At 45, he is our new man in the unfriendly skies. 'He's a thinking man's action hero who appeals to both male and female audiences,' says Dean Delvin who co-wrote 'Stargate' adding:

'There's nothing macho about him. There aren't many actors who can by physically graceful without being bullies and who can play intellectuals and also tough guys. He's boyish and virile like Harrison Ford.'

Or he's like....' Kurt Russell is the guy you know. He's not something out of a weight-lifting magazine or a cartoon character. The closest thing to him would have been Steve McQueen.'

Of course, it is easier to clone 'Die Hard' into 'Executive Decision' -- as some might argue Mr Silver has done -- than Russell into McQueen but he projects similar gonzo with heart. And he's now an A-list star and being paid $10 million dollars for 'Escape from L.A. ' which he is at present filming. The success of 'Executive Decision' and the the high expectations of his latest film, a follow-up to 'Escape from New York ', will see him as a $20 million dollars a film man by the end of the year.

The good news is that Russell is not regarding this like a lottery winner. Screenwriter Paul Rudnick said:' Kurt's charm is that he lacks the career angst of huge action stars who sit for magazine profiles. Kurt seems to be having a blast rather than worrying about his workout regime and whether or not he should ask for $20 million dollars and ten cents so he can be absolutely the highest paid star.'

Russell's good friend Peter Bart knows his man:' Superstars who get $20 million dollars have worked hard to build their brand name around the world. It's hard work and it's profoundly boring.Kurt would rather hunt boar in Hawaii because it's more fun.'

The new toast of the town who has lived with Goldie Hawn -- they have four children between them -- for nearly fifteen years and they enjoy an outdoor life with homes in California and Colorado .

'It's fun making a movie but I'm lucky that it's not as much fun as my life. It hurts me that people don't think I care as much about acting as Al Pacino does but people will tell you no one works harder than me on a set. I'm a movie guy. I'm a worker. My one responsibility is to give an audience a good show. Beyond that I don't feel I have any responsibility.

'Guys like Eastwood, Stallone, Schwarzenegger and Willis are much more interesting fare than me.'

That's changed with his status. What will he do now? 'Head for the mountains, I suppose.' It is where he feels most at home. It is also where he has created much controversy. He has hosted 'Kurt Russell Celebrity Shoot-outs' in Colorado 's Grand Junction near the 72-acre ranch he and Goldie Hawn own. It works like one of those celebrity golf tournaments except that instead of shooting for par contestants shoot animals.

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