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Joseph Marcus Ruslander, better known by his stage name, Mark Russell, built a career on piano-driven political comedy that provided sharp commentary on current events. His bow tie became part of his signature look, and his long series of PBS specials solidified him as one of the notable satirists of his day.
Mark Russell’s legacy
Mark Russell began performing comedy in a Washington, D.C. hotel in the 1960s, winning fans with his brand of political satire that eventually led to television success. From 1975 to 2004, Mark Russell took to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) to deliver sharp and funny jabs at the political headlines of the day.
Russell’s sharply observant musical satire regularly skewered politicians, celebrities, and pop culture by commenting on the absurdity of politics, the hypocrisies of public figures, and more. In addition to nearly 30 years of PBS specials, he was also a correspondent on NBC’s “Real People” from 1979 to 1984 and a regular guest on “Meet the Press.” Russell also continued to do live performances until 2016.
Russell became such a part of the public consciousness that he was parodied on both “Saturday Night Live” and “The Simpsons.” He dedication to satire even led him supporting the rap group 2 Live Crew by testifying before the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1994 landmark case Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc., which upheld the right to parody performances.
Mark Russell on who writes his jokes
“I have 535 writers. One hundred in the Senate and 435 in the House of Representatives.”—a common response from Russell, according to a 2023 profile from The Hollywood Reporter (source)
Tributes to Mark Russell
Full obituary: The Washington Post
