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Jorge Russek

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Russek and the second or maternal family name is Martínez.
Jorge Russek
Born(1932-01-05)5 January 1932
Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico
Died30 July 1998(1998-07-30) (aged 66)
Mexico City, Mexico
OccupationActor
Years active1950–1998
SpouseJulia Elvira Sánchez de Aparicio
Children2[1]

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]

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

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Russek 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 [es].[6] At the 18th Ariel Awards held in 1976, he won Best Actor for his role in De todos modos Juan te llamas [es].[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

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Russek's star on the Paseo de las Estrellas in Durango City

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 [es], Raúl Araiza, José Rendón [es] 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 [es].[8]

In a 2013 interview, Mario Almada stated that Russek was one of the actors he most admired.[17]

Filmography

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Film

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  • Sitting Bull (1954)[2]
  • La odalisca No. 13 (1958)
  • Villa!! (1958) – Rurale Lieutenant
  • La vida de Agustín Lara (1959) – Rodolfo, coronel
  • La última lucha (1959) – Amante de Delia (uncredited)
  • Dos locos en escena (1960)
  • The Dalton That Got Away (1960)[6]
  • ¡Mis abuelitas... nomás! (1961)
  • Amor a balazo limpio (1961) – Marco Reyes
  • Espiritismo (1962) – Eduardo Aguirre
  • La máscara roja (1962) – Ramiro
  • Los amigos Maravilla (1962)
  • Los pistoleros (1962) – Martín García
  • ¡En peligro de muerte! (1962) – Smith
  • El monstruo de los volcanes (1963) – Valdés
  • Cuando los hijos se pierden (1963) – Asaltante
  • Los amigos Maravilla en el mundo de la aventura (1963)
  • Las vengadoras enmascaradas (1963)
  • Entre bala y bala (1963)
  • La garra del leopardo (1963) – René
  • Agente XU 777 (1963) – Espía
  • Nos dicen las intocables (1964)
  • El revólver sangriento (1964) – Secuaz de El Toro
  • The Black Ghost (1964)
  • El rostro de la muerte (1964) – Esbirro del rostro
  • El padrecito (1964) – Matías
  • El texano (1965) – Gustavo
  • Nos lleva la tristeza (1965)
  • El último cartucho (1965) – Cascabel
  • El pueblo fantasma (1965) – El rápido
  • El padre Diablo (1965) – Hermano de Lucinda
  • She-Wolves of the Ring (1965) – Bronco
  • La loba (1965) – Comisario
  • Aquella Rosita Alvírez (1965) – Hipólito Ceija
  • El tigre de Guanajuato: Leyenda de venganza (1965)
  • ¡Ay Jalisco, no te rajes! (1965) – Silva Nolasco
  • La maldición del oro (1965) – El Texano
  • Los sheriffs de la frontera (1965)
  • El hijo de Gabino Barrera (1965)
  • El jinete justiciero en retando a la muerte (1966) – Hipólito
  • El fugitivo (1966) – Lucas
  • Alma grande (1966) – Bill Render
  • La frontera sin ley (1966) – Julián Canales
  • Los cuatro Juanes (1966) – Capitán
  • Los malditos (1966)
  • El comandante Furia (1966)
  • El hijo del diablo (1966) – José Mancilla (Pepe)
  • Sólo para tí (1966) – Sebastián Ramírez
  • Vuelve el Texano (1966)
  • El mexicano (1966)
  • Rage (1966) – Himself 2nd
  • La mano de Dios (1966) – Don Carlos Fuentes
  • Jinetes de la llanura (1966) – José Menchaca
  • Pedro Páramo (1967) – El Tilcuate
  • La vuelta del Mexicano (1967)
  • Alma Grande en el desierto (1967)
  • El asesino se embarca (1967) – Villagrán
  • Hour of the Gun (1967) – Deputy Latigo (uncredited)
  • El escapulario [es] (1968) – Don Agustín
  • La ley del gavilán (1968) – Comisario
  • Caballo prieto azabache (1968) – El Coyote
  • Guns for San Sebastian (1968) – Pedro
  • Lucio Vázquez (1968) – Coronel Guajardo
  • Valentín de la Sierra (1968) – Coronel Aldape
  • Pax? (1968)
  • Lauro Puñales (1969) – Coronel Villegas
  • El hombre de negro (1969) – Jim Williams
  • The Wild Bunch (1969) – Major Zamorra
  • Todo por nada [es] (1969) – Allen Lucero
  • Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) – Bolivian Army Officer (uncredited)
  • Soldier Blue (1970) – Running Fox
  • Su precio... unos dólares (1970) – El Indio
  • Alguien nos quiere matar (1970) – Cristóbal
  • Big Jake (1971) – Saloon Bully in Escondero (uncredited)
  • Siete muertes para el texano (1971)
  • Dead Aim (1971) – District Commissioner
  • La mula de Cullen Baker [es] (1971) – Sargento Jim
  • Tacos al carbón [es] (1972) – Licenciado
  • The Wrath of God (1972) – Cordona
  • La noche de los mil gatos (1972) – Husband
  • Manuel Saldivar, el texano (1972) – Roy Vega
  • Indio (1972) – Vargas
  • Los indomables (1972)
  • Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973) – Silva
  • Carne de horca (1973) – El mudo
  • Adios, amor... (1973)
  • ¡Quiero vivir mi vida! (1973) – Doctor Lugo
  • Los doce malditos (1974) – Hawk
  • Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974) – Cueto
  • Santo y Blue Demon contra el doctor Frankenstein (1974) – Dr. Irving Frankestein[3]
  • El pistolero del diablo (1974)
  • El valle de los miserables (1975) – Pancracio
