Grayson Russell

Grayson Russell (born May 1, 1998) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and the Diary of a Wimpy Kid film series. He had a recurring role as Dwayne Dixon on the INSP television series Blue Ridge.

Life and career Russell was born on May 1, 1998 in Clanton, Alabama, the son of Crystal (née Cleckley) and Jerry Russell, who have a Christian music ministry. He attended public high school in Clanton at Chilton County High School, home of the Tigers, and graduated from there in 2016. Russell later attended Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, for a brief time.

Russell's acting career began at the age of six, when he appeared as Cowboy Grayson, in a series of television commercials for a local car dealership. Russell's film career began with an open casting call for a role in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.

Russell's mother, Crystal Russell, has stated that Grayson auditioned to gain some experience with the process, and the family was surprised to learn that he would be playing Texas Ranger Bobby, the son of racecar driver Ricky Bobby (played by Will Ferrell).

The Rainbow Tribe, Russell's second movie, was based on a true story, and was filmed in California in 2007. The independent film won Best Picture at the 2008 The Feel Good Film Festival founded by Kristen Ridgway Flores in Los Angeles, but was released direct-to-video in 2011.

In 2009, Russell appeared in an episode of Disney's sitcom I'm in the Band.

In 2020, Grayson played a signalman in the Apple TV+ movie Greyhound starring Tom Hanks.

In 2024, he began playing the role of Dwayne Dixon in Blue Ridge. He returned to the role in 2026 for its second season.

Personal life Russell became engaged to his girlfriend, Rachel Schumacher, on January 14, 2024.

Filmography Film

Television