| Character Profile | List of appearances |
Russell Charles "Russ" Owen was the son of Rob and Carrie Owen, the brother of Sam and Nicole Owen, the father of Max Owen (who was conceived during an affair between Russ and Tina Reilly) and the husband of Mercedes McQueen. Russ was murdered by Breda McQueen after his wedding to Mercedes, after it was revealed that Goldie McQueen was pregnant with Russ's baby, which he convinced her to abort.
Biography[]
2004-2005: Arrival[]
Russ arrived with his mother Carrie, sister Nicole and his brother Sam in August 2004. The family moved to Hollyoaks after Sam, going by his middle name Liam, was released from prison. Sam's ex-girlfriend Jules, whose brother Sam was accused of killing in a house fire, followed them to the village. Russ encountered Jules and the pair shared a kiss, but Russ turned on Jules after discovering her true colours.
Russ enrolled at Hollyoaks Community College to study Social Anthropology, where he befriended Joe Spencer and Dannii Carbone. He also later befriended Ben Davies. Ben recruited Russ to help him with helping Darren Osborne sort out his loan shark situation. However, the loan shark turned out to be Scott Anderson, whom Darren had left for dead in a fire at The Loft in June 2004. Scott and his thugs kidnapped the trio, but released Ben and Russ. Russ convinced Ben to help Darren and the pair called the police, leading to Scott's arrest.
2005: Relationship with Dannii & Testicular Cancer[]
Russ took a liking to Dannii, and charmed her. However, during sex, Dannii discovered a lump on Russ's testicles. Russ later confided in Sam and Russ, adamant on facing the possibility of having testicular cancer alone, went to a clinic. He was later informed that the lump was cancerous, and there was a strong chance that he would need to have a testicle removed.
Russ later decided to reveal his illness to his family, leaving them shocked. He later discovered that he would need to have his testicle removed, and had an operation in March 2005. Afterwards, Russ struggled with his emotions, struggling to talk to his family and believing that he would now be undesirable to Dannii. Not long after the operation, Russ's father Rob arrived in the village. However, Russ later talked to Dannii and discovered that she did not think differently. She tried to kiss Russ, but he told her that he only wanted to remain friends, which she agreed to.
2005-2006: Andy Holt, Relationship with Sophie Burton & Sam's Deadly Revenge[]
When Dannii told Russ that she was raped by Andy Holt, Russ goes against Dannii when he decides not to believe her, ending their relationship. However, by December 2005, Russ discovers the truth after Sam confesses what Andy did this lead Russ to attack Andy by pushing him off a cliff seemingly to his death. A month later in January 2006, Russ is devastated when Dannii leaves after he told her he killed Andy but in February 2006, Andy is revealed to be alive and kidnaps Russ' and Sam's younger sister Nicole and forces Sam to confess to raping Sophie Burton and despite Russ' attempts to save Nicole, Andy manages to overpower him however both Russ and Nicole along with Sam are saved when Andy is chased by Sophie's twin sister Mel Burton and accidentally impales himself on a mental pole. Russ then watches on as Sam is sentenced to 25 years imprisonment in March 2006.
After the incident and Sam's sentencing, Russ would begin a relationship with Sophie despite that fact his own brother raped her and their relationship seems a happy one until Russ sleeps with Mercedes McQueen and Sam escapes prison in August 2006 and Russ would later watch on as Sam takes The Dog hostage in September 2006 after dosing it in gasoline eventually a explosion would be caused and Russ is devastated to learn the resulting explosion killed both Mel and Sophie as well as his friend in Joe and Olivia Johnson and this leads to Russ' family to depart from the village in the same month as they could not face up to the heartache that Sam caused.
2006-2007: Relationship with Mercedes McQueen[]
After the explosion, Russ is devastated by Sophie's death but since he was growing close in Mercedes, Russ ends up in a relationship with her and eventually moves into the McQueen family home this leads to Sophie's brother, Justin Burton to attack Russ when he discovers of Russ' affair with Mercedes however despite this Russ begins to move on from the tragic events, Russ seems to be settling in McQueen family well although Jacqui mistakes Russ for a burglar and attacks him and Russ would end up in a fight with a gangster named Davey Thomas over Jacqui's debt which is eventually paid off.
Russ is stunned when Dannii makes a return to the village in June 2007 after getting a text off Russ' phone however it was sent by Darren but Russ and Dannii make their peace as she departs for France once more eventually after nearly a year with Mercedes and getting engaged earlier in the year, Russ' wedding day would finally arrive as Nicole makes a return for her older brothers wedding in July 2007 however, Louise Summers arrives and rightly accuses Mercedes of sleeping with Warren Fox whom is wrongly in prison for pushing Clare Devine from The Loft balcony however despite this, Russ believes Mercedes and still marries her but their marriage would come to an end when Russ discovers the truth in August 2007 when Mercedes give evidence at Warren's trial and after being taunted by Warren, Russ lashes out and punches him.
