Russell Hammond – Almost Famous

At this point, we’re all probably familiar with the notion that a piece of an artist is often quite apparent in the works they have made. After all, amazing things can be achieved if you put your heart into them. Such was the case for the comedy-drama flick Almost Famous, directed and written by Cameron Crowe. The movie is reportedly loosely based on his earlier stints as a writer for Rolling Stone during his teenage years.

While preparing for the film, Crowe wanted Brad Pitt to play the part of Russell Hammond. Although the duo spent four months developing the character, the actor ultimately dropped the role since he thought it wasn’t the right fit. It was a tough decision, but that didn’t stop the movie from being made. Not long after, Billy Crudup continued what Pitt started and garnered a skyrocketing degree of praise for his performance as the Stillwater band’s lead guitarist.