Karen Russell

Karen Russell was a buxom, shapely, and voluptuous brunette actress and dancer who popped up with pleasing regularity in a handful of entertainingly trashy low-budget straight-to-video exploitation pictures made throughout the 1980's and 1990's. Karen made a memorable film debut as nasty street gang moll Chula in the brutal urban action opus "Tenement." She was quite funny and appealing as the ditsy Shawnee in the crudely amusing "Vice Academy." Russell's other noteworthy parts include sweet, but troubled Mafia princess Amy in the gloriously outrageous "Murder Weapon," motorcycle mama Candy in "Easy Wheels," naive hooker Fran in the hugely enjoyable "The Banker," cop Francesco Quinn's bitter estranged ex-wife Isabella in "Murder Blues," and lusty groupie Michelle in "Shock 'Em Dead." Moreover, Karen appeared in small roles as a dancer in the mainstream features "Dick Tracy," "Havana," "Mobsters," and "Bugsy." After calling it a day as an actress in the mid-1990's, Russell went on to become a yoga teacher and founder of her own business Yoga Groove based in North Hollywood, California.

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Bugsy (1991)

New York gangster Ben 'Bugsy' Siegel takes a brief business trip to Los Angeles. A sharp-dressing womanizer with a foul temper, Siegel doesn't hesitate to kill or maim anyone crossing him. In L.A. the life, the movies, and most of all strong-willed Virginia Hill ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Barry Levinson
CAST:  Warren Beatty  •  Annette Bening  •  Harvey Keitel  •  Ben Kingsley

New York gangster Ben 'Bugsy' Siegel takes a brief business trip to Los Angeles. A sharp-dressing womanizer with a foul temper, Siegel doesn't hesitate to kill or maim anyone crossing him. In L.A. the life, the movies, and most of all strong-willed Virginia Hill ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Barry Levinson
CAST:  Warren Beatty  •  Annette Bening  •  Harvey Keitel  •  Ben Kingsley

Dick Tracy (1990)

The comic strip detective finds his life vastly complicated when Breathless Mahoney makes advances towards him while he is trying to battle Big Boy Caprice's united mob.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Warren Beatty
CAST:  Warren Beatty  •  Al Pacino  •  Madonna  •  Charlie Korsmo

The comic strip detective finds his life vastly complicated when Breathless Mahoney makes advances towards him while he is trying to battle Big Boy Caprice's united mob.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Warren Beatty
CAST:  Warren Beatty  •  Al Pacino  •  Madonna  •  Charlie Korsmo

Mobsters (1991)

The story of a group of friends in turn of the century New York, from their early days as street hoods to their rise in the world of organized crime...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Karbelnikoff
CAST:  Christian Slater  •  Costas Mandylor  •  Richard Grieco  •  Patrick Dempsey

The story of a group of friends in turn of the century New York, from their early days as street hoods to their rise in the world of organized crime...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Karbelnikoff
CAST:  Christian Slater  •  Costas Mandylor  •  Richard Grieco  •  Patrick Dempsey

Mob Boss (1990)

A nerd becomes the head of his father's crime family.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fred Olen Ray
CAST:  Eddie Deezen  •  Morgan Fairchild  •  William Hickey  •  Stuart Whitman

A nerd becomes the head of his father's crime family.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fred Olen Ray
CAST:  Eddie Deezen  •  Morgan Fairchild  •  William Hickey  •  Stuart Whitman

Wilding (1990)

Two detectives are out to nail a gang of teenagers who have run wild through the city and brutally raped a woman.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eric Louzil
CAST:  Wings Hauser  •  Joey Travolta  •  Karen Russell  •  Steven Cooke

Two detectives are out to nail a gang of teenagers who have run wild through the city and brutally raped a woman.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eric Louzil
CAST:  Wings Hauser  •  Joey Travolta  •  Karen Russell  •  Steven Cooke

Murder Weapon (1989)

Two daughters of mobsters get out of the sanitarium after having killed a boyfriend in the shower, supposedly cured and on the right track. They hold a party and invite all their old boyfriends, making all of them think there is still hope for a relationship. Then ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David DeCoteau
CAST:  Linnea Quigley  •  Lyle Waggoner  •  Karen Russell  •  Stephen Steward

Two daughters of mobsters get out of the sanitarium after having killed a boyfriend in the shower, supposedly cured and on the right track. They hold a party and invite all their old boyfriends, making all of them think there is still hope for a relationship. Then ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David DeCoteau
CAST:  Linnea Quigley  •  Lyle Waggoner  •  Karen Russell  •  Stephen Steward

