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James Russo

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James Russo
Born
James Vincent Russo

(1953-04-23) April 23, 1953 (age 71)
Alma materNew York University
OccupationActor
Years active1977–present
Spouse
Bettina Russo
(m. 1995; div. 2020)
Children2

James Vincent Russo (born April 23, 1953)[1] is an American film and television actor. He has appeared in over 150 films in three decades.

Early life

Russo was born in New York City, New York, to an Italian father and German mother.[2] A graduate of the High School of Art and Design and New York University (NYU), he wrote and starred in the prize-winning short film The Candy Store. Before his first break in acting, he drove for a cab company, worked as a construction worker and a gravedigger.[2] He was raised in Flushing, New York and spent his formative years on 156th street.[citation needed]

Career

Russo's first role in his acting career was in the 1981 made-for-television film Chicago Story. He then went on to star in many hit films of the 1980s.

His big break came in the form of a small role in the 1982 comedy film Fast Times at Ridgemont High, as a convenience store robber. In 1984, he appeared in Beverly Hills Cop as Mikey Tandino, a friend of Axel Foley who is murdered.[3] That same year he starred in The Cotton Club and played small-time hood Bugsy in Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in America. Another major role was as a brutal rapist in the 1986 drama Extremities, opposite Farrah Fawcett.[2] He starred in the 1988 drama-suspense-thriller film Freeway.

Russo's film roles in the 1990s include State of Grace (1990), A Kiss Before Dying (1991),[4] and My Own Private Idaho (1991).[5] Russo was a co-lead in Abel Ferrara's Dangerous Game (1993) alongside Madonna and Harvey Keitel. He also had roles in the 1994 Western Bad Girls,[6] the 1997 films The Postman,[7] and Donnie Brasco.[8] In 2009 he had a small role in Michael Mann's Public Enemies as a member of John Dillinger's gang.[9]

In 2003, Russo was reunited with his co-star from The Postman, Kevin Costner, in the Western film Open Range.[10] He made guest appearances in many TV dramas and films, including The Equalizer, Miami Vice, CSI, CSI: Miami, and Las Vegas.

In the summer of 2009, Russo starred in the psychological thriller 7E with Brendan Sexton III, John Savage and Natasha Lyonne. The film was released on December 10, 2013.[11] Russo had a supporting role in Quentin Tarantino's 2012 film Django Unchained.[12]

In 2011, Russo provided video game voice talent for Rage and provided additional voice work for Star Wars: The Old Republic.

