Career
He was one of several American actors who turned down the lead of A Fistful of Dollars. After making Burt Topper"s War is Hell (1963), he went to Italy first appearing in the title role of Louisiana leggenda di Fra Diavolo. He then appeared in several sword and sandal and Eurospy films, including Secret of the Sphinx (1964) and Gladiators Seven (1964).
Russel played Zorro in Behind the Mask of Zorro (1965).
He had originally tested for the role of Walt Disney"s Zorro but lost out to Guy Williams. Among Russel"s starring roles are parts in the sci-fi epics Wild, Wild Planet (1965) and its sequel, War of the Planets filmed concurrently.
He left Italy for America in 1967, and later appeared in such films as The Hard Ride (1971) and Soul Hustler (1973). In 1969, Russel played the rustler Mike Cassidy in the episode "Drop Out" of the syndicated television series, Death Valley Days, hosted by Robert Taylor, not long before Taylor"s own death.
The episode aired the same year as the film, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
