 After making Burt Topper's "War is Hell" (1963), he went to Italy first appearing in the title role of "La leggenda di Fra Diavolo".He then appeared in several sword and sandal and Eurospy films, including "Secret of the Sphinx" (1964) and "Gladiators Seven" (1964).Russel played Zorro in "Behind the Mask of Zorro" (1965); he had originally tested for the role of Walt Disney's "Zorro" but lost out to Guy Williams.