Editing Russell Arms

{{Short description|American singer and actor (1920–2012)}}
{{Infobox person
| name        = Russell Arms
| image       = Russell Arms Your Hit Parade 1956.JPG
| caption     = Arms in 1956
| birth_name  = Russell Lee Arms
| birth_date  = {{birth date|1920|2|3|mf=yes}}
| death_date  = {{death date and age|2012|2|13|1920|2|3|mf=yes}}
| death_place = [[Hamilton, Illinois]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[Berkeley, California]], U.S.
| occupation  = Actor, singer
| spouse      = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Barbara J. McGinnis|1966|1974|end=divorced}}
* Mary Lynne Arms
}}
| yearsactive = 1942–1985
}}

'''Russell Lee Arms'''<ref name=veromisearch>{{cite web|url=http://www.veromi.net/Summary.asp?fn-Russell&mn=L.&ln=Arms&dobmm=&dobdd=&doby=1920&city=Berkeley&state=CA&age=90%25vw=&Search=&Input=&x=38&y=23|title=Veromi.net - People Search|website=www.veromi.net|accessdate=24 December 2017}}</ref> (February 3, 1920 – February 13, 2012) was an American [[actor]] and [[singing|singer]].

==Career==
Arms was born on February 3, 1920<ref>Arms was born in 1920, not 1922, as per paid Intelius search</ref> in [[Berkeley, California]],<ref name=latimes>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2012/feb/16/local/la-me-passings-20120216|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218093546/http://articles.latimes.com/2012/feb/16/local/la-me-passings-20120216|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 18, 2012|date=February 16, 2012|title=Passings: Russell Arms, David Kelly, Philip Kellogg|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|accessdate=April 13, 2015}}</ref> gaining acting experience via the [[Pasadena Playhouse]]. He began his career on [[radio]], including working at [[WBBR|WNEW]] in [[New York City]].<ref>{{cite news|title=TV Key Mailbag|newspaper=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2263842/the_brooklyn_daily_eagle/|agency=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=June 4, 1954|page=15|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|accessdate = April 21, 2015}} {{Open access}}</ref>

He moved up to minor screen roles during [[World War II]] as a contract player with [[Warner Bros.]] In his screen debut, he played Richard, the son of the Stanleys, in 1942's ''[[The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942 film)|The Man Who Came to Dinner]]''. He later worked as a freelance performer, mostly in [[Western movie|Westerns]]. Subsequently, he appeared in supporting roles in both [[film|feature films]] and [[television]]. In 1953 he played the role of Chester Finley, a piano instructor and hopeful suitor to [[Doris Day]], in the film ''[[By the Light of the Silvery Moon (film)|By the Light of the Silvery Moon]]''.

From 1952 to 1957, he was best known as a [[singing|vocalist]] on ''[[Your Hit Parade]]'', an NBC [[television series]] that reviewed the [[popular music|popular]] [[song]]s of the day and on which a regular cast of vocalists would perform the top seven songs of the week. Arms and [[Eileen Wilson]] (who starred on the show from 1950 to 1952) were the only surviving lead performers from the show until Arms' death in 2012. He authored an autobiography in 2005, ''My Hit Parade... and a Few Misses''. During his career as a singer, he was also well known for his 1957 [[chart-topper|hit]] [[single (music)|single]], "Cinco Robles (Five Oaks)", which entered the [[record chart|charts]] on January 12, 1957 and stayed there for 15 weeks, peaking at No.&nbsp;22. In 1957, he released the album ''Where Can A Wanderer Go'', on the Era label. The same year he was a singer on ''The Hidden Treasure Show'', "the first nationwide quiz show in which home viewers win the money...".<ref name=bb031657>{{cite news|title=80 Outlets Get Vet 'Treasure' Home Quizzer|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bCAEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Russell+Arms%22&pg=PA9|accessdate=22 April 2015|agency=Billboard|date=March 16, 1957|page=9}}</ref> The syndicated program was sponsored by [[Disabled American Veterans]].<ref name=bb031657/>

On television dramas, Arms made three guest appearances on ''[[Perry Mason (1957 TV series)|Perry Mason]]'', including the role of Attorney Everett Dorrell in the 1960 episode "The Case of the Credulous Quarry", and as Roger Correll in the 1963 episode "The Case of the Greek Goddess". Additionally, he appeared in the 1961 episode "Bad Sheriff" on the long-running series ''[[Gunsmoke]]'', portraying a crooked lawman who tries to keep the money seized by [[stagecoach]] robbers.<ref>[http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/gunsmoke/episode-17-season-6/bad-sheriff/100194/ "Bad Sheriff"], ''Gunsmoke'', S06E17, January 7, 1961; ''TV Guide'', a subsidiary of CBS Interactive, Inc. Retrieved November 1, 2017.</ref> For the next two decades he continued to act periodically in other television series, including the [[CBS]] sitcom ''[[Ichabod and Me]]'' in 1962 and the [[NBC]] drama ''[[Gibbsville (TV series)|Gibbsville]]'' in 1976.

