Robert J. Russett (May 22 1935 - March 26 2015) was a media artist, educator and writer whose animated films and installations were exhibited internationally. He was awarded the University of Lafayette's Distinguished Professor Award in 1973 for his outstanding work as a professor. An authority on animation, Russett co-authored, with Cecile Starr, the 1988 book "Experimental Animation: Origins of New Art," which is considered to be a "must-have" title in the field.