Craig Russell as Barbra Streisand, Anita Bryant and Judy Garland from The Craig Russell Show
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- Craig Russell as Barbra Streisand, Anita Bryant and Judy Garland from The Craig Russell Show 1980 in Amsterdam.
Russell Craig Eadie (January 10, 1948 October 30, 1990), known by his stage name of Craig Russell, was a Canadian live celeberity impersonator.
His impersonations included Carol Channing, Bette Davis, Mae West, Barbra Streisand, Tallulah Bankhead, Marlene Dietrich, Bette Midler, Anita Bryant, Peggy Lee and Judy Garland. While performing, he always spoke and sang in the voices of the celebrities he was impersonating.
As a teenager, Russell became president of Mae West's fan club, and briefly worked and lived in Los Angeles as West's secretary. He eventually returned to Toronto, where he moved in with Margaret Gibson and worked as a hairdresser while pursuing his career as a stage performer. By 1971, he was a regular performer in Toronto gay clubs and had a burgeoning international following.
Russell fathered one child, a daughter, Susan Allison ("Allison"), who was born January 6, 1973 in Toronto. Father and daughter developed a relationship in the years prior to his death.
In 1977, Russell starred in the film Outrageous!, based on a short story written by Gibson about their time as roommates.
Although he publicly identified as gay rather than bisexual, Russell married his close friend Lori Jenkins in 1982.
In 1987, Russell starred in the sequel to Outrageous!, appropriately titled Too Outrageous!
Russell remained married to Lori until his death in 1990 of a stroke related to complications from AIDS.
Craig was cremated and laid to rest in Port Perry, Ontario.
Lori Russell Eadie passed away August 15, 2008 at Toronto Grace Hospital after a long battle with cancer. Lori was laid to rest beside her beloved husband Craig at Pine Grove Cemetery (Prince Albert) in Port Perry. - Розваги
Craig was dear friend of my late Aunies, and Grandmother. When he had any spare time he would spend nights at my Grannys, singing for her. For that I thank him ! Cheers Craig, and may all of you RIP, Cheers :)
I saw Craig when he headlined in PTown in 76 and I was a cocktail boy at the Crown an Anchor ... .. GOD .... That was a life time ago
Great story. I played piano for Musty Chiffon at The Crown and Anchor one summer in the late 90’s.
Whenever I'm feeling sad, lost or just all-around shitty.. I watch Craig's performances here on UA-cam.THIS---was talent. And I laugh every time.. it truly doesn't get old. This dear, sweet, gifted man was solid gold. Such a tragedy (for the world) that he isn't still here entertaining us as the celebrated legend that he undoubtedly would have become.
He's still a 'Legend' for Me.
x0x0 Craig
Omg his/her LEGS were
Absolutely heavenly
This performance was in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. We all loved him. He died way too soon.
I saw him one New Year's Eve in the late 70s. It was a fabulous evening.
What an absolute treasure
I had the pleasure of seeing him perform in Cleveland ohio in the 1970's - an amazing talented man!
He was my cousin, I never got to meet him but he is amazing !
Very cool, Shelby ^__^
Craig brought campy humour to his characters..rip Craig.
I'm really happy to find this here! He was the best!
Sisteren, you were too good.
amazing. and truly gifted
he is amazing. and truly gifted
It´s amazing how he manages to sing in a different key than the band is playing. That´s awesome!
A major talent. What fabulous fun.
what a beautiful person in a not so beautiful world rip
he is anazing. and truly gifted
Judy Garland was PRICELESS! hahaha awesome!
AMAZING!!!!!
Such a great actor.
What a talent R I P my darling 🙏🙏🙏🙏
it sure was Annie .. his film "Outrageous " also premiered there that same summer . Rumor had it that the Blase' was a tough place to work ... ah, the memories of our youth !! lol
He is Judy Garland. .
Craig is that special to see him live is Something you will remember forever..
i love love love love loev this man....wish i had met him. ....much love for him.
Magnificent!!!
Daily shows in the Back Room of the Provincetown Crown and Anchor before he hit it big. They were amazing. I still have pics in my photo albums of all his impersonations. He used to LOVE getting his pic taken before he hit the big time. A sad ending tho, descending into addiction, and then AIDS. He couldnt handle the great fame his talent brought him.
Very well said, bergaicht1980, cheers ;0)
Gone too soon .as is my friend Gary Turner who adored him ....
I'd love to hear him do Ethel Merman; I think he could do her so well :D
He DID Ethel Merman.
God loves him.
Genius
i loooooooove him!!!!!!
I was there.... it was ABFAB!!!
I remember Satan Anita Bryant when 5000 of us in a cold Toronto night protesting her appearance at a "church"
Not even close
Where are these great legendary entertainers, gone like the golden age of hollywood, except jimmy james the last of the greats ....now we have Rupaul s drag race .."lypsync for your life"
Nice
While it is impressive that he sings live (not many drag queens do that anymore!) i must say that he is not best singer...and definitely does not sound like the women he is impersonating. But he is definitely entertaining!
You want a "best singer" ?? Try this guy on for size.
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I do believe there was a CBC documentary made for Mr. Russell.
he/she is no marilyn michaels.
"Glory Hole Ya" Would Have Gone Over Better!
@swayno11 your right. I would love to see some of his other shows..
I wish I could have meet craig
God bless you! Mwahahahahaha! XD
Seems like he’s mocking them, not giving a tribute
Er war der Beste
Best Judy ever !!
I just discovered this impersonator.... Jim Bailey.... take a listen to his judy... I hope you enjoy :-)
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I was a waitress at the cafe blasé. What was that club Craig played? The Back Room?
everybody!
The BEST
Voices are not even close.😮
He. Was. The. Best. Xoxoxo
He's a mess compared to Jim Bailey.
mrxman very lol . His Judy sounds like a munchkin
a ray of sunshine in a shit world!
Leave it to the genius of the Gay Community to have produced the only impressionist who could actually nail a spot-on impersonation of someone as talentless,boorish,and repulsive as Anita Bryant and still manage to make it funny. Perhaps she should have taken a few pointers from Mr. Russell. She might have salvaged her sad, self- destructive career. Oh well......c'est la vie.
Anita Bryant was a hate filled nut case ...good on ya Craig
love him, but his barbra is not his best impersonation. anita was spot on though!
It's so bad that it comes off more like Bette Midler
What's the deal with the microphone as Streisand??? Babs never did that!!! Anyway, love her Anita Bryant impression even If I don't like Bryant!!! But I agree with WarriorofWriters, Jim Bailey was the better impersonator!!! Anyway he's got Judy's gestures & movements down even if the voice isn't quite right!!!
He's got the Streisand crazy eyes down pat.
Craig did this as comedy everyone of his characters were just the nuances of the ones he was impersonating!! Where Jim Bailey was more of a spot on wanting to mimic them to a tea!! That was not what Craig did !! Apples to oranges!!!
They all come unstuck with Streisand. Jim Bailey was flawless as Garland and Peggy Lee, but also hopeless as Streisand. The problem for impersonators is that Streisand isn't mannered; she is mostly still and her movements are minimal and subtle. Only occasionally a flared hand or flash of those manicured nails. So, unable to parody subtlety, impersonators take those rare gestures, then exaggerate them and use them repeatedly. Russell mostly parodies Streisand's dance moves from A Star Is Born, which isn't even Streisand, it's her in character as Esther. Steve Brinberg (Simply Barbra) is the only one who comes close, especially in capturing her vocal stylings.
Why would a well-known gay guy marry a woman? It's not as though it is a cover for a person in private life outside of the entertainment community. What was the point?
more like bette than barb- talented
How did he get AIDS then? From Lori?
Craig Russel wasn't much of an impersonator compared to Jim Bailey.
Jim Bailey can't touch him in that he simply didn't have the range of caricatures Craig Russel crafted and embodied with such wit and heart.
not his bets 'babs' here kinda like elieen brennan!! lol must have been for fun
It's so true,lol. I've never heard of him and this is my 1st time watching his stuff,but I kept thinking,this ain't Babs,it's more like Eileen Brennan,or Lucille Ball even. Have to say,however,the Judy was pretty damn good,eerily good at the end.
Just saw him for the first time last night on a segment of a music show. He was spot on with Judy Garland, Liza, Carole Channing,... I figured this one has to be for fun. It had me laughing at the extreme mannerisms. lol