Biography

John Russell was born on May 24, 1917 in London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Coronation Street (1960), The Swingin' Maiden (1962) and Raising the Roof (1972). He was married to Nicole Milinaire, Hon. Lydia Yarde-Buller and Clare Hollway. He died on October 25, 2002 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA.

The first peer of the realm to espouse show business in order to raise money to keep up his stately home. It was said that there was little he would not do in the interests of promoting Woburn.

He had two sons by his first wife, Clare Gwendolen Bridgman: Henry Robin Ian Russell, born 1940, who suceeded him as 14th Duke of Bedford; and Rudolf Russell, born 1944. There was one son by his second wife, Hon. Lydia Yarde-Buller: Francis Hastings Russell, born 1950.

He allowed the nudist film Nature's Paradise (1959) to be shot at Woburn.

In order to minimise the effects of death duty and taxation on his own sons, and remembering the difficulties he had when his father - the 12th Duke - committed suicide, he handed over his estate in 1974 and thereafter lived outside the UK.

Father-in-law of Henrietta Tiarks.