Chuck Russell obit

Chuck Russell Dies: Director Of ‘The Mask’ & ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors’ Was 74

 He was not on the list.

Charles Russell, the director of such 1980s and ’90s films and cult favorites as A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, The Mask, The Blob and Eraser, died at his San Diego-area home Wednesday, July 22. He was 74.

His death has been reported by TMZ, and was confirmed by Deadline’s sister site Variety. Russell was pronounced dead after the local fire department responded to his home on a reported medical emergency and an unconscious man. The cause of death has not been disclosed.

Russell, who was also a screenwriter and producer, made his feature film directing debut in 1987 with A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, the third (and at that point most successful) installment of the Freddy Krueger horror franchise. Written by Wes Craven, Bruce Wagner, Frank Darabont and Russell, Dream Warriors starred Robert Englund in his continuing role as Freddy, along with Craig Wasson, Patricia Arquette, Laurence Fishburn and others.

Produced by New Line Cinema, Dream Warriors grossed $44.8 million domestically, by far the most successful of the Elm Street films to that point.

With that success on his resume, Russell went on to write and director the 1988 remake of the classic 1958 horror film The Blob, a box office disappointment and critical failure.

The director rebounded, and then some, with 1994’s The Mask, a superhero comedy starring a green-faced Jim Carrey, then riding high from In Living Color and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. The film was a massive box office success, and scored an Oscar nomination for the visual effects created by George Lucas’ Industrial Light and Magic.

Next for Russell came the hit 1996 action film Eraser starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, followed by the commercially disappointing horror film Bless The Child starring Kim Bassinger and Jimmy Smits.

Another success followed soon enough, with The Scorpion King arriving in 2002 and launching the acting career of WWE star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Following an eight-year hiatus, Russell emerged to direct an episode of TV’s The Fringe before taking on what would be a widely panned John Travolta vengeance vehicle I Am Wrath in 2016. Neither Junglee, an Hindi-language action film from 2019 nor Paradise City starring Travolta and Bruce Willis in 2022 matched the success of Russell’s peak years, nor did his 2024 remake of ’80s cult classic Witchboard.

In addition to writing and directing, Russell was a producer on such films as Hell Night and Girls Just Want To Have Fun, among others.

According to TMZ, Russell is survived by wife Ania and children Logan, Riley and Carlyn, and sister Anne Jacob.

 

Director

White House Demon

Director

Pre-production

 

Hyperia

Director

Pre-production

 

b

director

Pre-production

 

Charlie Tahan, Madison Iseman, and Aaron Dominguez in Witchboard (2024)

Witchboard

5.1

directed by

2024

 

John Travolta and Bruce Willis in Paradise City (2022)

Paradise City

3.7

Director

2022

 

Vidyut Jammwal in Junglee (2019)

Junglee

5.6

Director

2019

 

John Travolta in I Am Wrath (2016)

I Am Wrath

5.4

directed by

2016

 

Anna Torv in Fringe (2008)

Fringe

8.4

TV Series

Director

2010

1 episode

 

Michael Clarke Duncan, Kelly Hu, Steven Brand, and Dwayne Johnson in The Scorpion King (2002)

The Scorpion King

5.5

Director

2002

 

Bless the Child (2000)

Bless the Child

5.1

Director

2000

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Vanessa Williams in Eraser (1996)

Eraser

6.2

directed by (as Charles Russell)

1996

 

Jim Carrey in The Mask (1994)

Jim Carrey: Cuban Pete

7.7

Music Video

Director

1994

 

Jim Carrey in The Mask (1994)

The Mask

7.0

Director (as Charles Russell)

1994

 

The Blob (1988)

The Blob

6.7

directed by

1988

 

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors

6.7

Director

1987

 

Producer

b

executive producer

Pre-production

 

Charlie Tahan, Madison Iseman, and Aaron Dominguez in Witchboard (2024)

Witchboard

5.1

produced by

2024

 

Tom Cruise in Collateral (2004)

Collateral

7.5

executive producer

2004

 

Patrick Muldoon, Amelia Heinle, and Russell Means in Black Cat Run (1998)

Black Cat Run

5.7

TV Movie

executive producer (as Charles Russell)

1998

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Vanessa Williams in Eraser (1996)

Eraser

6.2

executive producer (as Charles Russell)

1996

 

Jim Carrey in The Mask (1994)

The Mask

7.0

executive producer (as Charles Russell)

