Grayson Russell

Grayson Russell (born May 1, 1998) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and the Diary of a Wimpy Kid film series. Life and career Russell was born in Clanton, Alabama, the son of Crystal and Jerry Russell, who have a Christian music ministry. He attended public high school in Clanton at Chilton County High School, home of the Tigers, and graduated from there in 2016. Russell later attended Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, for a brief time. Russell's acting career began at the age of six, when he appeared as Cowboy Grayson, in a series of television commercials for a local car dealership. Other commercials include appearances in a regional McDonald’s spot, and a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee commercial. Russell’s film career began with an open casting call for a role in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. Russell's mother, Crystal Russell, has stated that Grayson auditioned to gain some experience with the process, and the family was surprised to learn that he would be playing Texas Ranger Bobby, the son of racecar driver Ricky Bobby (played by Will Ferrell).