 1977, Russell starred in the film Outrageous!, based on a short story written by Gibson about their time as roommates. The film was entered into the 28th Berlin International Film Festival, where Russell won the Silver Bear for Best Actor, and Russell was a Canadian Film Award nominee for Best Actor in 1977.
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