Russell, Annie, 1869-1936.

Annie Russell (1869-1936) was an actress who appeared on the American stage.

She was born in England but started acting in New York City at the age of fourteen. She became the first woman star under the management of Charles Frohman in 1896. She retired from the stage in 1918 and was artistic director of the Annie Russell Theater at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, and taught theater arts at the college.

Actress Annie Russell (1864-1936) was born in Liverpool, England, but emigrated to Canada with her family at a young age. Prompted by her family's financial need, Russell made her first stage appearance at the age of eight, in Montreal. After being brought to New York, she joined a juvenile opera company and made her first appearance there, at the age of fourteen. Russell then toured the West Indies and South America with the same company.

Russell withdrew from the stage because of illness in the late eighteen eighties but returned in 1894. She became the first woman star under the mangement of Charles Frohman in 1896. Her first appearance in England was at the Garrick Theater, London, in 1898.

Russell retired in 1918 and did not appear on stage again until 1932, when the Annie Russell Theater, established by her friend Mary Louise Curtis (Mrs. Edward W.) Bok, was opened at Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida. She became Artistic Director of the theater and Professor of Theater Arts at the college. When the theater was opened Russell played in In A Balcony. She appeared later that year in an old role of hers, Madame La Grange, in The Thirteenth Chair and her final stage appearance was in March 1935, as Mrs. Malaprop in The Rivals.

In 1932 Rollins College conferred on her the degree of Doctor of Humanities.

Annie Russell was twice married and divorced. She had no children.