Russ Bruzek OBITUARY

Russ Bruzek OBITUARY

Russ Bruzek, age 96, of Chicago, died on June 28, 2026. He was born March 25, 1930, to George and Mary Bruzek on the day of a record-breaking snowstorm which resulted in 19.2 inches of snow, causing his father to beg a ride to the hospital from a passing motorist after the buses stopped running. He attended Tilden Tech before studying at the Goodman School of Drama at DePaul University, launching a Chicago-based acting career that spanned seven decades. He worked alongside actors such as Burt Reynolds, Mickey Rooney, and Danny Aiello. A card-carrying member of SAG/AFTRA, he was cast as one of the Good Ol’ Boys in The Blues Brothers (1980), and a 1990 episode of Unsolved Mysteries (s3 ep3). He spent his days working in sales at Forest Atwood Paper Company. He was an active member of Kiwanis and Salesman with a Purpose (SWAP) Club (now Sales Professionals International). A lifelong fan of the Cubs and Bears, he enjoyed biking, golf, swimming, reading and lifelong learning, and travel, especially to France. He was a lifelong patron of and advocate for the arts.

Russ was preceded in death by his parents; his brother George (Lois) Bruzek, Jr.; and his sister Marilyn (late Robert) Long. He is survived by sister Sandra (late Stanley) Seal, and brother Kenneth (Patricia) Bruzek, as well as daughter Linda (late Jeff) Silhan, son Steven (Kim) Bruzek, daughter Kathleen (Jonas) Heuer, and daughter Rebecca Everly. He was grandfather to Sarah (Tony) Koehler, Brian (Diana) Silhan, Elliot (Trisha) Bruzek, Alex (Amy) Bruzek, Marko Heuer, Grace Heuer, Penelope Everly, and Tyler Everly, and great-grandfather to Nate Silhan, Olivia Silhan, Sam Bruzek and Olin Bruzek. Services will be private. Memorial donations can be made to the Theatre School at DePaul University (formerly known as The Goodman School Of Drama), The Lyric Opera Of Chicago, The Art Institute Of Chicago, Fourth Presbyterian Church, or McCormick Theological Seminary.