  • El pequeño Robin Hood (1975) – Comisario
  • Sangre derramada (1975) – Coronel Páez
  • México, México, ra, ra, ra (1976)
  • La gran aventura del Zorro (1976) – Capitán
  • Santo contra las lobas (1976)
  • El buscabullas (1976) – Ronald McCree
  • The Return of a Man Called Horse (1976) – Blacksmith
  • Juan Armenta, el repatriado (1976) – Mr. Clayton
  • El hombre del puente (1976) – El Presidente
  • Longitud de guerra (1976) – Gob. y Cor. Lauro Carrillo
  • De todos modos Juan te llamas [es] (1976) – Gerardo Guajardo
  • Hot Snake (1976) – Sheriff
  • The Mound Builders (1976)[6]
  • Dinastía de la muerte (1977) – Daniel del Fierro Sr. / Luis del Fierro
  • Los temibles (1977)
  • El diabólico (1977) – Arnold Weatherbee
  • Carroña (1978) – Don Lupe Zanabria
  • Convoy (1978) – Tiny Alvarez
  • El niño y el tiburón (1978) – Don Ramón
  • Tempestad (1978)
  • Tigre (1979)
  • Bloody Marlene (1979) – Viejo McCutchen
  • Pasión por el peligro (1979)
  • Eagle's Wing (1979) – Gonzalo
  • Amor a la mexicana (1979)
  • En la cuerda del hambre (1979)
  • Caboblanco (1980) – Minister
  • Ilegales y mojados (1980) – Sr. Donoghan
  • El rey de los tahures (1980) – Pedro
  • Mírame con ojos pornográficos (1980) – Jorge Coro
  • Emilio Varela vs Camelia la Texana (1980)
  • El robo imposible (1981) – Don Teófilo
  • Juan el enterrador (1981)
  • Zorro, The Gay Blade (1981) – Don Fernando
  • La Chèvre (1981) – Fernando (uncredited)
  • Missing (1982) – Espinoza
  • The Honorary Consul (1983) – Señor Escobar
  • El vengador del 30-06 (1983) – El chueco Robespierre
  • Encuentro con la muerte (1984)
  • La hija del general (1984)[18]
  • Lázaro Cárdenas (1985)
  • Pleasures (1986, TV Movie) – Ritherman
  • Miracles (1986) – The Judge
  • El río de oro (1986) – Armando
  • Oceans of Fire (1986, TV Movie) – Cox
  • Motín en la cárcel (1986)
  • La rebelión de los colgados (1986)
  • Cazador de demonios [es] (1987) – Rastreador
  • Los plomeros y las ficheras (1988)
  • Domingo corrales (1988)
  • El solitario indomable (1988) – Don Carlos
  • Los camaroneros (1988)
  • Vieja moralidad [es] (1988) – Abuelo
  • Licence to Kill (1989) – Pit Boss
  • Rosa de dos aromas (1989)
  • El jinete de la divina providencia (1989)[19]
  • ¿Cómo fui a enamorarme de ti? [es] (1990) – Capo
  • La zona del silencio (1990)
  • Funerales del terror (1990) – Comandante
  • Escuadrón salvaje (1990, Video) – Comandante
  • Nacidos para morir (1991)
  • Bandidos [es] (1991) – Fat Man
  • Pure Luck (1991) – Inspector Segura
  • Pecado original (1991)
  • Highway Patrolman (1991) – Sr. Mateos
  • Retén (1991, Video)
  • Gertrudis (1992) – Sr. Bocanegra
  • La tumba del Atlántico (1992) – Anthony Arndold
  • Policía de homicidios (1992, Video) – Comandante de Soto
  • Ramiro Sierra (1992)
  • Asesinos de la frontera (1992, Video)
  • Reto a la ley (1992)
  • Odio, amor y muerte (1993)
  • En medio de la nada (1993)[6]
  • La última batalla (1993) – El Viejo
  • Halcones de la muerte - Espias mortales (1993) – Romo
  • Contrabando de esmeraldas (1993)
  • Memoria del cine mexicano (1993) - Himself
  • Una maestra con ángel (1994)
  • Ámbar (1994) – Corbett
  • La Chilindrina en apuros (1994) – Padre Casimiro
  • El alimento del miedo (1994)
  • Muerte a la mafia (1994, Video)
  • El chacal del puerto (1996, Video)
  • Pensamientos (1996) – Comandante

Television

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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

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Year Title
1989 Cuento de Navidad
1992 Mina

Awards and accolades

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  • Virginia Fábregas Medal (1990)[7]
  • Durango Walk of Fame[20]

Premios Ariel

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Year Category Movie Result
1976 Best Actor De todos modos Juan te llamas [es] Won
1989 Best Supporting Actor Los camaroneros
1994 Best Actor La última batalla Nominated

Premios TVyNovelas

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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

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Year Category Movie Result
1973 Best Actor Todo por nada [es] Won

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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)
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "Ganadores Premios Ariel 1976" (in Spanish). cine.com. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Ganadores Premios Ariel 1989" (in Spanish). cine.com. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  11. ^ "La Gloria y el Infierno". alma-latina.net. Archived from the original on 22 February 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ "Noche de estrellas". La Nación (in Spanish). 23 May 1998. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ "La Hija Del General (1984)". AllMovie. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  19. ^ "El Jinete de la Divina Providencia". TV Guide. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  20. ^ "Paseo de las estrellas, nuevo atractivo turístico". El Siglo de Durango. 27 May 2023. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023.
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