Catherine Russell | |
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![]() Catherine Russell at the 2016 Broadway in Bryant Park | |
Born | 1956 (age 68–69) |
Alma mater | Cornell University (AB) New York University (MA) |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1980–present |
Catherine Russell (born 1956) is an American stage actress, professor, general manager, and producer.
She is best known for never having taken a sick or vacation day in the late Warren Manzi's Off-Broadway play Perfect Crime since its opening in 1987. [1] Russell holds the world record for the most performances as the same character, playing Margaret Thorne Brent in that play. [2]
Russell grew up in New Canaan, Connecticut. [3] In 1970, at the age of 14, Russell appeared in The Diary of Anne Frank. [4]
She earned her Bachelor of Arts at Cornell University in 1977 and an MA from New York University in 1980. [5]
Russell made her Off-Broadway debut in 1980 as Nicola Davies in Stephen Poliakoff's City Sugar. [6] She has since appeared Off-Broadway in productions such as Miss Shumann's Quartet, A Resounding Twinkle, The Award And Other Plays and Creeps. [6]
Russell has played the character of Margaret Thorne Brent in the late Warren Manzi's Off-Broadway play Perfect Crime since its opening in 1987. [1] She has missed only four performances, the last in 1995 to attend her brother's wedding. [7] In 2008, Russell was awarded the Guinness World Record for most performances as the same character. [2] She celebrated her 15,000th performance in that role in December 2024. [8]
Russell's understudy is Andrea Leigh, who also serves as assistant stage manager on the production. [9]
Russell is the general manager of The Theater Center which she built in 2005. [10] There she was a lead producer of The Fantasticks from 2006 to 2017. [11]
Russell teaches educational theater as an adjunct faculty member at NYU Steinhardt since 1981 and has taught writing at Baruch College since 1980. [5] [12] [13] [14]
Russell was married to Patrick Robustelli, who owned a Times Square pizzeria, until his death in 2019. [15]
She identifies as a Christian Scientist. [16] [15]
Her favorite play is Three Sisters by Anton Chekov. [17]