Dan Russell was born James Charles Dunn in England in 1875. His family moved to the United States when he was a child. He started his career in vaudeville with his wife Blanche O'Neill, He left her in for seventeen year old actress Marjorie Ray. They were married in 1909 and had a son, James E Dunn, that December. Tragically the baby died when he was five months old. Dan was hired by LK-O studios in 1915 and became a popular comedian. He made at least six films with his wife Marjorie Ray. Unfortunately by 1921 the couple had divorced. Dan died in March of 1925 following an ulcer operation in Texas.
Died at age 49 following an operation for ulcers in Dallas, Texas. His ex-wife and frequent costar Marjorie Ray had died just eight months earlier due to a drug addiction.