[1] Born in Toronto,[2] Russell became president of Mae West's fan club as a teenager, and he briefly worked and lived in Los Angeles as her secretary.
He toured Las Vegas, Hollywood, San Francisco, Berlin, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Hamburg and Sydney.
Russell also released an album titled "Glamour Monster" in 1987 with the help of his manager and publicity agent Gino Empry, and multiple producers, so profits could contribute funds to AIDS research.
A play titled Margaret and Craig, written by David Solomon, based on the writing of both Russell and Gibson, was in development.
The play was produced in workshop at Vassar College's Powerhouse Theater in Summer 2011 with Mario Cantone as Russell and Jeni Verdon as Gibson.