Kurt Russell Turns 70: Happy Birthday to a Legendary Movie Star

Few actors in Hollywood have had a career like Kurt Russell. From his early days as a Disney child star to his classic ’80s action movies to recent blockbusters, Russell has been a favorite of audiences for decades and is still going strong.

So movie fans everywhere wished him a happy birthday as the iconic movie star turned 70 the 17th of March.

In honor of his milestone birthday, look back at his extraordinary career and read the tributes from his family on his big day.

Early career and Disney

Russell was born March 17, 1951 in Springfield, Massachusetts, and began acting at a young age.

At age 12, he starred in the western TV series The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters, and soon signed a ten-year contract with Disney (eerily, he also became the “last words” of Walt Disney: he wrote “Kurt Russell” on a piece of paper right before dying in 1966.)

He quickly became one of the company’s biggest stars of the decade, starring in films like The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes and The Barefoot Executive, and later provided a voice in the animated film The Fox and the Hound.

Hollywood star & action hero

After his days as a young Disney star, Russell continued a rise to stardom as an adult. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for playing Elvis Presley in the 1980 TV film Elvis, directed by John Carpenter.

He had some of his most memorable roles in this decade. After starring in Robert Zemeckis’ comedy Used Cars, he reunited with with John Carpenter for several classic action films.

His performance as Snake Plissken in the hit film Escape from New York and its sequel Escape from L.A. made him a major action star. He also worked with Carpenter on the cult favorite action comedy Big Trouble in Little China and the now-classic horror/sci-fi film The Thing.

He also received acclaim, and a Golden Globe nomination, for his performance in Mike Nichols’ Silkwood.