Kurt Russell Opens Up About Sister Jody’s Death and How It Shaped His ‘The Madison’ Performance
The 74-year-old opened up about loss, family and why this softer character came at the right time
With each new Taylor Sheridan series that hits our screens, there’s a sense of excitement that’s second to none—but with The Madison, based on the trailer alone, fans can sense something different in store. Gone are the days of train stations and ranch drama that we came to know on Yellowstone.
Premiering on March 14, The Madison, led expertly by Kurt Russell, Goldie Hawn, Matthew Fox, Patrick J. Adams and more, offers something more emotional, deeper and introspective. The series follows the New York-based Clyburn family, who, in the face of a tragedy that shakes their foundation, process their grief and reconnect against the backdrop of Montana.
A more dramatic turn for Kurt Russell, the actor got candid in conversation with AARP for their Movies for Grownups initiative, where he opened up about teaming up with Sheridan and why this role came at the right time.
‘The Madison’ felt personal for Kurt Russell
One of the major themes in The Madison is that of grief in the face of loss, and for the 74-year-old actor, that’s something that hit close to home.
“We’ve all had experiences with people who were very close to us who died. Last year, my sister, Jody Russell, died. And I know what it meant to her family. I know what it meant to me,” he revealed to AARP. “The way [grief] is presented [in The Madison] was very realistic. There was nothing forced about it. I think it hits men very differently than women, but they both respond the same way.”
For Russell, working with Taylor Sheridan was something that was in the works for years, but prior commitments and filming conflicts with his other hit show, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, held things up. Finally, when the actor got a chance to read the script, he “just loved everything about it” and “just wanted to take advantage of the opportunity.”
While the characters Kurt Russell is used to playing tend to be a little more rough around the edges, this time around, the actor is bringing to life a softer, family man—and it’s a gig he’s excited to play.
“As an actor, you hopefully will get the opportunity to play all different kinds of characters. And this was the first time I was ever going to get the opportunity to play someone that was written in a way that was not only close to me but was so familiar in so many ways that I thought, Well, this is actually brand-new.” He continued, “I’m the right guy for this. I understand everything about that guy.”
When does ‘The Madison’ come out?
The Madison premieres on Paramount+ on March 14 with the first three episodes, and the final three will stream on March 21.
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