Though brief and somewhat uneventful, the life of Tracy Waterfield, the adopted daughter of Hollywood icon Jane Russell, lives on in death. She never reached the fame her mother had, but the story of Tracy will always be intertwined with the history of her famous family. A look at Tracy Waterfield, her family, and the tragic death that took her life.
About Tracy Waterfield
Tracy Waterfield was born on January 5, 1960, in Texas, USA, to Jane Russell through adoption. At the time, Jane Russell was a leading star of Hollywood and a sex symbol of the 1940s and 1950s who adopted Tracy along with two other children. Tracy was one of the three siblings in the family. She was the wife of former professional football player Bob Waterfield, and Tracy grew up in a home touched by the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, though much of her life remained private.
Tracy’s life was tragically shortened at such a tender age of 21. She was brutally murdered in Moore, Oklahoma, back in 1981 while attending the University of Oklahoma. Though investigations into her murder have been conducted to this date, her case has not been solved. The tragic events surrounding her death have deeply affected her family and make her story all the more intriguing.
Tracy Waterfield’s mother: Jane Russell
Jane Russell was born Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell on June 21, 1921, in Bemidji, Minnesota. An iconic American actress and model, she became one of Hollywood’s most famous sex symbols in the 1940s and 1950s. She gained further fame with her staring role in The Outlaw, a 1943 film produced by Howard Hughes that showcased her stunning beauty and voluptuous figure. Although the movie was delayed by problems with the censor-bidden, the film launched Jane into stardom. In her career Russell appeared in over 20 films. These included Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in which she starred alongside Marilyn Monroe. While early films used her as a sex symbol, in later films, Jane proved her skills in comedies and dramatic roles. She was also a mother of three adopted children, one of whom was her late daughter Tracy Waterfield, who tragically lost her life in 1981. The memory of Jane lives on through the movies that she did and her philanthropy. After retiring from acting, she became a spokeswoman for Playtex bras during the 1970s. Meanwhile, Jane Russell passed away due to respiratory failure on 28 February 2011, at age 89, in Santa Maria, California, leaving a dent in the records of Hollywood history.
Tracy Waterfield’s Family Life and Daughter
Much of Tracy Waterfield’s personal life is considered private, although her mother was immense in terms of family bonding. Tracy’s adoption, along with two siblings, reflected the serious commitment of Russell to family and child care.
There is no general information whether Tracy Waterfield had children of her own, but her story would remain part of her mother’s. The mystery of her death has become embedded in the minds of those who hear her story, adding a touch of sadness to what was otherwise a very glamorous tale about Jane Russell’s life.
Net Worth of Tracy Waterfield
While Tracy Waterfield did not have a public career or significant financial standing of her own, the Russell family as a whole was quite wealthy due to the successful Hollywood acting career of Jane Russell. It’s estimated that by the time of her death in 2011, Jane Russell’s net worth weighed in at roughly $40 million, which she made throughout her many years as an industry-leading actress.
As the adopted daughter, Tracy Waterfield was no doubt part of this financial legacy, though details of her estate are not known. Unfortunately, her life was cut short before she could leave her mark.
Conclusion
Though Tracy Waterfield lived a very short life, her story is still remembered through her mother’s legacy, Jane Russell. With much about her still not known or revealed, including the details of her personal life and the mystery surrounding her unresolved murder, Tracy remains an indelible part of the Waterfield-Russell family narrative. As her fans continue to learn more about her life and family, the intrigue surrounding Tracy’s mysterious death remains a somber chapter in the history of one of Hollywood’s most iconic stars.