Shock 'Em Dead (1991)

Martin is a total loser, who nobody cares for. When he fails to get a position as guitar player in Lindsay's band and loses his job on the way, he makes a deal with a Voodoo priestess. She promises him the fulfillment of all his dreams if he swears obedience to her ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mark Freed
CAST:  Traci Lords  •  Stephen Quadros  •  Troy Donahue  •  Aldo Ray

Martin is a total loser, who nobody cares for. When he fails to get a position as guitar player in Lindsay's band and loses his job on the way, he makes a deal with a Voodoo priestess. She promises him the fulfillment of all his dreams if he swears obedience to her ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mark Freed
CAST:  Traci Lords  •  Stephen Quadros  •  Troy Donahue  •  Aldo Ray

Easy Wheels (1989)

A group of leather-clad bikers are on the trail of the female bikers who are stealing babies all over the state and selling them on the black market.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David O'Malley
CAST:  Paul Le Mat  •  Eileen Davidson Van Patten  •  Marjorie Bransfield  •  Theresa Randle

A group of leather-clad bikers are on the trail of the female bikers who are stealing babies all over the state and selling them on the black market.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David O'Malley
CAST:  Paul Le Mat  •  Eileen Davidson Van Patten  •  Marjorie Bransfield  •  Theresa Randle

Hell High (1989)

A teacher still haunted by the death of two teens that she accidentally caused as a young girl goes berserk when four teens start harassing her and then attack her in her home.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Douglas Grossman
CAST:  Christopher Stryker  •  Maureen Mooney  •  Christopher Cousins  •  Millie Prezioso

A teacher still haunted by the death of two teens that she accidentally caused as a young girl goes berserk when four teens start harassing her and then attack her in her home.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Douglas Grossman
CAST:  Christopher Stryker  •  Maureen Mooney  •  Christopher Cousins  •  Millie Prezioso

The Banker (1989)

High-priced prostitutes are being systematically murdered, their corpses mutilated, and a bizarre South American symbol painted in blood is found at the scene. The cop investigating is out to solve the crime before his ex wife, a reporter, becomes the next victim.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Webb
CAST:  Robert Forster  •  Shanna Reed  •  Duncan Regehr  •  Jeff Conaway

High-priced prostitutes are being systematically murdered, their corpses mutilated, and a bizarre South American symbol painted in blood is found at the scene. The cop investigating is out to solve the crime before his ex wife, a reporter, becomes the next victim.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Webb
CAST:  Robert Forster  •  Shanna Reed  •  Duncan Regehr  •  Jeff Conaway

Phoenix the Warrior (1988)

Big hair, big guns, big personalities, and a serious lack of wardrobe. She-Wolves of the Wasteland, a post-apocalyptic story that features women--lots and lots of women--who leave little to the imagination as they battle each other in various junkyards and gravel ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Hayes
CAST:  Persis Khambatta  •  Kathleen Kinmont  •  Peggy McIntaggart  •  James Emery

Big hair, big guns, big personalities, and a serious lack of wardrobe. She-Wolves of the Wasteland, a post-apocalyptic story that features women--lots and lots of women--who leave little to the imagination as they battle each other in various junkyards and gravel ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Hayes
CAST:  Persis Khambatta  •  Kathleen Kinmont  •  Peggy McIntaggart  •  James Emery

Dr. Alien (1989)

When the mysterious and sexy Ms. Xenobia takes over the biology class at the local college, the dating life of supergeek Wesley Littlejohn takes a serious turn. Littlejohn agrees to be a lab rat for the professor's unusual vitamin research study. Now, thanks to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David DeCoteau
CAST:  Judy Landers  •  Billy Jayne  •  Olivia Barash  •  Stuart Fratkin

When the mysterious and sexy Ms. Xenobia takes over the biology class at the local college, the dating life of supergeek Wesley Littlejohn takes a serious turn. Littlejohn agrees to be a lab rat for the professor's unusual vitamin research study. Now, thanks to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David DeCoteau
CAST:  Judy Landers  •  Billy Jayne  •  Olivia Barash  •  Stuart Fratkin

American Rampage (1989)

Ex-San Francisco vice cop Samantha Roarke and Hollywood homicide detective Ryan Hayes team up to investigate an international drug cartel in Los Angeles, leading them to an ex-CIA operative turned drug kingpin who's organizing a heroin distribution center in the city.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David DeCoteau
CAST:  Kary Jane  •  Thomas Elliott  •  Sam Hill  •  Otis T. Longhorn

