Skip to content
Motif
Bing Russell

Bing Russell

Actor, also writer · Died April 8, 2003, aged 76 · Brattleboro, Vermont, USA

Neil Oliver "Bing" Russell (May 5, 1926 – April 8, 2003) was an American actor and Class A minor-league baseball club owner. He was the father of Hollywood actor Kurt Russell. Although best known as the deputy on Bonanza (1959) and Robert in The Magnificent Seven (1960), Russell's was also well known on a national level as the owner of the Portland Mavericks Baseball Club. Helming the only independent team in the class A Northwest League, Russell was an innovator. Before Bull Durham (1988), there were the Mavericks. Russell kept a 30 man roster because he believed that some of the players deserved to have one last season. His motto was simply one three lettered word - not WIN - although the Mavericks did just that - no, the word was FUN. He created a park that kept all corporate sponsorship outside the gates, hired the first female general manager in professional baseball, and the following year hired the first Asian American GM/Manager. That same season his team set a record for the highest attendance in Minor league history, and went on to win the pennant. Ex-major leaguers and never-weres who couldn't stop playing the game flocked to his June tryouts, which were always open to anyone that showed up. From as far away as Capetown, and France, players would head to Portland for a chance with Russell's Mavericks.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 5, 1926
Died
April 8, 2003 (aged 76)
From
Brattleboro, Vermont, USA
Works as
Actor, also writer
Titles
58 on Motif · 111 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 29% in 30 days

What are Bing Russell's films like?

Across their 11 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Morality.

Genres

Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
35%
Morality
26%
Bonds
16%
Society
14%
Self
5%
Power
5%
Family bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeWar2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 4 · Serious 3 · Dark 4

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 8 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 1 · Charged 8 · Intense 2

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 6 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 0

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 7 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 6 · Affecting 1 · Heavy 4

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
9
Melancholic
3
Hopeful
3
Thrilling
3
Warm
2
Other
7

How their films linger

Bittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet7

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Bing Russell's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 38 of their 58 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Bing Russell's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

111 credits, 58 with a Motif page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Dick Tracy(1990)

    as Club Ritz Patron

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Tango & Cash(1989)

    as Van Driver

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Sunset(1988)

    as Studio Guard

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Overboard(1987)

    as Elk Cove: Sheriff Earl

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Elvis(1979)

    as Vernon Presley

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Loneliest Runner (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    as Fred Dawkins

  • Arthur Hailey's The Moneychangers (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 2 episodes · as Timberwell

  • The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe(1976)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Apple Dumpling Gang(1975)

    as Herm Dally

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Death Sentence(1974)

    as Trooper

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Sex Symbol (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    as Public Relations Man

  • The Rockford Files(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Lieutenant

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Petrocelli (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • A Cry in the Wilderness(1974)

    as Mr. Griffey

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Runaway! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    as Fireman

  • Satan's School for Girls(1973)

    as Sheriff

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Set This Town on Fire (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    as Chuck

  • The Streets of San Francisco (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Detective Dan Riggs

  • Now You See Him, Now You Don't(1972)

    as Alfred

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Emergency!(1972)

    Show 3 episodes · as Carl Wilson

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • A Taste of Evil(1971)

    as Sheriff

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Million Dollar Duck(1971)

    as Mr. Smith

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Yuma(1971)

    as Rol King (as Neil Russell)

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Alias Smith and Jones (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes(1969)

    as Angelo

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Mod Squad (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Outcasts (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Journey to Shiloh(1968)

    as Greybeard

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Blackbeard's Ghost(1968)

    as Second Track Meet Official

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Mannix(1967)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Hondo (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Thompson

  • The Guns of Will Sonnett (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 2 episodes · as Chet

  • Dundee and the Culhane (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Ride to Hangman's Tree(1967)

    as Keller (Uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Ironside (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Cal Bristold

  • The Monkees(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Rudy

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • The Monroes (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • An Eye for an Eye(1966)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Madame X(1966)

    as Sergeant Riley

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • I Dream of Jeannie(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Amos Lincoln

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • The Big Valley (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Clint · as Dan Kelsey · as Jack Tolliver · as Joe Garrett · as Mac · as Rancher · as Sheriff · as Sheriff Jim Dolan · as Slade

  • The Hallelujah Trail(1965)

    as Horner

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Branded (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff Gorman

  • Cheyenne Autumn(1964)

    as Braden's Telegraph Operator (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Munsters(1964)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • One Man's Way(1964)

    as Tom Rayburn

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Fugitive (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 2 episodes · as Matt Davis · as Officer · as Officer Westphal · as Sgt. Eggins

