Russell was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture for his performance in "Silkwood" (1983). In the 1980s, he starred in several films directed by John Carpenter, including anti-hero roles such as army hero-turned-robber Snake Plissken in the futuristic action film "Escape from New York" (1981), and its sequel "Escape from L.A." (1996), helicopter pilot R.J. MacReady in the horror film "The Thing" (1982), and truck driver Jack Burton in the kung-fu comedy action film "Big Trouble in Little China" (1986). He was nominated for an Emmy Award for the television film "Elvis" (1979), also directed by Carpenter.