Russ Tamblyn's journey in show business began at the tender age of five, when he would often accompany his friends to Saturday matinees at the Granada Theatre in Inglewood, California. One afternoon, while waiting for the show to start, he took it upon himself to get on stage and perform an impromptu dance, which was met with great enthusiasm by the other kids. This spontaneous display of talent became a regular occurrence, with Russ repeating his dance the following week and eventually becoming so popular that his absence from the matinees would often lead to a riot among the young audience.
The theater manager took notice of Russ's remarkable talent and approached his parents, who subsequently arranged for him to take formal dancing lessons. As he continued to hone his skills, Russ expanded his repertoire to include singing and acrobatics, impressively performing his first backflip at the age of ten. He went on to master the art of juggling, magic, piano, and drums, making him a staple performer at local clubs.
Russ's big break came when he was cast in a small theater group directed by Lloyd Bridges, which led to his film debut in 'The Boy With Green Hair.' He subsequently appeared in 'Samson and Delilah' and 'The Kid From Cleveland,' earning critical acclaim for his performances. In 'Peyton Place,' Russ received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, with both director Mark Robson and choreographer Michael Kidd praising his work.
Russ's talent caught the attention of esteemed directors Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, who summoned him for a screen test that showcased both his dancing and acting abilities. As a result, he was cast as Riff, the leader of the Jets, in the iconic film 'West Side Story,' which went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Throughout his early film career, Russ was credited as Rusty Tamblyn, before adopting his given name, Russ Tamblyn, from 1952 onwards.