1994

 

Back to School (1986)

Back to School

6.7

produced by

1986

 

Helen Hunt, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Lee Montgomery in Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985)

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

6.0

produced by

1985

 

Lorenzo Lamas and Michelle Nicastro in Body Rock (1984)

Body Rock

3.8

associate producer

1984

 

Dennis Quaid, Kate Capshaw, Christopher Plummer, Cory 'Bumper' Yothers, Larry Cedar, Redmond Gleeson, Peter Jason, David Patrick Kelly, and Chris Mulkey in Dreamscape (1984)

Dreamscape

6.3

associate producer

1984

 

Morgan Fairchild in The Seduction (1982)

The Seduction

5.1

executive producer

1982

 

Linda Blair in Hell Night (1981)

Hell Night

5.6

executive producer

1981

 

The Hearse (1980)

The Hearse

4.9

line producer (as Charles Russell)

1980

 

Kristine DeBell and Jason Williams in Cheerleaders' Wild Weekend (1979)

Cheerleaders' Wild Weekend

4.7

producer

1979

 

Writer

The Birthright

created by (2018)

Pre-productionTV Series

 

Charlie Tahan, Madison Iseman, and Aaron Dominguez in Witchboard (2024)

Witchboard

5.1

screenplay by

2024

 

John Travolta and Bruce Willis in Paradise City (2022)

Paradise City

3.7

written by

2022

 

Vidyut Jammwal in Junglee (2019)

Junglee

5.6

Writer

2019

 

The Blob (1988)

The Blob

6.7

screenplay

1988

 

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors

6.7

screenplay

1987

 

Dennis Quaid, Kate Capshaw, Christopher Plummer, Cory 'Bumper' Yothers, Larry Cedar, Redmond Gleeson, Peter Jason, David Patrick Kelly, and Chris Mulkey in Dreamscape (1984)

Dreamscape

6.3

screenplay

1984

 

Production Management

Back to School (1986)

Back to School

6.7

production manager

1986

 

John Lansing, Stacey Pickren, and Joey Travolta in Sunnyside (1979)

Sunnyside

5.2

production manager

1979

 

Mike Mazurki in Incredible Rocky Mountain Race (1977)

Incredible Rocky Mountain Race

7.0

TV Movie

unit manager

1977

 

Steve Forrest and Ned Romero in Last of the Mohicans (1977)

Last of the Mohicans

6.1

TV Movie

unit manager

1977

 

Melanie Griffith, Robert Carradine, Desi Arnaz Jr., and Anne Lockhart in Joyride (1977)

Joyride

5.7

unit production manager

1977

 

Lynda Carter and Marjoe Gortner in Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw (1976)

Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw

5.4

production supervisor

1976

 

Second Unit or Assistant Director

Lisa Hartman and Chris Lemmon in Just Tell Me You Love Me (1978)

Just Tell Me You Love Me

6.1

assistant director

1978

 

Supervan (1977)

Supervan

3.9

first assistant directorsecond unit director

1977

 

Larry Gelman, Candice Rialson, and Rip Taylor in Chatterbox! (1977)

Chatterbox!

5.1

second assistant director

1977

 

Lynda Carter and Marjoe Gortner in Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw (1976)

Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw

5.4

second assistant director (uncredited)

1976

 

Actor

The Blob (1988)

The Blob

6.7

Theater Patron (uncredited)

1988

 

Lynda Carter and Marjoe Gortner in Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw (1976)

Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw

5.4

Deputy

1976

 

Shot (1973)

Shot

5.6

Wilson (as Charles Russell)

1973

 

Production Department

Cannonball! (1976)

Cannonball!

5.5

production assistant: second unit

1976

 

Thanks

I Killed The Strawberry Jam - Chuck Russell on Shooting The Blob (2019)

I Killed The Strawberry Jam - Chuck Russell on Shooting The Blob

Short

thanks

2019

 

It Fell From the Sky! Chuck Russell on the Road to The Blob (2019)

It Fell From the Sky! Chuck Russell on the Road to The Blob

Short

thanks

2019

 

Farhan Akhtar, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Zaira Wasim, and Rohit Saraf in The Sky Is Pink (2019)

The Sky Is Pink

7.6

special thanks

2019

 

Directing the Blob: Interview with Chuck Russell

Short

special thanks

2016

 

George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino in Horror Talk Movie Reviews (2013)

