Jorge Antonio Russek Martínez (5 January 1932 – 30 July 1998) was a Mexican actor, whose career in film and television spanned over 40 years. A native of Guaymas, he became one of the most prominent actors in Mexican cinema and appeared in more than 300 films in his career.[2]
Jorge Russek | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 January 1932 |
| Died | 30 July 1998 (aged 66) Mexico City, Mexico |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1950–1998 |
| Spouse | Julia Elvira Sánchez de Aparicio |
| Children | 2[1] |
Russek appeared in Western films throughout the 1960s and 1970s, both in Mexican and American cinema, and won Ariel Awards for Best Actor in 1976 and Best Supporting Actor in 1989. He became known for playing norteños, or villainous characters such as gangsters,[3] while simultaneously being recognized for his humility and pleasant personality off of set.[4][5] Later in his career, Russek starred in several telenovelas and was a three-time winner of the TVyNovelas Award for Best Leading Actor.
Biography
editRussek was born on 5 January 1932 in Guaymas, Sonora, to Marcos Russek Ramírez and Luisa Lily Martínez Bustamante and had three older brothers. His mother's side of the family hailed from Durango, where his great-grandfather served as a local government official during the presidency of Benito Juárez.[5] He studied at a military academy in North Hollywood, California.[6]
Russek entered the film industry as an extra in 1950.[7] He also acted on stage early in his career, but quit because he felt asphyxiated in the dressing rooms.[6] In 1954, Russek appeared in the Mexican-American film Sitting Bull.[6] His first notable role was in the film La vida de Agustín Lara.[2] Russek acted in films of many different genres, but became known for his roles in Western films in the late 1960s and early 1970s, both in Mexican and American cinema.[4][8] He appeared in American television series such as I Spy and The High Chaparral, but he also landed roles in films such as The Wild Bunch (1969), Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), Soldier Blue (1970), Big Jake (1971), The Wrath of God (1972), and Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973), all while remaining active in Mexico.
Russek won the Diosa de Plata for Best Actor in 1973 for his role in the film Todo por nada.[6] At the 18th Ariel Awards held in 1976, he won Best Actor for his role in De todos modos Juan te llamas.[4][9] Russek also won the Ariel Award for Best Supporting Actor at the 31st Ariel Awards in 1989 for his role in Los camaroneros.[10]
Russek earned his first main role in a telenovela in 1986 when he played the role of a Michoacán landowner named Don Fernando Vallarta in La gloria y el infierno, which aired on Televisa.[11][12] His next main role on television was in the 1990 telenovela, Días sin luna, where he played the role of Rogelio Santamaría. For his performance, he won the TVyNovelas Award for Best Leading Actor at the 9th TVyNovelas Awards. Russek joined the cast of La fuerza del amor as Gustavo soon afterwards. He won his second TVyNovelas Award for Best Leading Actor for his performance as Samuel Aldapa in the 1996 hit telenovela, Cañaveral de Pasiones.
His final role was in Huracán, where he played the main antagonist, Néstor Villarreal, a wealthy businessman whose practices polluted the ocean.[13] For his performance, he received the Award for Best Leading Actor at the 16th TVyNovelas Awards in May 1998.[14]
Personal life and legacy
edit
Russek was a professional photographer whose pictures were shown at various exhibitions.[2][6][15] He often brought his Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex camera to sets he worked on.[8] Russek was known for his pictures of natural landscapes in Durango.[5] He also served as an advisor to the Durango Directorate of Tourism and Cinematography from 1974 to 1980 and again from 1992 to 1998.[5] In his final years, he worked on an autobiography, which was tentatively titled Una vida de película.[2]
Russek died of a heart attack aged 66 on 30 July 1998 at a hospital in Mexico City.[2] He was visited by friends such as Ernesto Alonso, Silvia Pinal, Norma Herrera, Raúl Araiza, José Rendón and José Ángel Espinoza.[2] Per his wishes, Russek was cremated and his ashes were spread in Durango, where he filmed many of his movies.[15] For years to follow, cultural events were held every August in his honor in Durango.[6][7][16] Additionally, a telesecundaria in Durango was named after Russek.[7][15]
In 2007, a collection of almost 2,000 pictures taken by Russek was entered into the archives of the Cineteca Nacional.[8]
In a 2013 interview, Mario Almada stated that Russek was one of the actors he most admired.[17]
Filmography
editFilm
edit
|
|
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Captain David Grief | Juan | Episode: "Buried Treasure" |
