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Harold Russell
Winning two Oscars for The Best Years of Our Lives.
The Best Years of Our Lives · Victory in My Hands
- Born
- 14 January 1914
- Birthplace
- Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Died
- 29 January 2002
More people
Harold Russell
Harold Russell was a Canadian-born American veteran and actor. After losing both hands in an Army training accident, he appeared in a film about veterans rebuilding civilian lives.
Early life
Migration
Moved from Nova Scotia to Massachusetts with his family in 1921.
Career
- 1944
Military injury
Lost both hands in a demolition-training accident.
- 1940s
Army documentary
Appeared in Diary of a Sergeant during rehabilitation.
- 1946
Feature role
Was cast by William Wyler in The Best Years of Our Lives.
Selected work
The Best Years of Our Lives
Played returning sailor Homer Parrish.
Victory in My Hands
Published his autobiography.
Inside Moves
Returned to feature-film acting.
Beyond work
Veterans’ advocacy
Served as national commander of AMVETS and chaired a presidential employment committee.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and career ↗Biographical references ↗Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Company. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.