He appeared on Bastille's music video for "Of the Night".[13]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1982 A Stranger Is Watching Ronald Thompson
Fast Times at Ridgemont High Robber
Vortex Anthony Demmer
1983 Exposed Nick
1984 Once Upon a Time in America Bugsy
Beverly Hills Cop Mikey Tandino
The Cotton Club Vince Hood
1986 Extremities Joe
1987 China Girl Alby
1988 The Blue Iguana Reno
Freeway Frank Quinn
1989 The Belt Vittorio De Simone
The Vineyard Teddy
We're No Angels Bobby
1990 State of Grace DeMarco
1991 A Kiss Before Dying Dan Corelli
My Own Private Idaho Richard Waters
Cold Heaven Daniel Corvin
Intimate Stranger Nick Ciccini TV movie
1992 In the Shadow of a Killer Charlie Van TV movie
Illicit Behavior Bill Tanner
1993 Desperate Rescue: The Cathy Mahone Story Don Feeney TV movie
Trauma Capt. Travis
Da Vinci's War Mintz
Double Deception Jon Kane TV movie
Dangerous Game Francis Burns
1994 Bad Girls Kid Jarrett
1995 The Secretary Ted Burke TV movie
Panther Rodgers
Condition Red Dan Cappelli
The Set Up Kliff TV movie
1996 Livers Ain't Cheap Rupert Little
American Strays Eddie
No Way Home Tommy
Small Time Jerry
1997 Donnie Brasco Paulie
Laws of Deception Gino Carlucci
The Girl Gets Moe Brannagin
Under Oath Warren Erickson
The Postman Idaho
1998 Butter Juke Box Danny
Heist Nick the Stick
My Husband's Secret Life Sal Bianculli TV movie
Detour Ziggy Rotella Video
Fait Accompli Luc
Charades Max Targenville
1999 BitterSweet Joe Massa Video
Jimmy Zip Otis Campbell
The Ninth Gate Bernie
Diamonds Damian
Paper Bullets John Rourke
2000 Sonic Impact Agent Nick Halton
Deep Core Darryl Simmons
The Unscarred Mickey Vernon
Bad Guys John Tykor
Hidden War Matt Forman
2001 Pendulum Edward Mills
Double Deception Snake
2002 Shattered Lies Smiler
The House Next Door Carl Schmidt
Redemption Capt. Grill Video
My Daughter's Tears Mr. Quinn TV movie
2003 Stealing Sinatra Frank Sinatra
Short Agent (voice) Short
A Good Night to Die Roy
Paris Leon King
The Box Frank Miles
Open Range Marshal Poole
2004 Target Donovan
Fallacy -
2005 One Among Us Ryan Brannigan (the Ex-Cop)
Come as You Are Benny
Confessions of a Pit Fighter Sharkey
2006 All In Dr. Pennington
Satanic Eddie
Shut Up and Shoot! David Sanchez
Blackwater Valley Exorcism The Bishop Video
Cut Off Gonzo
2007 Chill Detective Defazio Video
Blue Lake Massacre Sheriff Jack
Machine Butch
The Pink Conspiracy Cox
The Hit Mr. Santucci
On the Doll Janitor
2008 Kings of the Evening Ramsey
Stiletto Engelhart
Deadwater Commander Combs Video
Break The Father
Born of Earth Tom Reeser
Shoot First and Pray You Live Bob McGurk
Dark World Charlie
Little Red Devil Mr. Trundell
2009 Charlie Valentine Rocco
Never Surrender Jimmy
Public Enemies Walter Dietrich
Dreams and Shadows John Brunette
2010 Dark Woods Sheriff Demming
Boy Wonder Larry Childs
Love Sick Diaries Lorenzo De'mon
One in the Gun Jimmy
2011 Good God Bad Dog Peter Elias Short
Miss Bala Jimmy
Yellow Rock Max Dietrich
The Dragon Warrior Claudius
2012 Django Unchained Dicky Speck
Revan Stone
2013 Samuel Bleak Charles Bleak
Five Thirteen Agent Acevedo
Chavez Cage of Glory Tony
7E Sam
2014 Perfect Sisters Steve Bowman
Strike One Paul Fairfield
2015 American Justice Agent Cobb
Daytona Frank Daytona Short
Voiceless Pastor Gil
Black Mass Agent Scott Gariola
2016 Vigilante Diaries Mr. Hanover
Paid in Full John Desmond
Code of Honor Vincent Romano
The Bronx Bull Rocky Graziano
1st Strike Paul Fairfield
2017 The Broken Ones Joe Murphy
The Fifth Borough Detective Ricci Short
2018 A Dog & Pony Show Banker Pete Melnick
Living Among Us Aaron
Desolate Duke Stone
Not a Stranger Bob Madden
The Terrorist Agent Bradley Scott
Disorder - Short
2019 The Great Alaskan Race Wild Bill
Possession Diaries Father Brien
Badland Fred Quaid
A Shot for Justice James White
2020 The Big Shot Mr. Langdon
Assassination Island Bob
5th Borough Det. Ricci
A Soldier's Revenge Walsh
Woe Uncle Pete
Chronicle of a Serial Killer Peter Brown
The Penitent Thief Castor
Welcome Home Ben Jones
2021 Take Back Schmidt
Cerebrum Kirk Davis
Flag Day Lead Biker
2022 Pig Killer Rat
Starf*cker Carl
2023 Condition of Return Mike Stafford
The Allnighter Walter
MobKing Don Dominic Sasso
Inside Man Garo Balikian
Replica Joe
Among Wolves Thomas Barclay
2024 Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 Abel Naughton
Silent Partners Frankie Cutts