2007-2009: Affair, Relationship with Nancy Hayton & Departure[]
By December 2007, Russ discovers that Tina Reilly is being harassed by Pete Webster and when Russ sees Pete forcing himself on Tina, Russ rushes to Tina's aid by fending off Pete by punching him and this leads Russ to be thanked by Tina who is Mercedes' sister however despite this and the fact Tina is still married to Dominic Reilly. Russ and Tina end up sleeping together where its agreed by both that they cannot tell anyone about it. In February 2008, Russ begins to worry for Nancy Hayton when he sees that she's been controlled by Jake Dean but helps Nancy when Jake is detained under the mental health act in May 2008. Russ is totally unaware that Tina is pregnant with his child during this time.
Russ would then meet meet a woman named Caroline Cooper by July 2008 and he prepares to depart the village with Caroline however Tina stops him by telling him her new born son, Max Owen is his child and this leads Russ to stay put and briefly begin a relationship with Tina however it would come to a quick end in October 2008 when Tina is killed by her own brother Niall Rafferty after detonating bomb that caused an explosion, Russ is devastated by Tina's death and even further more when Jacqui does not let him have any access to his son.
By November 2008, Russ would move back in with Nancy whom is now in a relationship with Ravi Roy who later tries to kiss Russ but Russ is against it leading Ravi to fob it of as a joke ay Russ' expense by January 2009, Russ is shocked to learn that Nancy is in a three way relationship with Ravi and Kris Fisher but when Nancy leaves the relationship for thinking it's weird she begins a brief one with Russ until June 2009 when Russ decides to leave the village and despite Nancy not wanting to come with him Russ later kidnaps Max and flee the village with him he spots Justin whom he tells to hop in the car and the two leave.
2018: Return/Murder[]
Russ returns nine years later in August 2018 where its revealed he is Mercedes' new husband to be as they have gotten engaged for the second time after Russ helped Mercedes get her son, Bobby Costello away from Carl Costello. Myra isn't happy with Russ given what he did nine years ago however she is delighted to see Max. During their time in Magaluf, Russ is outed by Goldie when she discovers that he had been working as a porn star since leaving the village leading to Mercedes telling Russ their over and sleeping with Sylver McQueen however they reconcile the next day and when they arrive back home Russ is shocked when Mercedes is arrested for Carl's murder leading Russ to think Mercedes is a serial killer whom has killed all her previous husbands after being lead by Roxy Cassidy to think so however Russ feel bad when Mercedes breaks down telling him she had love for every single man she has been with including him this leads Russ to stay in Hollyoaks and buy The Dog.
Russ is then forgiven by Nancy who is now married to Darren after Russ fled from her nine years previously. Later on after moving into The Dog, Russ righting starts to think Mercedes is sleeping with Sylver however after co fronting the pair Russ is left red faced when his told otherwise and his constant paranoia leads him to sleep with Goldie whom falls pregnant with his child but Russ would then tell Goldie to abort the baby and all of this is revealed by November 2018 during the second wedding to Russ and Mercedes and later after some very harsh words from Mercedes, Russ ends up having a fight with Sylver and is later found dead to Mercedes' devastation. Russ' killer is then revealed to be Sylver and Goldie's mother, Breda McQueen.
After Russ' death Mercedes would enter into a relationship with Sylver and take on Max however decides to have an affair with Liam Donovan which lead into a cocaine addiction this leads Nicole to return by May 2019 and take Max to live with her and despite returning with Max in July 2019, Nicole decides that Max is better off not living with The McQueen's and by January 2020, Breda is brought to justice for her murders after she killed by Sylver in self-defence putting her 3 decades of 9 murders to an end.
Kill Count[]
Murders[]
None
Attempted Murders[]
- Andy Holt, 8th December 2005 - Attempted to beat Andy to death after discovering that he raped Dannii Carbone. When Sam and Andy fell off a cliff during a fight, Russ chose to save Sam and let Andy fall.
Appendices[]
Residences[]
Employment History[]
Background Information[]
- Actor Stuart Manning quit the role of Russ in 2009.
- Manning reprised the role in 2018. Despite Manning being eager to remain in the role, Russ was killed off a few months later.
- Russ celebrated his 21st birthday in Episode 1495, giving him a date of birth of 19th April 1984. However, this was later changed to be 14th March in 2008.
Introduction Sequence[]
Quotes[]