Jorge Russek

Jorge Antonio Russek Martínez (4 January 1932 – 30 July 1998) was a Mexican actor, whose career in film and television spanned over 40 years. A native of Guaymas, Sonora, he became one of the most prominent actors in Mexican cinema and appeared in more than 300 films in his career.

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, while simultaneously being recognized for his humility and pleasant personality off-set. Later in his career, Russek starred in several telenovelas and was a three-time winner of the TVyNovelas Award for Best Leading Actor.

Early life Russek was born on 4 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. His grandfather Marcus (or Marcos) Russek emigrated to Chihuahua from Poland in the late 1800s. Russek was raised partly in the United States, and studied at the Harvard School for Boys (now Harvard-Westlake School) in North Hollywood, California.

Career

Film Russek entered the film industry as an extra in 1950. He also acted on stage early in his career, but quit because he felt asphyxiated in the dressing rooms. 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 . Russek also won the Ariel Award for Best Supporting Actor at the 31st Ariel Awards in 1989 for his role in Los camaroneros.

Telenovelas 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. 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. For his performance, he received the Award for Best Leading Actor at the 16th TVyNovelas Awards in May 1998.

Other work

Russek was a professional photographer whose pictures were shown at various exhibitions. He often brought his Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex camera to sets he worked on. Additionally, a telesecundaria in Durango was named after Russek.

Filmography

Film

Sitting Bull (1954) 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) (1986) (1987) – Rastreador Los plomeros y las ficheras (1988) Domingo corrales (1988) El solitario indomable (1988) – Don Carlos Los camaroneros (1988) (1988) – Abuelo Licence to Kill (1989) – Pit Boss Rosa de dos aromas (1989) El jinete de la divina providencia (1989) (1990) – Capo La zona del silencio (1990) Funerales del terror (1990) – Comandante Escuadrón salvaje (1990, Video) – Comandante Nacidos para morir (1991) (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)

Premios Ariel

Premios TVyNovelas

Diosas de Plata Year Category Movie Result 1973 Best Actor