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1981 Chicago Story - Episode: "Chicago Story"
1982 McClain's Law Vinny Lo Cicero Episode: "What Patric Doesn't Know"
1985 The Equalizer Police Detective Episode: "China Rain"
Miami Vice Frank Sacco Episode: "The Prodigal Son"
1987 Crime Story Nat Martino Episode: "Ground Zero"
Un siciliano in Sicilia Giuseppe Main Cast
1988 Friday the 13th: The Series Janos Korda Episode: "Symphony in B-Sharp"
1991 Gabriel's Fire Charles Crowley Episode: "Belly of the Beast"
1997 Dellaventura Tommy Bats Episode: "Above Reproach"
C-16: FBI Frank Saretti Episode: "Eight Pounds of Pressure"
2000 Falcone Victor Mura Episode: "Pilot"
2004 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Sinclair Episode: "Getting Off"
Without a Trace Michael Krauss Episode: "Lost and Found"
2005 Joan of Arcadia James Karon Episode: "Trial and Error"
2006 Broken Trail Captain Billy Fender Episode: "Part: 1 & 2"
Las Vegas Warren Pemberton Episode: "The Story of Owe"
2006–08 CSI: Miami Joey Salucci Guest Cast: Season 4 & 7
2008 The Capture of the Green River Killer Jeb Dallas Episode: "Part: 1 & 2"
2009 Numb3rs John Curtis Episode: "12:01 AM"
Dark Blue Robert Franzine Episode: "Pilot"
2010 Hawaii Five-0 Frank Salvo Episode: "Malama Ka Aina (Respect the Land)"
2012–13 Vegas Anthony 'Red' Cervelli Recurring Cast
2014–15 Chicago Fire Papa Lullo Recurring Cast: Season 3
2017 The Deuce - Episode: "The Principle Is All"
2018 The Neighborhood Crazy Chris Main Cast
2020-21 Gravesend Crazy Chris Main Cast: Season 1, Guest: Season 2

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2011 Rage Voice Talent
Star Wars: The Old Republic Additional Voices Grouped under "Additional Voices provided by"

Stage

Off-Broadway
Year Title Role
1982 Extremities Raul

Music videos

Year Title Artist
2013 "Of the Night" Bastille

Awards

Year Association Award Nominated work Result
1983 Theatre World Award Extremities[14] Won
2004 San Diego Film Festival Best Actor The Box[15] Won

References

  1. ^ "James Russo". AllMovie. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Staff, People (September 22, 1986). "James Russo Makes a Big Splash Stalking Farrah in Extremities, but as a Talker He's All Wet". People. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  3. ^ Pirnia, Garin (December 5, 2014). "6 Ways Beverly Hills Cop Changed Comedy Forever". Esquire. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  4. ^ Cedrone, Lou (April 26, 1991). "Pucker up for murder 'Kiss Before Dying' packs potent punch". The Evening Sun. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  5. ^ Kehr, Dave (October 18, 1991). "'MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO' PUTS FILMMAKING IN A GREAT STATE". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  6. ^ Rainer, Peter (April 22, 1994). "Movie Reviews : 'Bad Girls': A High-Fashion Western". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  7. ^ Johnson, Malcolm (December 24, 1997). "CREDIT DUE: 'THE POSTMAN' DELIVERS". Hartford Courant. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  8. ^ Maslin, Janet (February 28, 1997). "Al Pacino as Gangster, A Guy Who's Not Wise". The New York Times. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  9. ^ Sragow, Michael (July 1, 2009). "DEPP AND HIS INNER OUTLAW". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  10. ^ McCarthy, Todd (August 10, 2003). "Open Range". Variety. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  11. ^ Jagernauth, Kevin (November 4, 2013). "Exclusive: Trailer For Thriller '7E' Starring Brendan Sexton III, James Russo & Natasha Lyonne". IndieWire. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  12. ^ Sneider, Jeff (November 9, 2011). "Thesps line up for 'Django Unchained'". Variety. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  13. ^ Trendell, Andrew (October 9, 2013). "Bastille to re-release Bad Blood with new tracks and new single". Gigwise. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  14. ^ James Russo - Awards Archived October 20, 2012, at the Wayback Machine at Internet Broadway Database
  15. ^ "Award Winners". August 28, 2010. Archived from the original on August 28, 2010. Retrieved September 23, 2019.