Marilyn Nault was the third wife of Bill Russell. Marilyn Nault’s husband, Bill, was a legendary professional American basketball player who was the center for the Boston Celtics.
Having been married to a legendary basketball player during her lifetime, Marilyn Nault’s memory has been kept alive despite her death. She once more hit the headlines after her husband died in 2022, as his personal life became the most sought-after. All to be known about her has been revealed below.
Summary of Marilyn Nault’s Bio
- Full name: Marilyn Nault
- Gender: Female
- Date of birth: January 15, 1950
- Date of Death: January 21, 2009
- Marilyn Nault’s Age at death: 56 years
- Ethnicity: Caucasian
- Nationality: American
- Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Religion: Christianity
- Marital Status: Married
- Marilyn Nault’s Husband: Late Bill Russell
- Marilyn Nault’s Children: (Stepchildren: Willian Felton Jr. Russell, Jacob Russell, and Karen Kenyatta Russell)
- Marilyn Nault’s Parents: Quentin Nault and Helen Nault
- Siblings: James, Eric, Kyle, and Phil
- Marilyn Nault’s Height in Inches: 5 feet 8 inches
- Marilyn Nault’s Height in Centimetres: 172 cm
- Marilyn Nault’s Weight: 60 kg
- Famous for: being the third wife of the late Bill Russell, an ex-NBA player
Marilyn Nault Was a Kansas Native
Marilyn Nault was born in Concordia, Cloud County, Kansas, United States of America, on January 15, 1950. She was an American citizen of Caucasian descent born under the Capricorn birth sign. The businesswoman was born to Quentin Nault and Helen Nault, whose occupations were not revealed.
She is the only daughter out of five children born to her parents. There is no information regarding what her siblings do for a living, but it is believed that they make a decent living. Marilyn Nault was raised in Kansas alongside her brothers, James Nault, Kyle Nault, Eric Nault, and Phil Nault, in a strong Christian faith, following the fact that her parents are dedicated Christians.
Since her parents upheld the Christian faith in high esteem, they enrolled Marilyn in a Catholic school in Kansas, where she gained her elementary education. However, the school that she attended for her high school education was not revealed. She started working after high school and did not further pursue a degree.
She and Bill Russell were Married from 1996 to 2009
Marilyn Nault’s marriage to Bil Russell lasted 13 years. The duo met at a jewelry store in Seattle, where she worked as a salesperson. Bill, who was 62 years old, and Marilyn, 46 years old, began dating afterward and dated for about four years before walking down the aisle in 1996.
They had a small wedding ceremony that was well attended by family and friends. The duo was married for 13 years and remained together until Marilyn’s demise in 2009.
Marilyn Nault was not Bill Russell’s First Wife
Bill Russell was married to four women during his lifetime, including two marriages that ended in a divorce and two that were separated by death. The ex-NBA player’s first marriage was to Rose Swisher Russell, his college love. The duo got married on December 1956 and lived together for about 17 years. They divorced in 1973 after welcoming three children together.
Four years after his first marriage, he found love again and got married to Dorothy Anstett. The former Miss USA was married to Bill for just three years before they called it quits in 1980. This being the ex-NBA player’s shortest marriage, it did not produce any children. However, 16 years after Bill divorced Dorothy, he met and married Marilyn Nault.
Twelve years after the death of Marilyn Nault, Bill Russell got married for the fourth time to Jeannine Russell, a former professional golfer. They exchanged their nuptials in 2018 and were married for just four years before Bill died in July 2022.
She was a Step Mother to Bill Russell’s Children
While Marilyn was married to Bill Russell, they did not welcome any children together. However, she was a stepmother to the three children that her husband welcomed from his marriage to Rose Swisher Russell. They are:
William Felton Jr. Russell
Willian Felton Jr. Russell is the first child of Bill and his first wife, Rose. He was born in 1957 in the United States and is the oldest stepchild of Marilyn Nault. Though he was born to a popular father, he kept a low profile, making little to be known about him. However, he died in 2016, at the age of 58, after battling cancer.
Jacob Russell
Jacob Russell is the second child welcomed by Bill Russell and his first ex-wife. He was born on July 6, 1956, in the United States. Just like his older brother, he lives a life away from the public’s knowledge. All that is known about him is that he resides in Washington, D.C., with his family.
Karen Kenyatta Russell
Karen Russell is the third child that Bill Russell welcomed with his first wife. She became Marilyn Nault’s stepdaughter since the businesswoman was married to her father. Karen was born in 1962 in the United States of America and is the only child of an ex-NBA player who is much in the public eye.
She attended Mercer Island High School in the United States. Karen further obtained a degree in philosophy and government from Georgetown University. She later attended Havard Law School, where she earned a Juris Doctor. Karen, who is a lawyer and an advocate for black rights, has also made contributions to the publications of various media companies.
Marilyn Nault was a Jewelry Salesperson
After she graduated from high school, Marilyn Nault moved to Seattle in search of work. She later started working in a jewelry store as a salesperson. Though it was revealed that she worked as a jewelry salesperson for a long time, she also did other jobs while living in Seattle before her death. However, she quit her job after she got married to Bill to become a full housewife.
When did Marilyn Nault Die?
Marilyn Nault died on January 21, 2009, at the age of 59. It is assumed that Marilyn Nault died of natural causes, as there was no report of her being ill. Despite this, the public had their own angle as to what she died of. They claimed she was suffering from some illnesses, which she chose not to reveal to the public before her death.
According to some sources, Marilyn Nault suffered from cancer before her death. However, her husband and family did not react to the rumors, thereby making what she died of unknown. According to reports, since she died a sudden death that affected her husband and the family, Bill decided not to let details about her death be known. She was later buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Seattle, Washington, in the United States.
Bill, who loved his wife dearly, strongly felt the impact of her loss. He revealed that her death affected his health and approach to life. However, 16 years after the death of Marilyn, Bill Russell died a natural death on July 31, 2022.
