Gordon Russell (August 15,1929 – January 19,1981) was a television soap-opera writer.
Born in Salem, Massachusetts, he wrote for The Nurses on ABC. He is known for his works on Dark Shadows beginning in 1967. He appeared as a bit player on the final episode of Dark Shadows, on April 2,1971. He also co-wrote the House of Dark Shadows screenplay with Sam Hall. He later took over head writing duties for Agnes Nixon after she left One Life To Live. Perhaps his most famous storyline on One Life to Live involved Karen Wolek, a housewife who confessed, on the witness-stand, to being a hooker. The story brought Judith Light an Emmy for Lead Actress. A trademark of his writing is the introduction of a character who would normally be bad, but to tell the story in a sympathetic way from the characters' point-of-view.
ABC had moved him from One Life to Live in order to write its California-based serial, General Hospital, but he died at the age of 51 before his work on that show began.
