Russ Bender was an American actor best known for his roles in “War of the Colossal Beast,” “The Amazing Colossal Man,” and “The Twilight Zone.” He was born on January 1, 1910, in New York City, and died on August 16, 1969, in Hollywood, California.
Personal and Family Life
Russ Bender, whose full name was Russell Richard Bender Jr., had a distinctive appearance that made him well-suited for character roles. He was often seen portraying authority figures such as lawmen or military officers in films, especially in the low-budget science fiction genre of the 1950s and 1960s. Bender bore a resemblance to actor Eddie Albert and frequently collaborated with director Maury Dexter.
Death and Legacy
Russ Bender passed away on August 16, 1969, leaving behind a varied legacy in the film industry. His work in low-budget films and television contributed to the popularity of those genres during his era. Although he may not be widely recognized today, his performances remain a part of the era’s cinematic history.
Filmography
Title
Release Date
Character
Panic in Year Zero!
1962-07-05
Harkness
It Conquered the World
1956-07-14
General James Pattick
Anatomy of a Psycho
1961-06-14
Frank
War of the Colossal Beast
1958-06-04
Dr. Carmichael
No Name on the Bullet
1959-02-01
Storekeeper
Invasion of the Saucer-Men
1957-06-01
Doctor
Ghost of Dragstrip Hollow
1959-07-01
Tom Hendry
Devil’s Angels
1967-04-14
Royce
The Navy vs. the Night Monsters
1966-11-01
McBride
Wild on the Beach
1965-08-25
Shep Kirby
The Young Animals
1968-10-01
Coach Simms
Motorcycle Gang
1957-10-22
Lt. Joe Watson
Space Probe Taurus
1965-01-01
Dr. Paul Martin
The Amazing Colossal Man
1957-10-25
Richard Kingman
Maryjane
1968-02-01
Harry Braxton
Dragstrip Girl
1957-04-24
Police Lt. Bradley
Walk Tall
1960-09-01
Col. Stanton
Days of Wine and Roses
1963-02-04
(uncredited)
I Saw What You Did
1965-07-21
Police Sergeant Harris
Jack the Ripper
1958-03-08
Calvin Logan
Air Patrol
1962-07-17
Sgt. Lou Kurnitz
Vice Raid
1959-12-01
Lawyer Drucker
Raiders from Beneath the Sea
1964-12-12
Tucker
Badlands of Montana
1957-05-01
George Johannson
The Purple Hills
1961-10-31
Deputy Marshal
The Satan Bug
1965-03-26
Desk Guard Mason
I Bury the Living
1958-07-01
Henry Trowbridge
The Strangler
1964-04-01
Dr. Clarence Sanford
Man of a Thousand Faces
1957-08-15
Judge (uncredited)
King of the Roaring 20’s – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
1961-06-11
Racetrack Official (uncredited)
The War of the Worlds
1953-08-13
Dr. Carmichael (uncredited)
Hot Rod Gang
1958-08-01
Bill
Cowboy
1958-01-23
Joe (uncredited)
Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Man
1962-07-25
Serviceman at Train Station (uncredited)
Live a Little, Love a Little
1968-10-23
Editor (uncredited)
A Gathering of Eagles
1963-06-21
Lover Come Back
1961-12-20
Mr. Gates – Partner in Advertising Company (uncredited)