Horror Talk Movie Reviews

4.8

TV Series

very special thanks

2014

1 episode

 

Jim Carrey and Laurie Holden in The Majestic (2001)

The Majestic

6.9

special thanks

2001

 

Point of Seduction: Body Chemistry III (1994)

Point of Seduction: Body Chemistry III

3.9

Video

special thanks

1994

 

Self

The Thing Expanded (2026)

The Thing Expanded

8.6

Self - Interviewee

2026

 

Talks from the Crypt (2021)

Talks from the Crypt

Podcast Series

Self - Guest

2025

1 episode

 

Casser la baraque

Self

2021

 

I Killed The Strawberry Jam - Chuck Russell on Shooting The Blob (2019)

I Killed The Strawberry Jam - Chuck Russell on Shooting The Blob

Short

Self

2019

 

It Fell From the Sky! Chuck Russell on the Road to The Blob (2019)

It Fell From the Sky! Chuck Russell on the Road to The Blob

Short

Self

2019

 

Post Mortem with Mick Garris (2017)

Post Mortem with Mick Garris

7.8

Podcast Series

Self

2018

1 episode

 

Wolfman's Got Nards (2018)

Wolfman's Got Nards

7.2

Self

2018

 

Directing the Blob: Interview with Chuck Russell

Short

Self

2016

 

Fear Himself: The Life and Crimes of Freddy Krueger

6.9

Video

Self

2012

 

FEARnet's Movies with More Brains (2011)

FEARnet's Movies with More Brains

3.6

TV Special

Self

2011

 

Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy (2010)

Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy

8.5

Video

Self - Director & Co-Screenplay

2010

 

The House That Freddy Built (2006)

The House That Freddy Built

7.2

Video

Self

2006

 

Cartoon Logic (2005)

Cartoon Logic

6.9

Video

Self

2005

 

Introducing Cameron Diaz (2005)

Introducing Cameron Diaz

6.2

Video

Self

2005

 

Return to Edge City (2005)

Return to Edge City

5.9

Video

Self

2005

 

Biography (1987)

Biography

7.7

TV Series

Self

2004

1 episode

 

Ancient World Production Design: 'the Scorpion King' (2002)

Ancient World Production Design: 'the Scorpion King'

7.4

Video

Self

2002

 

Costume Design: 'the Scorpion King' (2002)

Costume Design: 'the Scorpion King'

7.6

Video

Self

2002

 

Preparing the Fight: 'the Scorpion King' (2002)

Preparing the Fight: 'the Scorpion King'

7.2

Video

Self

2002

 

Special Effects: 'the Scorpion King' (2002)

Special Effects: 'the Scorpion King'

6.7

Video

Self

2002

 

'The Scorpion King': A Warrior's Journey

5.8

Video

Self

2002

 

The Fiery Swords Scene: 'the Scorpion King' (2002)

The Fiery Swords Scene: 'the Scorpion King'

8.0

Video

Self

2002

 

The Rock and Michael Clarke Duncan: 'the Scorpion King'

7.3

Video

Self

2002

 

Working with Animals: 'the Scorpion King' (2002)

Working with Animals: 'the Scorpion King'

6.7

Video

Self

2002

 

Headliners & Legends with Matt Lauer (1998)

Headliners & Legends with Matt Lauer

4.5

TV Series

Self

1998–2008

1 episode

 

HBO First Look (1992)

HBO First Look

6.3

TV Series

Self

1996

1 episode

 

Space Ghost Coast to Coast (1993)

Space Ghost Coast to Coast

7.9

TV Series

Self

1995

1 episode

 

Cybermania '94: Ultimate Gamers Awards (1994)

Cybermania '94: Ultimate Gamers Awards

6.3

TV Special

Self (as Charles Russell)

1994

 

Slash & Burn: The Freddy Krueger Story (1991)

Slash & Burn: The Freddy Krueger Story

8.0

TV Movie

Self

1991

 

The Media Show (1987)

The Media Show

4.8

TV Series

Self

1989

1 episode

 

Archive Footage

Minty Comedic Arts (2015)

Minty Comedic Arts

8.6

TV Series

Self (archive footage)

2024

1 episode

 

Bad Music Video Theatre (2020)

Bad Music Video Theatre

6.8

TV Series

Self (archive footage)

2021

2 episodes

 

Space Ghost Coast to Coast (1993)

Space Ghost Coast to Coast

7.9

TV Series

Self (archive footage)

1995

1 episode