Harold John Russell was born in Nova Scotia in 1914. His family moved
to Cambridge Massachusetts when his father died in 1919. He was
training paratroopers at Camp MacKall NC on June 6, 1944 when some TNT
he was using exploded in his hands. He lost both hands. After receiving
hooks, and training on them, he was chosen to make an Army training
film called "Diary Of A Sergeant".
William Wyler saw the film and decided to cast him in
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946). Harold Russell played Homer Parish. For this role he received
2 Oscars, a Best Supporting and one for being an inspiration to all
returning veterans. He is the only actor to receive 2 Oscars for the
same role. After the movie he attended Boston University. He later went
on to help establish AMVETS as a viable alternative to the American
Legion for veterans, though his dream of an international veterans
organization was never realized. He later appeared in
Inside Moves (1980) and
Dogtown (1997). He lived with his wife on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. He wrote
2 biographies: "Victory In My Hands" (1947) & "The Best Years Of My
Life" (1981).
Dogtown(1997)as Blessed William
China Beach(1988)as Uncle Conal
Trapper John, M.D.(1979)as Leo Hopkins
Inside Moves(1980)as Wings
The Best Years of Our Lives(1946)as Homer Parrish
American Masters(1985)as Self
The Wild Ride of Outlaw Bikers(1999)as Self
The 70th Annual Academy Awards(1998)as Self - Past Winner
These Amazing Shadows(2011)as Homer Parrish (clip from The Best Years of Our Lives (1946))
The 74th Annual Academy Awards(2002)as Self - Memorial Tribute
8th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards(2002)as Self
