Mark Russell (actor)

Mark Russell (born 1929)^[1][2] is an American former film and television actor.^[3] He is perhaps best known for playing Detective Saperstein in the American crime drama television series Kojak.

Russell was born in Brooklyn, New York.^[4] He served in the United States Army.^[2] He began his career in 1959, where he first appeared in the western television series Bonanza. Russell guest-starred in numerous television programs including The Fugitive, 12 O'Clock High, The Time Tunnel, Batman, Hogan's Heroes, Adam-12, Mission: Impossible, Land of the Giants, Ironside, Star Trek: The Original Series, Dragnet 1967, Emergency!, Quincy, M.E., The Odd Couple and Mannix.^[5]

Russell was originally a stand-in for actor Telly Savalas, who played the main role of Lieutenant Theo Kojak. His character, Detective Saperstein, was then created, and he won the role.^[4] He also appeared on films such as The Errand Boy, Hangup, Captain Newman, M.D., Viva Las Vegas, Not with My Wife, You Don't, The Comic, Girl Happy, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Youngblood Hawke, The Notorious Landlady, Blume in Love, How to Murder Your Wife, Get to Know Your Rabbit, Warning Shot and Moving Violation.