Bill Russell
Birthday: Born in 1934-02-12 in West Monroe, Louisiana, USA
Deathday: 2022-07-31
William Felton "Bill" Russell was a legendary American professional basketball player who played as a center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969, widely regarded as one of the greatest in NBA history. Born on February 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana, Russell's impact on the game goes beyond statistics. He played the center position for the Boston Celtics from 1956 to 1969, winning an astonishing 11 NBA championships in 13 seasons. Renowned for his defensive prowess, leadership, and shot-blocking abilities, Russell was a five-time NBA Most Valuable Player and a 12-time NBA All-Star. After retiring as a player, he transitioned to coaching, becoming the NBA's first African American head coach. Russell continued to influence the game, leaving an indelible mark on basketball both on and off the court.
TV Credits
The White Shadow
Character: Bill Russell
The White Shadow is an American drama television series that ran on the CBS network from November 27 1978, to March 16 1981....
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Character: Self
An American sketch comedy television program hosted by comedians Dan Rowan and Dick Martin....
The Flip Wilson Show
Character: Self
The Flip Wilson Show is an hour long variety show that aired in the U.S. on NBC from September 17, 1970 to June 27, 1974. The show starred American comedian Flip Wilson; the program was one of the first American television programs starring a black person in the title role to become highly successful with a white audience. Specifically, it was the first successful network variety series starring an African American. During its first two seasons, its Nielsen ratings made it the nation's second mo...
Iconoclasts
Character: Self
Iconoclasts is a Sundance Channel show. Each episode pairs two "creative visionaries" who discuss their lives, influences, and art, most of whom are longtime friends with the other person featured in the episode. The series premiered on November 17, 2005, and has had six six-episode seasons....
Miami Vice
Character: Judge Roger Ferguson
The story of the Miami Police Department's vice squad and its efforts to end drug trafficking and prostitution, centered on the unlikely partnership of Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs - who first meet when Tubbs is undercover in a drug cartel....
Basketball: A Love Story
Character: Self
'Basketball: A Love Story' is a series of 62 interconnected short stories that creates a vibrant mosaic of the game, featuring 165 exclusive interviews. The cast encompasses basketball's most prominent figures and explores the complex nature of love as it relates to the game....
Shut Up and Dribble
Character: Self - NBA Hall of Famer
An inside look at the changing role of athletes in our fraught cultural and political environment, through the lens of the NBA....
O.J.: Made in America
Character: Self (archive footage)
The rise and fall of American football star, O.J. Simpson, from his days growing up in Los Angeles to his murder trial that polarized the country....
Saturday Night Live
Character: Self - Host
A late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The show's comedy sketches, which parody contemporary culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who usually delivers an opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast, and features performances by a musical guest....
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Character: Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under The Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired during late-night. For its first ten years, Carson's Tonight Show was based in New York City with occasional trips to Burbank, California; in May 1972, the show moved permanently to Burbank, California. In 2002, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was ranked #12 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time....
The Dick Cavett Show
Character: Self - Guest
The Dick Cavett Show has been the title of several talk shows hosted by Dick Cavett on various television networks....
Bill Russell: Legend
Character: Self
Winningest NBA champion and civil rights icon Bill Russell builds a larger-than-life legacy on and off the court in this biographical documentary....
Movie Credits
Behind the Shield: The Power and Politics of the NFL
Character: Self (archive footage)
Celebrated author and Nation magazine sports editor Dave Zirin tackles the myth that the NFL was somehow free of politics before Colin Kaepernick and other Black NFL players took a knee....
O.J.: Made in America
Character: Self (archive footage)
A chronicle of the rise and fall of O.J. Simpson, whose high-profile murder trial exposed the extent of American racial tensions, revealing a fractured and divided nation....
Uncle Drew: Chapter 2
Character: Self
Uncle Drew visits a basketball legend who sends him to Los Angeles to get his old team back together....
Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports
Character: Self (archive footage)
Here is the legendary Bob Uecker hamming it up, commentating on sports bloopers and other sports-related skits for 30 straight minutes!...
Jim Brown: All-American
Character: Self
Jim Brown: All-American is a 2002 documentary film directed by Spike Lee. The film takes a look at the life of NFL hall-of-famer Jim Brown. The film delves into his life—past, present and future—focusing on his athletic career, acting and activism. Many people from Hollywood and sports backgrounds were interviewed for the film. Members of Brown's family were also interviewed for the film....
On the Right Track
Character: Robert
Lester is a homeless shoeshine boy living in a railway station. He's got this funny knack for picking the winning horses' names out of the paper while shining shoes. When word gets around, though, everyone wants a piece of the action....
Mr. Russell's House
Character:
Bill Simmons interviews NBA legend and 11-time Champion Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics on his illustrious career in both basketball and social activism...
History Rings True: Red Sox Opening Day Ring Ceremony
Character: Self
Winning their first World Series in 86 years, the Old Town Team made baseball history, and true believers throughout the entire nation. History Rings True offers complete coverage of the historic Red Sox Ring Ceremony that took place at Fenway Park on the 2005 Home Opener on April 11th 2005....
Rickles... On the Loose
Character: Self
Special featuring Don Rickles in his live comedy act at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas, mixed with footage of Rickles "on the loose" across the state of California....
Bill Russell: My Life, My Way
Character:
Documentary about NBA star Bill Russell...
Goin' Back to Indiana
Character: Self
Jackson 5 TV special featuring comedic skits and live performances...
El otro Rey de Chicago
Character: Self
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:03 from Gold
Character: Self (archive footage)
The 1972 Olympic men's basketball final, in which Team USA was accorded their first ever loss since the sport was adopted in competition, was one of the most controversial events in history the history of the Games....
The Journey of the African-American Athlete
Character: Self
Documentary feature exploring the rise of African-Americans to positions of greatness in American sports. Stories are told of boxers, tennis players, runners, and basketball players, athletes who either suffered the indignities of racism, helped break down its walls, or enjoyed the opportunities afforded by past struggles....