CNN reports the 1940s and '50s movie bombshell, whose name was synonymous with voluptuousness, died Monday morning at her home in Santa Maria, California, her family said. Jane Russell was 89.
Daughter-in-law Etta Waterfield said that Russell was a "pillar of health" but caught a bad cold and died of respiratory difficulties.
Russell's children, Thomas K. Waterfield, Tracy Foundas and Robert "Buck" Waterfield," were at her side, Etta Waterfield said.
Eccentric philanthropist and movie producer Howard Hughes was the first to put Jane Russell on the silver screen, signing her to a seven-year contract in 1940 and promptly putting her in his production of "The Outlaw," a film about a torrid romance between Billy the Kid and woman named Rio (Russell).
The film got only limited release -- in 1943 -- because censors at the time were skittish about the attention given Russell's figure. Hughes wasn't satisfied. He pulled the film from release and kept it out of circulation for six more years while he did more reshoots and re-editing. And, Hughes kept Russell off the screen -- her only other appearance during those seven years was in "The Young Widow" (1946), shot while she was on loan to United Artists.
Hughes' extensive publicity campaign for "The Outlaw," however -- she has said that he had her making appearances five days a week for five years -- made Russell popular during World War II as a pin-up, and when the movie was finally released in 1946, she was a star.
While Hughes fetishized Russell's body in other films after her initial contract ended and the two negotiated another, the actress quietly made a name for herself as a talented actress capable of high drama or light comedy. She appeared as Calamity Jane with Bob Hope in "The Paleface" (1948) -- another loan-out -- and a sequel, "Son of Paleface," in 1952 -- earning an Oscar nomination for the song "Am I in Love?"
Robert Mitchum was her co-star twice -- in 1951's "His Kind of Woman" and 1952's "Macao." She shared the screen with Frank Sinatra and Groucho Marx in 1951's "Double Dynamite," and with Victor Mature, Vincent Price and Hoagy Carmichael in "The Las Vegas Story" (1952).
But it was 1953's "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" with Marilyn Monroe that shot Russell into the stratosphere. She was hailed for her singing and comedic acting, and just two years later made her last film for Hughes.
Russell had some success as a singer in the 1940s, appearing with the Kay Kayser Orchestra, and in 1954 she and Beryl Davis, Connie Haines and Della Russell (later replaced by Rhonda Fleming) began recording religious-themed music and touring as The Four Girls.
A visually awesome intriguing concept from Lady Gaga's newest music video for her hit single "Born This Way"! This 7-minute video was directed by Nick Knight.
Delivering the message of a free race. The clip begins with a voiceover about the birth of good and evil in a new race without complications.
"As the wombs numbered and the mitosis of the future began, it was perceived that this infamous moment in life is not temporal, it is eternal. and thus began the the beginning of the new race, a race within the race of humanity, a race which bears no prejudice, no judgment, but boundless freedom. But on that same day, as the eternal mother hovered in the multiverse, another more terrifying birth took place: the birth of evil."
Eunice and Owen Johns, aged 62 and 65, from Oakwood, Derby, went to court after a social worker expressed concerns when they said they could not tell a child a 'homosexual lifestyle' was acceptable.
The Pentecostal Christian couple had applied to Derby City Council to be respite carers but withdrew their application believing it was 'doomed to failure' because of the social worker's attitude to their religious beliefs.
The couple deny that they are homophobic and said they would love any child they were given. However, what they were 'not willing to do was to tell a small child that the practice of homosexuality was a good thing'.
Today they asked judges to rule that their faith should not be a bar to them becoming carers, and the law should protect their Christian values. But Lord Justice Munby and Mr Justice Beatson ruled that laws protecting people from discrimination because of their sexual orientation 'should take precedence' over the right not to be discriminated against on religious grounds.
The landmark case heard that the couple, who are now considering an appeal, argued their rights are being 'trumped' by those of homosexuals under equality legislation.
Outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London Mrs Johns stood alongside her husband as she said: 'We are extremely distressed at what the judges have ruled today.
'All we wanted was to offer a loving home to a child in need. We have a good track record as foster parents.
'But because we are Christians, with mainstream Christian views on sexual ethics, we are apparently unsuitable as foster parents.
'We are unsure how we can continue the application process following the court's ruling today. 'We have been excluded because we have moral opinions based on our faith and we feel sidelined because we are Christians with normal, mainstream, Christian views on sexual ethics.
'The judges have suggested that our views might harm children.
'We have been told by the Equality and Human Rights Commission that our moral views may "infect" a child
'We do not believe that this is so. We are prepared to love and accept any child. All we were not willing to do was to tell a small child that the practice of homosexuality was a good thing.
Tolerance, tolerance, tolerance, is the refrain Liberals love to throw around. However, as often is the case, it rings hollow because what they’re really saying, “…agree with us or else!” There’s nothing tolerant about that whatsoever.
What we do here on earth is one thing. And it might be in vogue to act as if homosexuality is moral life style. But, for those of us who believe in a higher authority, we beg to differ and stand on that truth.
22 year-old singer Adele has a little quote for you:
“No-one’s ever told me to lose weight or anything like that. I don’t rely on my t**s to have hits.
“How I look has never been a big part of my life. I’ve never looked at a magazine and thought, ‘That’s how I need to look if I want to be successful in life.’
“If you compare the way I look to big artists like, say, Katy Perry, I’m living proof it’s all about the music because there’s nothing else I’m relying on to do well.
Jessica Lowndes looked stunning at the 19th Annual Elton John Aids Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party held at The Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood last night, where she wore a short white number and an up-do.
After taking a peek at some of tonight’s red carpet beauties that delighted us with their feminine gowns, it’s time for a dress-overload in our Academy Awards 2011 Gallery!
We’ve got a few solid and vivid reds, many soft neutrals, and, specific to our niche: curves, small waists and toned arms.
Enjoy the pictures in the gallery, pick your favorite dresses and share your thoughts!