Ex-San Francisco vice cop Samantha Roarke and Hollywood homicide detective Ryan Hayes team up to investigate an international drug cartel in Los Angeles, leading them to an ex-CIA operative turned drug kingpin who's organizing a heroin distribution center in the city.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David DeCoteau
CAST:  Kary Jane  •  Thomas Elliott  •  Sam Hill  •  Otis T. Longhorn

Vice Academy (1989)

This tale tells the story of female police cadets training to join the Hollywood vice squad. During training, the toothsome rookies are assigned to infiltrate a kiddy porn operation. Next they must go undercover and join a prostitution ring.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rick Sloane
CAST:  Linnea Quigley  •  Ginger Lynn Allen  •  Karen Russell  •  Ken Abraham

This tale tells the story of female police cadets training to join the Hollywood vice squad. During training, the toothsome rookies are assigned to infiltrate a kiddy porn operation. Next they must go undercover and join a prostitution ring.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rick Sloane
CAST:  Linnea Quigley  •  Ginger Lynn Allen  •  Karen Russell  •  Ken Abraham

Tenement (1985)

A drug-dealing band of violent street thugs terrorize the tenants of a South Bronx apartment building.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roberta Findlay
CAST:  Joe Lynn  •  Mina Bern  •  Walter Bryant  •  Corinne Chateau

A drug-dealing band of violent street thugs terrorize the tenants of a South Bronx apartment building.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roberta Findlay
CAST:  Joe Lynn  •  Mina Bern  •  Walter Bryant  •  Corinne Chateau

Dead Certain (1991)

A detective becomes obsessed with bringing a man to justice, whom he is sure is a serial killer and the murderer of a woman with which both men were involved. However, the supposed killer may be as much a victim as the murdered people.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Anders Palm
CAST:  Brad Dourif  •  Francesco Quinn  •  Karen Russell  •  Joel Kaiser

A detective becomes obsessed with bringing a man to justice, whom he is sure is a serial killer and the murderer of a woman with which both men were involved. However, the supposed killer may be as much a victim as the murdered people.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Anders Palm
CAST:  Brad Dourif  •  Francesco Quinn  •  Karen Russell  •  Joel Kaiser

Memorial Valley Massacre (1989)

Campers on a holiday are terrorized by an axe-wielding maniac.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert C. Hughes
CAST:  John Kerry  •  Mark Mears  •  John Caso  •  Lesa Lee

Campers on a holiday are terrorized by an axe-wielding maniac.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert C. Hughes
CAST:  John Kerry  •  Mark Mears  •  John Caso  •  Lesa Lee

Hellbent (1988)

A bandleader whose career is nosediving makes a deal with the owner of a bar to sell his soul for success.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Casey
CAST:  Phillip Ward  •  Lyn Levand  •  David Marciano  •  Cheryl Slean

A bandleader whose career is nosediving makes a deal with the owner of a bar to sell his soul for success.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Casey
CAST:  Phillip Ward  •  Lyn Levand  •  David Marciano  •  Cheryl Slean

Blood Nasty (1989)

Roy is killed by a couple of jewel thieves and then brought back to life and possessed by deceased serial killer "Blade". He returns home and his mother is not very happy to see him as she wants to collect his life insurance policy. Soon, things get out of hand as ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Gabai  •  Robert Strauss
CAST:  Linnea Quigley  •  Troy Donahue  •  Richard Gabai  •  Todd McCammon

Roy is killed by a couple of jewel thieves and then brought back to life and possessed by deceased serial killer "Blade". He returns home and his mother is not very happy to see him as she wants to collect his life insurance policy. Soon, things get out of hand as ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Gabai  •  Robert Strauss
CAST:  Linnea Quigley  •  Troy Donahue  •  Richard Gabai  •  Todd McCammon

The Girl I Want (1990)

A brainy girl turns bimbo and a football star turns brainy in order to attract each other's attention, only to discover that they liked each other the way they were in the first place.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David DeCoteau
CAST:  Linnea Quigley  •  Elizabeth Kaitan  •  Karen Russell  •  Kitten Natividad

A brainy girl turns bimbo and a football star turns brainy in order to attract each other's attention, only to discover that they liked each other the way they were in the first place.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David DeCoteau
CAST:  Linnea Quigley  •  Elizabeth Kaitan  •  Karen Russell  •  Kitten Natividad
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