Clive Russell was born 7th December, 1945 in Hampshire but moved to Fife in Scotland at the age of three months old. His original profession was as a teacher but when his drama lecturer resigned from his post and moved to Bolton, Russell followed him to become an actor. He has played numerous parts on television, quite often as policemen or heavies due to his imposing stature (6' 5 in height).

He has played three roles in Coronation Street: Firstly as Frank, a removal man, in 1983, then as Scotch Tommy, the thuggish henchman of Phil Jennings in 1991 and finally in the regular role of Gail Platt and Eileen Grimshaw's love interest and reflexologist Phil Nail from August 2005 to March 2006.