Hayden, along with fellow cowboy actor Dick Curtis, helped develop Pioneertown, a western movie set location in Southern California that was used for many film and TV westerns.
His only child, a daughter with Jan Clayton, named Sandra Jane, died when she was sixteen.
His real name is Pate Lucid; he took the name "Russell Hayden" in honor of his friend, cameraman Russell Harlan.
Son of Francis J. and Minnie Harvey Lucid.