Movie Icon Jane Russell Dies

During her career in Hollywood, Jane Russell kept company with the likes of Marilyn Monroe, eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes and a host of other legendary personalities. She was best-known for her impressive, Amazonian figure -- which she always put to good use on the big screen. And now, she’s gone.

Jane Russell died on Monday in Santa Maria at the age of 89, 70 years after she was cast in her first Howard Hughes movie (The Outlaw). Her cleavage, amply displayed throughout the flick, created a huge controversy with censors. She did westerns with the Howard Hughes-owned RKO studios for several years in the 1940s before being cast as Marilyn Monroe’s brunette bestie in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The role gave Russell the chance to show off another of her assets -- her powerful singing voice. You can hear -- and see -- her talents on display in the video above, a clip of Russell's big solo from the movie.

Throughout the 1950s, she continued to star in films. Russell was paired onscreen with Clark Gable, Robert Mitchum and Frank Sinatra -- to name just a few. Russell spent the next years singing in nightclubs, making the occasional movie appearance until 1970.

 

 

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