Bill D. Russell

Birthplace

Baraboo, Wisconsin, US

Biography

Bill D. Russell is an American actor, writer, comedian and producer best known for playing Maximillian Cuda in Puppet Master: Doktor Death and The Dad in the Blockbuster Video commercial The Perfect Store, featured in the documentary The Last Blockbuster. Other prominent film roles include Alfred Pennyworth in Jokers Wild Lazarus Risen, Malcolm Fountain in Hug These Bones, Milo Kemp in Vic Effects, Alien Supreme Leader in They Came Back From Somewhere, Dr. Drake Willis in The Contract, Rich Green in Evil Lurks, and Coach Hurley in You’re Out! YouTube podcaster Al Lucard proclaimed Russell to be The King of Creep, primarily for his performance in Evil Lurks. In short films, he plays Sylvester the gang boss in Therapissed and judge John in Shepherds. Russell made his theatrical debut in Chicago in 1983 in a Second City children’s theater show. In 1985, he joined the improvOlympics (now iO Chicago Theater) and worked with legendary improv director Del Close in the first Harold troupe Barons Barracudas and also in Close’s scenario play Honor Finnegan vs the Brain of the Galaxy. In addition to performing improv and sketch comedy at Second City and ImprovOlympics/iO Chicago, he was a member of the comedy troupe Spontaneous Combustion in the 80s and 90s, and was a performer and teacher at The Comedy Shrine in Aurora, Illinois from 2014-2020. In theater, he appeared in At Last The 1948 Show (written by Jon Cleese and Graham Chapman prior to Monty Python) at iO Chicago theater, Swarm of Spoilers at Under The Gun Theater, Buchanan’s Finest Hour at Second City ETC, Mastergate at Interplay Theater, and Kvetch! at Blueprint Theater. Other commercials include Pizza Hut, Boost Mobile, and White Castle Chicken Ring Insurance. His commercial for Alaska Airlines, directed by Joe Sedelmaier, was featured on the TV show America’s Funniest Commercials. Television credits include America’s Funniest People (two-time winner), Unsolved Mysteries, Lady Blue, and America’s Most Wanted. He was a member of the peanut gallery in the Andy Kaufman PBS show SoundStage, clips of which are featured in the documentary Andy Kaufman: Thank You Very Much. He appeared in the popular website Clickhole videos NASA Stories, Republican Debate, and Emperor of Badminton. Born in Baraboo, Wisconsin and raised in New Lisbon, Wisconsin, he currently resides in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He is represented by agents in Los Angeles, Chicago and Detroit. Managed by Matt Chassin. Russell holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from National-Louis University and is a certified hypnotherapist. He has two adult children, Allie and Steve.