Russell S. Doughten Jr. was born and raised in Iowa, where his interest in drama as a boy never materialized into a career path. However, his fascination with the performing arts continued to grow while he was attending Drake University on an athletic scholarship. Following his World War II Navy stint, Doughten returned to Drake to pursue a degree in acting and directing.
At the Yale Graduate School of Drama, he honed his skills by writing, directing, and acting in various productions. After completing his studies, Doughten sent his résumé to several companies that specialized in producing religious films and was subsequently invited to join Good News Productions, a filmmaking outfit based in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania.
As Good News Productions expanded, they formed a secular counterpart, Valley Forge Films, and Doughten produced their first feature film, The Blob, in 1958. He spent several years working in Hollywood before returning to his native Iowa to establish Heartland Productions and Mark IV Pictures.
Under these banners, Doughten produced numerous feature-length Christian movies, including a series focused on Biblical prophecies. When Heartland and Mark IV ceased operations in the mid-1990s, Doughten founded Russ Doughten Films, Inc., a company dedicated to continuing his legacy in Christian filmmaking.