| 1964 | México 1900 | 3 episodes | |
| 1968 | I Spy | Raul | Episode: "The Name of the Game" |
| 1968–1969 | The High Chaparral | El Coyote / Molinero | 2 episodes |
| 1972 | Appointment with Destiny | Diego de Ordaz | Episode: "Cortez and Montezuma: The Conquest of an Empire" |
| 1977 | El mexicano | Miniseries; 3 episodes | |
| 1986 | La gloria y el infierno | Fernando Vallarta | 120 episodes |
| 1987 | El rincón de los prodigios | ||
| 1990 | Días sin luna | Francisco | 80 episodes |
| 1990–1991 | La fuerza del amor | Gustavo | 155 episodes |
| 1993–1994 | Más allá del puente | Don Fulgencio Rojas | |
| 1995 | Mujer, Casos de la Vida Real | Episode: "Una lección de amor" | |
| 1996 | Cañaveral de Pasiones | Samuel Aldapa | 3 episodes |
| 1997 | Pueblo chico, infierno grande | Don Rosendo Equigia | Episode: "#1.1" |
| 1997–1998 | Huracán | Don Néstor Villarreal | 3 episodes |
Shorts
edit| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1989 | Cuento de Navidad |
| 1992 | Mina |
Awards and accolades
editPremios Ariel
edit| Year | Category | Movie | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Best Actor | De todos modos Juan te llamas | Won |
| 1989 | Best Supporting Actor | Los camaroneros | |
| 1994 | Best Actor | La última batalla | Nominated |
Premios TVyNovelas
edit| Year | Category | Telenovela | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Best Leading Actor | Días sin luna | Won |
| 1997 | Best Leading Actor | Cañaveral de Pasiones | |
| 1998 | Best Leading Actor | Huracán |
Diosas de Plata
edit| Year | Category | Movie | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Best Actor | Todo por nada | Won |
References
edit- ^ Delhumeau, Lizzette (29 August 2007). "Recuerdan a un hombre ?de película?". El Siglo de Durango. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Muere Jorge Russek". Metro (in Spanish). 31 July 1998. Retrieved 26 May 2023 – via vLex México. (registration required)
- ^ a b "Santo y Blue Demon contra el Dr. Frankenstein". Dave Wilt's Skeletal Home Page. University of Maryland. 10 July 2018. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ a b c "Jorge Russek decidido a dirigir cine". El Miami Herald (in Spanish). 27 October 1976. p. 8. Retrieved 26 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d Gurrola, Fabiola (30 August 2009). "Jorge Russek, un gran amigo". El Siglo de Durango (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Recuerdan al duranguense por adopción Jorge Russek". El Siglo de Durango (in Spanish). 27 August 2007. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ a b c d Gómez Cano, Gerardo (30 August 2003). "Russek, un hombre para recordar". El Siglo de Durango (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ a b c López Romero, Rodrigo. "El acervo y sus demonios: La mirada de Jorge Russek". Corre Cámara (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ "Ganadores Premios Ariel 1976" (in Spanish). cine.com. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ "Ganadores Premios Ariel 1989" (in Spanish). cine.com. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ "La Gloria y el Infierno". alma-latina.net. Archived from the original on 22 February 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ Santillán, Javier (11 February 2022). "La Gloria y el Infierno, un drama rural de época". La Hora de la Novela (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 27 January 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ Nabor, Andrea (8 May 2023). "Eduardo Palomo protagonizó la telenovela 'Huracán' con Angélica Rivera y así se veían". Revista Fama (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ "Noche de estrellas". La Nación (in Spanish). 23 May 1998. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ a b c Ruelas Talamantes, Miguel Ángel (3 September 2006). "De La Vida Misma / Jorge Russek". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ "ICED rendirá homenaje a Jorge Russek" (in Spanish). Secretariat of Culture. 21 August 2009. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ "Mario Almada murió "feliz y en paz": Marcos Almada". Debate.com.mx (in Spanish). 5 October 2016. Archived from the original on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ "La Hija Del General (1984)". AllMovie. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ "El Jinete de la Divina Providencia". TV Guide. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ "Paseo de las estrellas, nuevo atractivo turístico". El Siglo de Durango. 27 May 2023. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023.
External links
edit- Jorge Russek at IMDb
- Jorge Russek at Rotten Tomatoes
- Jorge Russek on ElCinema.com
- Jorge Russek at AllMovie
- Jorge Russek at TV Guide
- Jorge Russek at Letterboxd
- Jorge Russek at AlloCiné (in French)
- Jorge Russek at La Vanguardia