A 1958 newspaper story about Arms noted, "Although Arms started in show business as an actor, he became a singer 'by accident,' and now he can't get anyone to believe he can act. 'I'm now in the process of proving them wrong,' he said."<ref>{{cite news|title=Russell Arms Wants to Show He Can Act|newspaper=Idaho State Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2263997/arms_wants_to_act/|agency=Idaho State Journal|date=November 16, 1958|page=6|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|accessdate = April 21, 2015}} {{Open access}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Arms and his second wife, Mary Lynne, resided in [[Palm Springs, California]] for many years. They then moved to [[Hamilton, Illinois]], where Arms died on February 13, 2012,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailygate.com/articles/2012/02/14/news/doc4f3a938edd44c474400914.txt |title=Keokuk's Daily Gate City Online > News |accessdate=2012-06-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120604044904/http://www.dailygate.com/articles/2012/02/14/news/doc4f3a938edd44c474400914.txt |archivedate=2012-06-04 }}</ref> aged 92.<ref name=latimes/>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|1942|| ''[[The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942 film)|The Man Who Came to Dinner]]'' || Richard Stanley ||
|-
|1942|| ''[[Captains of the Clouds]]'' || Louis 'Alabama' Prentiss ||
|-
|1942|| ''[[Always in My Heart (film)|Always in My Heart]]'' || Red ||
|-
|1942|| ''[[Wings for the Eagle]]'' || Pete Hanso ||
|-
|1946|| ''[[Deception (1946 film)|Deception]]'' || Music Student || Uncredited
|-
|1947|| ''[[That Way with Women]]'' || Fred Spafford || Uncredited
|-
|1947|| ''[[Life with Father (film)|Life with Father]]'' || Operator of Stock Quote Ticker || Uncredited
|-
|1947|| ''[[Stage to Mesa City]]'' || Postal Inspector Hardy || Uncredited
|-
|1947|| ''[[The Fighting Vigilantes]]'' || Henchman ||
|-
|1947|| ''[[High Wall]]'' || Patient Awaiting Discharge Hearing || Uncredited
|-
|1948|| ''[[Check Your Guns]]'' || Hired Gunman || Uncredited
|-
|1948|| ''[[Tornado Range]]'' || Killer Dorgan aka Ben Colton ||
|-
|1948|| ''[[Wallflower (film)|Wallflower]]'' || Bobby || Uncredited
|-
|1948|| ''[[The Checkered Coat]]'' || Dr. Stevenson ||
|-
|1948|| ''[[Daredevils of the Clouds]]'' || Jimmy ||
|-
|1948|| ''[[Beyond Glory]]'' || Officer Milliken || Uncredited
|-
|1948|| ''[[Sealed Verdict]]'' || Nissen's Aide || Uncredited
|-
|1948|| ''[[Quick on the Trigger]]'' || Fred Reed ||
|-
|1948|| ''[[Loaded Pistols]]'' || Larry Evans ||
|-
|1948|| ''[[Smoky Mountain Melody]]'' || Bruce 'Kid' Corby ||
|-
|1949|| ''[[John Loves Mary]]'' || Corporal || Uncredited
|-
|1949|| ''[[Cover Up (1949 film)|Cover Up]]'' || Frank Baker ||
|-
|1949|| ''[[Sons of New Mexico]]'' || Lt. Chuck Brunton ||
|-
|1953|| ''[[By the Light of the Silvery Moon (film)|By the Light of the Silvery Moon]]'' || Chester Finley ||
|}

==Partial discography==
*''The Touch'' (1954 - Epic 5-9079)<ref>{{cite news|title=Reviews of New Pop Records|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=myEEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Russell+Arms%22&pg=PA40|accessdate=21 April 2015|agency=Billboard|date=November 6, 1954|page=40}}</ref>
*''Cinco Robles'' (1957 - Era 1026)<ref>{{cite news|title=Recent Pop Releases: Coming Up Strong|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TCAEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Russell+Arms%22&pg=PA46|accessdate=22 April 2015|agency=Billboard|date=February 9, 1957|page=46}}</ref>
*''Evangeline'' (1957 - Era 1033)<ref>{{cite news|title=Reviews of New Pop Records|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KiAEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Russell+Arms%22+intitle%3ABillboard&pg=PA82|accessdate=18 May 2015|agency=Billboard|date=April 13, 1957|page=82}}</ref>

==References==
{{Portal|Biography|California|Music|Radio|Film|Television|Theater}} 
<references />

==External links==
{{commons category|Russell Arms}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0035589|name=Russell Arms}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Arms, Russell}}
[[Category:1920 births]]
[[Category:2012 deaths]]
[[Category:Male actors from Berkeley, California]]
[[Category:American country singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American male pop singers]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:Era Records artists]]
[[Category:Musicians from Berkeley, California]]
[[Category:United States Army officers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American male radio actors]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from California]]
[[Category:Male actors from Palm Springs, California]]
[[Category:People from Hamilton, Illinois]]
[[Category:Country musicians from California]]
[[Category:Country musicians from Illinois]]
[[Category:20th-century American male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Illinois]]
[[Category:Military personnel from California]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Illinois]]