Grayson Russell
Grayson Russell | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 1, 1998[1] Clanton, Alabama, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Partner(s) | Rachel Schumacher (2024–present; engaged) |
Grayson Russell (born May 1, 1998) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and the Diary of a Wimpy Kid film series.[2][3][4] He had a recurring role as Dwayne Dixon on the INSP television series Blue Ridge.
Life and career
[edit]Russell was born in Clanton, Alabama, the son of Crystal (née Cleckley) and Jerry Russell, who have a Christian music ministry.[2] He attended public high school in Clanton at Chilton County High School, home of the Tigers, and graduated from there in 2016.[5] Russell later attended Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, for a brief time.[citation needed]
Russell's acting career began at the age of six, when he appeared as Cowboy Grayson, in a series of television commercials for a local car dealership.[2] Other commercials include appearances in a regional McDonald's spot, and a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee commercial.[6] Russell's film career began with an open casting call for a role in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.
Russell's mother, Crystal Russell, has stated that Grayson auditioned to gain some experience with the process, and the family was surprised to learn that he would be playing Texas Ranger Bobby, the son of racecar driver Ricky Bobby (played by Will Ferrell).[7]
The Rainbow Tribe, Russell's second movie was based on a true story, and was filmed in California in 2007. The independent film won Best Picture at the 2008 The Feel Good Film Festival[8] founded by Kristen Ridgway Flores in Los Angeles, but was released direct-to-video in 2011.[9]
In 2009, Russell appeared in a single episode of Disney's sitcom I'm in the Band.[7] In 2010, Russell appeared in the film adaptation of author Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Russell played Fregley, an awkward and unpopular classmate of Greg Heffley.[5] He reprised the role in the sequels, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2011)[6] and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (2012).
In 2011, Russell also appeared in the Alien Candy episode of R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour. Russell plays an autistic baseball savant named Rafer, in the 2013 feature film Season of Miracles, a role for which fans and critics have acknowledged his broader acting range.[10]
In 2020, Grayson played a signalman in the Apple TV+ movie Greyhound starring Tom Hanks.[11]
Personal life
[edit]Russell became engaged to his girlfriend, Rachel Schumacher on January 14, 2024.[12][13]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby | Texas Ranger Bobby |
| 2008 | The Rainbow Tribe | Calvin |
| 2010 | Diary of a Wimpy Kid | Fregley |
| 2011 | Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules | |
| Marley & Me: The Puppy Years[14] | Marley (voice) | |
| 2012 | Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days | Fregley |
| 2013 | Space Warriors | Russell "Rusty" Riggs |
| Season of Miracles | Rafer | |
| 2015 | How I Got Made | Sean McCrorie |
| 2016 | Mother's Day | Tommy |
| 2019 | Christmas in July | Jimmy |
| Apparition | Sam | |
| 2020 | Greyhound | Signalman #1 |
Television
[edit]| Year | Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | I'm in the Band | Martin | Episode: "Birthdazed" |
| 2011 | R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour | Walt | Episode: "Alien Candy" |
| Pajanimals | Himself | Episode: "An Octopus Hug" | |
| 2020 | Tell Me a Story | Allen | Episode: "Sweet Dreams" |
| 2024 | Blue Ridge | Dwayne Dixon | Recurring role; 4 episodes |
References
[edit]- ^ "Happy 25th Birthday to Grayson Russell! The actor who played Texas Ranger Bobby in Talladega Nights, Fregley in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies (2010-2012), Tommy in Mother's Day (2016), one of the Signalmen in Greyhound, and voiced Marley in Marley & Me: The Puppy Years". twitter.com.
- ^ a b c Carlton, Bob (2010-03-21). "Clanton's Grayson Russell fits in feature films amid regular kid activities". The Birmingham News. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
- ^ Asilo, Rito (2011-04-29). "Growing Pains". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2011-05-02. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
- ^ "Actors to greet fans". The Columbus Dispatch. 2011-04-16. Retrieved 2011-05-04.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b Mims, Scott (2011-03-28). "'Wimpy Kid' movie No. 1 at box office". The Clanton Advertiser. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
- ^ a b Wagner, Neal (2011-03-25). "Movie star celebrates premiere in Alabaster". The Shelby County Reporter. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
- ^ a b "Film starring local opens Friday". The Clanton Advertiser. 2010-03-16. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
- ^ "Feel Good Film Festival 2008". 2008. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
- ^ Morris, Theadoris (2011-02-09). "New film starring Grayson Russell out on DVD". The Clanton Advertiser. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
- ^ "Russell to star in 'A Season of Miracles'". www.clantonadvertiser.com.
- ^ "Grayson Russell on 'Greyhound,' 'Talladega Nights,' and Working with Tom Hanks". www.patheos.com.
- ^ "Proverbs 18:22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord✨ My life will be too short not to have you in it @rachelschumacherog I can't wait to spend the rest of it with you my love✨". instagram.com.
- ^ "It was always going to be you. YES. Hard Launch 😘". instagram.com.
- ^ Marley & Me: The Puppy Years
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