  • A Gathering of Eagles(1963)

    as Captain (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Stripper (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    as Mr. Mulvaney (uncredited)

  • How the West Was Won(1962)

    as Man (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Flashing Spikes (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    as Hogan

  • Stakeout! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    as Joe

  • Stoney Burke (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • General Electric True (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Virginian (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 2 episodes · as Donovan · as Gabe Sloan · as John Rudd · as Ned Smith · as Sam Fuller · as Sgt. Eads

  • Sam Benedict (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Len George (uncredited)

  • Ben Casey (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Great Impostor(1960)

    as Morgan (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Magnificent Seven(1960)

    as Robert

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Route 66(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Satterfield

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Surfside 6 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Stagecoach West (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Andy Griffith Show(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Burton

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Tate(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • The Alaskans (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Johnny Ringo (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Dick Walsh

  • The Twilight Zone(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Ben Braden · as George Cousins

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Laramie (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam Purdy

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 33 episodes · as Clem · as Deputy Clem Foster · as Major Reynolds · as Poindexter · as Sheriff Clem Foster

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Last Train from Gun Hill(1959)

    as Skag, Belden Hand

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Horse Soldiers(1959)

    as Dunker, Yankee Soldier Amputee

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Rio Bravo(1959)

    as Cowboy Murdered in Saloon (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Black Saddle (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Ken Wilson · as Lee Curry

  • Rawhide (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack Harris

  • Good Day for a Hanging(1959)

    as George Fletcher

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • The Rifleman(1958)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Texan(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • The Donna Reed Show(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Bronco (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 2 episodes · as Johnny Rawlins

  • Wanted: Dead or Alive (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Billy Hemp · as Clay

  • Cattle Empire (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1958)

    as Douglas Hamilton

  • Suicide Battalion(1958)

    as Lt. Chet Hall

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Ride a Violent Mile (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1957)

    as Corporal Norman

  • Bombers B-52(1957)

    as Operator (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Land Unknown(1957)

    as Radio Operator (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Harbor Command (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Maverick(1957)

    Show 2 episodes · as Russ Aikens · as Tyler Brink

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Sugarfoot (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Hank Gibson · as Sergeant McKinnock

  • Have Gun, Will Travel (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff Reagan

  • Without Incident (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1957)

    Actor

  • Gunfight at the O.K. Corral(1957)

    as Harry - Griffin Bartender (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • The Deadly Mantis(1957)

    as State Trooper

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Drango(1957)

    as Lieutenant with Supply Wagon

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Teenage Thunder (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1957)

    as Used-Car Salesman

  • Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Cole · as Deputy Stover · as Sam - Henchman

  • Attack(1956)

    as Medic

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Man Called X (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Navy Log (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Gunsmoke (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Arnold Rolfing · as Ed Shelby · as Head · as Simon Fletcher · as Tabor · as Walsh

  • The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Sergeant Turner

  • Science Fiction Theatre (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cult of the Cobra(1955)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • A Life at Stake(1955)

    as Bartender (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Arne · as Track Starter (uncredited)

  • Lassie(1954)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Public Defender (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as 2nd Cop

  • The Loretta Young Show(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Convict · as Jim Murphy · as Newsman · as Sergeant

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Big Leaguer(1953)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • You Are There (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Disheartened Soldier · as Lendall Pitts

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Assistant Director

  • The Living Christ (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 12 episodes · as Lazarus

Career shape

Star power in the 94th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 111 titles from 1951 to 1990; peak year 1988.

Biggest box office

The Horse Soldiers (1959)

$13K worldwide

Highest rated

The Battered Bastards of Baseball (2014)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Last Train from Gun Hill (1959)

Film career

19511990

Peak 1988 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 1 Motif title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting110 of 111: 110 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score60thWriting1 of 111: 1 only writing, 0 with another role

By decade

1950s47 · acting1960s40 · 39 acting · 1 crew1970s20 · acting1980s3 · acting1990s1 · acting

Billing

usually 15th · top billed in 0% of 18 roles
556070

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Bing Russell's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Midcredits score in the 51st percentile, the median of all 41; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 54th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Midcredits score across 58 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up20
  • 50th to 74th19
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

32 of their 58 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser32
  • Broadly Agreed9
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · actor

The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe (1976)

60th percentile spread · 27% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Rio Bravo (1959)

Midcredits 98th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 65/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 50. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Bing Russell work with?

People who share at least 2 of Bing Russell's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Kurt Russell shares the most, 2.

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers