Craig Russell as Marlene Dietrich, Mae West and Peggy Lee from The Craig Russell Show
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- Опубліковано 13 бер 2009
- Craig Russell as Marlene Dietrich, Mae West and Peggy Lee 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
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Outside of being an incredible entertainer, Mr. Russell was a very nice man. I took my mother to see him and saying hello after the performance he asked my mothers name"Mary! Come sit next to me!" They giggled like they knew each other for years. That was a long time ago but one of my favorite memories.
No matter how many times I watched Craig's 'Mae West' number, it has me in tears every time. lmao. "oh! oh! oh! ohh!"
Wish I could have seen a live show or met him.
He and Charles Pierce are two of my favorites. Really funny performers without foul language. Truly campy fun.
What he did was high art. People just took it for granted imitating a famous lady was easy but anyone who has known anyone in Craig's area of expertise knows it requires a great amount of talent, a keen eye, special vocal dexterity and the ability to really sound like someone, not simply imitate her. I know Miss Peggy Lee was distressed as seeing a Jim Bailey impersonation of her on television, but most lady singers embraced the men who did tributes to them, including Barbra Streisand. It really is a great tribute, particularly given all the creative work required.
RIP Craig Russell
Craig was truly an innovator and ahead of his time.
Just as talented as both Jim Bailey and Charles Pierce, Sadly Craig did not receive the fame/stardom that he so deserved.
Let's celebrate Craig and his amazing talent today!
Charles Pierce was so unique in his own never offensive knife edge sharp satire, Craig in a different way was so brilliant a parody of so many female legends from his unique perspective. Both were respected for their sarcastic and yet unique intelligent impersonations. They were never camp or crass, they were just real at a moment in time.
The best and the most celebrated female impersonator .... There'll be no other Craig Russell ! I wish he was still around ..... You're a legend, through and trough !
HE DESERVES SO MUCH MORE RECOGNITION BUY THE GAY COMMUNITY AND THE PUBLICK AT LARGE HE PAVED THE WAY SO THAT PEOPLE LIKE RUPAUL COULD EXIST NOT TO TAKE ANY THING AWAY FROM RUPAUL
@@richardm239 To me Rupaul is nothing but a drag queen.I much more prefer female impersonators with real talent!!
russell was the greatest drag star ever....a shame he left us so early!!!
a big kiss for posting!!!
A very funny, talented man who left us way too soon. Godspeed Craig!
His Peggy Lee is hilarious!
Like he was on speed, too funny
Chris was my neighbor at age 12 .What a nice guy and always kind .I think his performances will leave a mark on comedy as well the entertainment industry . I am so happy he went on to better things as i have myself .
That Mae West intro... hilarious! Craig was absolutely incredible.
what an artist! this is pure art!
An icon she is!
I once met Marlena Dietrich in Montreal. She was the inaugural act at The new Arts Center at Expo
67. Burt Bacharach was the conductor. I chatted with her backstage. Although in her 60's she was still breathtakingly beautiful, dressed in a red Chanel suit. I couldn't believe my eyes. Her grandson attended the came school as myself, in the States, so there was lots to chat about. A high voltage lady, to be sure.
I met him in 89 on our honeymoon
He later visited us at our apt in Guelph and he plucked my eyebrows and.stole my panty hose and pink shorts. He was a character for.sure
Along with divine ...he's a true drag legend ..his Mae is unbelievable ..
what a talent Rip mr Russle
Russell
I almost think I imagined most of my past! Looking back upon the times when I lived in Toronto and the Manatee Club Craig Russell and "Outrageous" were matter of fact happenstance. For a long time he has been passed as have so many who were in his audiences during the Aid's Epidemic. At the time some of these experiences were just an ordinary night out, looking back and viewing decades later it's ironic they are historic legendary never to be repeated experiences.
This guy is great. Actually I am a HUGE Marlene fan and I thought he did her pretty good. I mean Lordy he does so many!
Legend, love the movie Outrageous.
PEGGY LEE BRILLIANT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
His sense of humor was so tight.
FANTASTIC! thanks for uploading!!! xo
♥️ Fond memories of a remarkable young man.
Flawless, he is soo amazing, i cannot believe how real his personas looks, better than the real people! Amazing impersonator! Bravo from Russian fans.
His characters were brilliantly camped up but also spot on! I split a gutt everytime I watch his Judy Garland impressions.
Just incredible ❤
I wish they would release "Outrageous" on dvd...
37 bitter sad people disliked this great Video
charles pierce was so gr8 , maybe the best ever
I didn't even know this clip existed. Thanks!
Awesome!
Miss Peggy Lee never quite knew what to make of her many impersonators, especially after a friend saw one on T.V. and telephoned her and said "Are you ill?"
Brilliant!
Priceless, just gets funnier.
I saw him at Studio 1's Backlot. As Dietrich she said there was a rumour going around about Merv Griffin...that he was straight, just a rumour! Merv was behind e in the audience & almost blew out my ear with his shouts of laughter.
Quite a challenge to differentiate these three stars, and he did it with a lot of wit and subtlety.
he was so good geeeeeeeeeee
what a wonderful entertainer!!!!
the mae west one was dead fucking on and great
it was just like her
Astonishing...he definitly was geniously gifted
I have a good mind to figure out how contact Brooke Lynn Hytes or anyone else involved in Canada's Drag Race and give them good dressing down for not giving Craig Rusell a shout out. You all stand in his shoes. At the time, that man, that gay man, that female impersonator made Canadians proud that he was Canadian. He accomplished things that nobody else had ever accomplished before. He was a star. He is a legend. He deserves respect. Lest we forget.
So great :-)
Terrific!
Frеee оnlinе vidеo shows that eat reaааl foоd аnd still gain reаl weight loss! Click here to watchit now. twitter.com/cb801d91f51e7654a/status/788632172043366400 Craig Russell аs Mаrlеne Dietrich Mае West and Pеggу Lее from Тhe Craig Russell Shоw
never heard of him,but he seemed popular!
He's parodying them, not doing an exact impersonation. For that check out Jim Bailey.
exactly...he is not doing spot on impressions but he captures their quirks and idiosyncrasies. He is hilarious !
@@miltsar MUCH MORE EDGY AND ENTERTAINING !!!!!!!! RATHER THAN A CARBON COPY ,THERES ROOM FOR EACH
He's actually doing both.
Graig was a really nice person and a great performer..... to bad he went the wrong way
I saw him at Carnegie Hall - - - :(
เก่งมากกกกกกกก คะ...
Rest. In. Peace. In. Heaven. Love. Ha
saw him in frisco
he was ok
but his appearance at the Grubstake later was fab
rip craig we only loved thankyou
parody not impersonation.
WOW,,,, clapping..
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No ... you are !
Did you ever do any presentations of famous Canadians? Just Americans.
Who would you suggest? Anne Murray? For a performer to be imitated they need to have a lot of well-known mannerisms, styles and larger-than-life-isms about them that an audience will understand instantly.
💜🏳️🌈
Eine Schande,so über einst der grössten deutschen überhaupt,es sish zu wagen,wie reden über Marlene Dietrich.Eine Schande.
enjoyed peggy and mae west - marlene was horrible :-/
Unfunny spoof of Dietrich...
I think it’s great! He was amazing 🤩
I guess we have different ideas of funny. To me , as a longtime Dietrich fan, it's hilarious.
Just a look alike cant do any voices they all sound the same, actually he doesnt even look like the people
his judy garland is spot on in so many many ways; especially the patter...he's an icon and has a huge cult - seriously. what are you saying - her mae west was amazing here as well.
Utter rubbish.
You have no class; a pissant in extremis!