Russ Tamblyn

Russ wasn't discovered, but he discovered show business at the age of five when, with other youngsters at Inglewood, California, he went to Saturday matinees at the Granada Theatre. One afternoon, while waiting for the show to start, he got on the stage and did an impromptu dance which the kids loved. He repeated it the following week and became so popular, that, when he didn't appear, there was almost a riot. The theater manager spoke to his parents and his mother let him take dancing lessons. Once started on a career, he expanded his talents to take in singing and acrobatics, performing his first back flip at ten. He later added juggling, a magic act, piano, and drums to his talents, which made him a regular performer at local clubs. He made his stage debut with a small theater group directed by Lloyd Bridges, which, in turn, led to his film debut in 'The Boy With Green Hair', followed by a part in 'Samson and Delilah' and the title role in 'The Kid From Cleveland.' He earned an Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actor for 'Peyton Place', receiving high praise from both director Mark Robson and choreographer Michael Kidd, who was a close friend of Jerome Robbins, and who had worked with Russ on 'Seven Brides For Seven Brothers.' Summoned for both a dancing and acting screen test with Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. he was cast as Riff. the leader of the Jets, in the Oscar winning film 'West Side Story.' In his films up to 1952, he was credited as Rusty Tamblyn and Russ Tamblyn thereafter.