"[3] Russell went on to star in a series of B movies in the 1980s, including the comedy Tomboy and the slasher film Cheerleader Camp.

Russell also appeared on TV series such as The A-Team, Murder, She Wrote, 1st & Ten, and an episode of Superboy, which was a reunion with her Tomboy co-star Gerard Christopher.

After 15 years of retirement from acting to focus on family,[7] Russell appeared in a small role in Saw III playing John Kramer's ex-wife, Jill Tuck.

[9][10] In August 1988, Russell became engaged to actor Vincent Van Patten and they married nine months later, on May 27, 1989, in North Hollywood.

She has completed a masters program in Spiritual Psychology at the University of Santa Monica and is a certified hypnotist and life coach.