90’s Hollywood Icon Takes Heat For His Love Of Hunting
For more than six decades, Kurt Russell has built a reputation in Hollywood as the embodiment of rugged independence. Whether portraying gunslingers, soldiers, or frontier survivors, the veteran actor has often carried a distinctly Western sensibility onto the screen. But according to Russell, that image is not merely a product of casting. It reflects a lifestyle that has long been part of his family’s identity.
At 74, Russell recently discussed that background during an appearance on the “Table Manners” podcast, where he spoke candidly about hunting, food, and the values he believes modern culture has increasingly forgotten.
Russell described himself as an avid hunter, with a particular appreciation for elk meat, a staple that reflects his connection to the outdoors. When asked whether he felt sentimental about animals, Russell offered a response that captured his philosophy.
“Well, I thank them for their service,” he said.
The remark was followed by a careful explanation of the distinction he sees between cruelty and sustenance. Russell emphasized that hunting, for him, is not about enjoyment derived from taking life.
“There’s no pleasure in the taking of life,” he clarified. “There’s great pleasure and honor in taking an animal that feeds you. And I respect that and honor that. And it means a big deal to me. And you know, I make no apologies.”
His son Wyatt Russell, who lives in Colorado, joined the conversation and expanded on the difference between growing up with a direct connection to the land and living in a world where food simply appears on supermarket shelves.
Wyatt explained that people who grow up around wildlife see animals regularly, often just beyond their backyards. The experience creates a sense of awe and respect for nature, but also an understanding of the natural cycle that ultimately puts food on the table.
In contrast, he suggested that many people today have become disconnected from that reality.
“You go to the grocery store, and it’s like 90% of the people are just in a pack,” Wyatt said. “They don’t know. They have no connection to food at all.”
For the Russell family, that connection was always clear. The animal taken during a hunt would later become dinner, creating a direct relationship between the act of harvesting and the meal that followed.
Despite his strong views about hunting, Russell was careful to note that he does not see the lifestyle as something everyone should adopt.
“It’s not something I push on anybody,” he explained. “It’s not for everybody, but I like bringing down my own meat. I grew up in that family.”
Russell’s appreciation for wilderness traditions mirrors the characters he has portrayed throughout his career. Films like “The Thing,” “Tombstone,” and “The Hateful Eight” cemented his reputation as one of Hollywood’s most reliable rugged leading men. Yet after more than sixty years in the industry, Russell’s perspective on life and work remains grounded less in celebrity than in experience.
That experience, however, is something he approaches with humility. Speaking to AARP, Russell dismissed the idea that he spends much time dispensing wisdom to his four children — Wyatt, Boston Russell, Kate Hudson, and Oliver Hudson.
“God, no,” he said. “I don’t intentionally, and whatever I impart, I don’t know if it’s wisdom oriented.”
Still, he acknowledged that decades in the film industry have taught him something valuable: sometimes the most effective way to learn is simply to listen.
“After having done this for so long, you keep your mouth shut and your ears open, and you’re going to have learned some things,” he said.
Even as he reflects on a long career, Russell rejects the popular notion that “age is just a number.” To him, age is real, but it has never been the force that defines his life or interests.
Instead, he views it much the same way he views the craft of acting itself—constantly changing, constantly evolving, but still driven by the same curiosity and enthusiasm that fueled him decades ago.