This biography of a living person includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (July 2023) |
Jeannie Russell (born Jeanne K. Russell) is an American actress best known for playing Dennis's playmate, Margaret Wade, in the television series Dennis the Menace, which was based on the Hank Ketcham comic strip of the same name and aired from 1959 to 1963 on CBS.
Jeannie Russell | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Russell as Margaret Wade on Dennis the Menace in 1963 | |
| Born | Pasco, Washington, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, voice actress, chiropractor |
| Years active | 1959–1993 |
Russell was chosen at the suggestion of Jay North, who starred in the role of Dennis, to play his nemesis playmate. She appeared in 31 of the series' 146 episodes over the four-year run of the show.
Career edit
Besides Dennis the Menace, Russell appeared in several other popular TV shows of the era, including The Deputy (1959), Assignment: Underwater (1961), Death Valley Days (1961), and The Dinah Shore Show. Russell provided a singing voice in the 1961 Disney movie Babes in Toyland and made an uncredited appearance in the 1963 popular suspense horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, The Birds, in which she played a school child. In 1971, she moved to St. Louis to film the long-running children's show Where will my feet take me today? for KETC with Buster Fronto. She later appeared with Mel Winkler in Unique New York, and The Letter People (Meet Mister J, 1978).
She has done live theater and soundtrack work, as well as performing as a singer. In the 1990s, Russell was active on the national talk-show and news-feature circuit. In 1993, she made a cameo appearance in the film version of Dennis the Menace playing one of the Mitchells' neighbors.
Personal life edit
This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (March 2017) |
Since 1978, Russell has been practicing chiropractic medicine in the North Hollywood/Toluca Lake (California) area. She also counsels and coaches patients, assisting them with "intuitive eating" skills to embrace a healthy lifestyle. Russell had developed a powerful posture building series of movement and strengthening exercises, which draw from her career in show business.
She is also trained in ballet and jazz dance. North and she occasionally appear together at celebrity events.
Russell co-chaired the Screen Actors Guild Young Performers' Committee for several years.
Russell is the sister of Bryan Russell, who was also a child actor from 1959 to 1967. She currently resides in the Studio City section of Los Angeles, California.
Filmography edit
Film edit
- Babes in Toyland (1961)
- The Birds (1963)
- Dennis the Menace (1993)
Television edit
- The Deputy (TV series)
- Assignment: Underwater
- Death Valley Days
- Dennis the Menace (1959–1963)
- Where will my feet take me today? (1972–1975)
- Unique New York (1976–1978)
References edit
Further reading edit
- Goldrup, Tom and Jim (2002). Growing Up on the Set: Interviews with 39 Former Child Actors of Film and Television. McFarland & Co. pp. 259–268. ISBN 1476613702.
External sources edit
- Jeannie Russell at IMDb
- "Tinseltown Talks: Dennis the Menace’s ‘pain in the neck’ now cures them," by Nick Thomas For The Daily Item, Aug 27, 2015