Johnny Russell: Former child star dies at 91

The former US child star John R. Countryman (1933-2024), known at the time as Johnny Russell or John Russell, died on December 14th in Loudoun, Virginia. That’s what his daughter, Vanessa Countryman, has now. The ex-actor and later diplomat died as a result of pneumonia and was 91 years old.

Although Countryman only spent a few years in front of the camera, the young actor became famous alongside stars such as Shirley Temple (1928-2014), Barbara Stanwyck (1907-1990), Jimmy Stewart (1908-1997) and Tyrone Power (1914 -1958). He appeared alongside Stanwyck in “Always Goodbye” in 1938, but his greatest role was probably as Tyltyl in the 1940 film “The Blue Bird”, in which Temple appeared as his sister Mytyl.

Countryman, who was born in Brooklyn in 1933, was introduced to films at a very young age, but his parents decided that he should have a “normal childhood,” according to the report. He later worked as a pilot in the Air Force or as a newspaper reporter. In the 1980s, the former actor served as United States Ambassador to Oman for several years.

His daughter Vanessa described him as a “true man of the Renaissance,” the report continues. In addition to his daughter, Countryman also leaves behind his wife Illona.