Russell Gilbert


Russell Gilbert is an Australian comedian and actor from Footscray, Victoria, best known for his radio and television appearances, on programs such as The Comedy Company, Hey Hey It's Saturday and Thank God You're Here, he is also a live stage and film actor.

Career

Television

Gilbert has appeared in several Australian TV comedies, first attracting notice as 'Russ the Postie' on ATV-10's The Comedy Company. This role led him to a nine-year stint on GTV-9's Hey Hey It's Saturday. Gilbert also played Kev the tow-truck driver in the sitcom Bingles. In the late 1990s he began starring in his own shows made at GTV-9, all of which were short-lived: even though they all rated well. The Russell Gilbert Show, a sketch comedy show; Russell Gilbert Live, a Saturday-evening variety show featuring celebrity interviews, and live and sketch comedy; and Russell Gilbert Was Here!, another sketch series. He also hosted dog game show Bark-Off with Livinia Nixon. In 2004, he ventured into radio, as host of Weekend Leave Pass on SEN 1116 with Mark Fine. Most recently, Russell made guest appearances on the cult Channel 31 Melbourne sketch comedy show The Shambles and the comedy program Thank God You're Here.
In 1995 and 1996 Gilbert was nominated for a Logie for the Most Popular Comedy Personality for his work on Hey Hey It's Saturday.
He worked for HSV-7 hosting Great Comedy Classics, a compilation of popular British sitcoms, including Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and Are You Being Served?. In May 2007 Russell appeared as one of the celebrity performers on the celebrity reality singing competition It Takes Two.

Film

Russell has acted in four Australian films: Nirvana Street Murder, Ned Kelly, playing Constable Hall, The Extra and Housos vs. Authority. He also appeared unbilled in the Jason Donovan telemovie Loot.

Personal life

Gilbert is also a passionate supporter of the AFL club Western Bulldogs and has made several guest appearances at AFL Legends Matches. In 2002 he kicked a goal while on the bench in an AFL Legends
Game. In 2010 Russell made a comeback to the EJ Whitten Legends Game. He kicked a goal in the third quarter and then another in the fourth.
Rochelle Nolan, nicknamed Rush was Gilbert's de facto partner for 19 years. Nolan committed suicide in September 2015 suffering from depression. Her body was discovered in a hotel room of the Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex in Southbank, Victoria. Two weeks after, Gilbert suffered a brain aneurysm and subsequently a stroke during the operation.