Jane Russell Jane Russell Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell (June 21, 1921 – February 28, 2011) was an American film actress and one of Hollywood's leading sex symbols in the 1940s and 1950s. Russell moved from the Midwestern United States to California, where she had her first film role in 1943 in "The Outlaw". In 1947, Russell delved into music before returning to films. After starring in multiple films in the 1950s, including Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in 1953, Russell again returned to music while completing several other films in the 1960s. She starred in more than 20 films throughout her career. Russell married
Spyros Skouras Skouras' assets in 1952 amounted to $108,000,000, greater than any other theater or movie mogul, including the Schencks, Warners, Shuberts, or his countryman Alexander Pantages. Skouras oversaw the production of such classics as "Don't Bother to Knock", "The Seven Year Itch", "The Hustler", "The King and I", "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and "The Robe". He signed a young model named Norma Jean Baker to 20th Century Fox who, after changing her name to Marilyn Monroe, rose to fame as the most famous Hollywood sex symbol of the 20th century. Skouras had a special relationship with Monroe, who often called him "Papa