Profile Text
Russell in 2007, photo by Starfrenzy /bigstock.com
Birth Name: Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell
Date of Birth: June 21, 1921
Place of Birth: Bemidji, Minnesota, U.S.
Date of Death: February 28, 2011
Place of Death: Santa Maria, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: *25% Scottish *25% German *25% English *12.5% Polish *12.5% Irish
Jane Russell was an American actress, singer, and model. She was one of Hollywood’s premiere leading women in the 1940s and 1950s. She starred in the films The Outlaw (1943), Young Widow , The Paleface (1948), His Kind of Woman , Double Dynamite , The Las Vegas Story , Macao (1952), Son of Paleface , Montana Belle , Gentlemen Prefer Blondes , The French Line , Underwater! , Foxfire (1955), The Tall Men , Gentlemen Marry Brunettes , Hot Blood , The Revolt of Mamie Stover , The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown , Johnny Reno , Waco (1966), The Born Losers , and Darker than Amber . She founded Waif, the first international adoption program.
Jane was the daughter of Geraldine, who had acted with a road troupe, and Roy William Russell, who was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army and an office manager. Her parents were born in North Dakota. Her father was of one half Scottish, one quarter Polish, and one quarter German, ancestry. Her mother was of one half English, one quarter German, and one quarter Irish, ancestry. She spent several of her early years in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, before moving to Southern California.
Jane was married to actor Roger Wyatt Barrett, until his death; and then to real estate broker John Calvin Peoples, until his death. She had three children, who were adopted, with her first husband, professional football player and coach Bob Waterfield. Jane was a devout Christian.
Jane’s paternal grandfather was named William Douglas Russell (the son of Alexander Russell and Elsie). William was born in Embro, Ontario, Canada, to Scottish parents.
Jane’s paternal grandmother was Pauline Abentroth (the daughter of Ludwig Wieczorek and Justine Hermann). Pauline was born in Nowen, Wongrowitz, Prussia, Germany. Ludwig was born in Budziszewo, Wongrowitz, the son of Johann Wieczorek and Rosalia Luke/Łukowna. Justine was born in Kobylec, Wągrowiec, Wielkopolskie, the daughter of Johann Martin Hermann and Rosina Witt.
Jane’s maternal grandfather was Gustav/Gustave Reinhold Jacobi (the son of Ernest Reinhold Jacobi and Ellen Stevenson). Gustav was born in Canada. Ernest was born in Düsseldorf, North Rhine–Westphalia, Germany, the son of Otto Reinhold Jacobi and Wilhelmina Philippina “Sibella” Reuter, who were from Konigsburg, East Prussia, and Alsace-Lorraine, respectively. Jane’s great-grandmother Ellen was born in Ireland, the daughter of John Stevenson and Ellen Burden.
Jane’s maternal grandmother was Amelia May Hyatt (the daughter of David Hyatt and Jane Strode). Amelia was born in Kingston, Frontenac, Ontario, Canada, to English parents. Jane’s great-grandmother Jane was born in East Chinnock, Somerset, the daughter of Samuel Strode and Mary Rendal/Rendell.
Sources: Genealogies of Jane Russell – https://www.geni.com https://www.familysearch.org