Biography

Lillian Russell

Jump to

Lillian Russell was born on December 4, 1860 in Clinton, Iowa, USA. She was an actress, known for Wildfire (1915), La Tosca (1911) and Potted Pantomimes (1914). She was married to Alexander Pollock Moore, Giovanni Perugini, Edward Solomon and Harry Braham. She died on June 6, 1922 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

Third husband Giovanni Perugini was born John Haley Augustin Chatterton in Michigan (c. 1855 - 1914). She threw him out after two months of marriage.
Daughter with Solomon, Lillian Russell Jr., born 10 May 1884; they were married on the baby's first birthday. This marriage was later annulled because he neglected to mention that he was already married.
Had affairs with financier "Diamond" Jim Brady and strong-man "The Great Sandow" (Eugen Sandow). Brady lavished her with gifts, including her own luxury railroad car. The couple would cycle around Central Park on their gold plated, diamond encrusted "exercise mobiles."
America's foremost singing star of operettas in the 1890's and a celebrated star of burlesque in early 1900's. Appeared on Broadway from 1883. The daughter of newspaper publisher Charles E. Leonard and a noted feminist of the period, Cynthia Leonard, Lillian achieved fame as much for her flamboyant lifestyle as for her performances.
Russell's birth year is often erroneously given as 1861.

He was a little general - Tony Pastor. His hair was black, so was his mustache which was waxed and rolled into straight, fierce points. Knowing now what I do about hairdressers' secrets, I am inclined to believe that Tony aided nature in the glossy blackness of his hair and mustache. [He] was always dressed with exquisite taste, wherever you found him. His manners were suave and distinguished, and his family life was a beautiful one. Mrs Pastor left the stage when she married Tony and she was his companion everywhere he went - a gracious, lovely woman. And what a showman her husband was! And what stars he made in that neat little theater of his!
One afternoon, while mother was out, a friend of ours - Mrs.Rose - who lived in the same house, said she had a caller for whom she would like me to sing. I consented. I never needed much coaxing to perform - whatever the time or place. So I went up to her suite and met a soldierly-looking little Italian who listened critically while I sang my little repertoire of concert songs. Then he suddenly turned to me and said, 'How would you like to sing those songs every night in my theater for seventy-five dollars a week?' I had no idea who he was, or what his theater was like, but I was absolutely calm as I accepted the astounding offer.

Suggest an edit or add missing content