I an not sure if anyone has given any biographical information on Harold Russell, the actor with the disability in THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES. A Cambridge, Massachusetts native, Harold Russell was working on an army film in 1944 when an explosive he was holding detonated accidentally, injuring his hands so severely that they had to be amputated. Russell was fitted with artificial hands and enrolled at Boston University's College of Business Administration (from which he graduated in 1949). At the same time, he went on to make an army film about the rehabilitation of veterans. Sam Goldwyn spotted Russell in the film and asked him to play Homer PARRISH in THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES. He won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for the role in 1946. He has also appeared in two other films--1982's INSIDE MOVES and a new film I know nothing about, DOGTOWN. His performance in YEARS was a real inspiration to returning servicemen and their families. It is still a touching performance in one of the decade's finest films. ---- To signoff SCREEN-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF SCREEN-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]