In Brief: Russ Russo is a NJ based, (formerly Los Angeles) based Film & TV actor. Trained in NYC by the same teacher to Edward Norton. Russ has appeared in many TV shows, Pilots & Episodics including a favorite , the NBC show “Revolution” playing John, a Rebel Hostage, opposite Mark Pellegrino (Academy Award Nominated Picture Capote, TV’s Lost, The Big Lebowski) .
Russ was cast in Ryan Phillippe’s directorial debut “Catch Hell” playing Eastern European Action Movie Director, Tim Remmit, opposite Phillippe. “Catch Hell” hit limited theatres before a solid VOD run in 2014 that continues to stream everywhere .
In July 2015 ,the release of the film “An Act of War” (Formerly The Projectionist) by Revolver Entertainment (Studio Distributor behind Christian Bale’s Flowers of War) , in which Russ portrays an Iraq War Vet returned home suffering from PTSD alongside Doug E Doug (Cool Runnings, The Cosby Show) Natasha Alam (True Blood, NCIS: Los Angeles) Kiowa Gordon ( AMC’s Dark Winds, Sundance TV’s The Red Road opposite Jason Momoa, Twilight Saga (New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn pt 1 & 2)), Robert Miano (Donnie Brasco) & Joseph Gannascoli (The First Gay Gangster in The Sopranos). The film landed in Netflix Top 10 for several months in early 2017 before Trailers were published on the site, so the movie could be discovered by more audiences.
Russ shot the pilot & several episodes for a New series produced by James Franco & Maker Studios based on the book “The Ultimate Evil” about the ‘Son of Sam’ murders.
Russ has since played the lead role in the TV series ‘ Chaser’ , being distributed by Buffalo 8 (Distributor of Robert DeNiro’s latest movie, “Salvage”) and should obtain a Streaming Deal announcement soon.
Russ has a leading role in the forthcoming thriller “Night of Violence” releasing soon …
In Full: Russ Russo is an Award Winning American film actor. His work includes London Betty, Land of College Prophets, Williamsburg, Act of War (Formerly The Projectionist) and Catch Hell.
He began acting in local Shakespearean plays during his teen years and was inspired by actors such as Marlon Brando.
In February 1999, Russ Russo began an internship at the Jewelbox Theatre. Jade Greene, the director of the theatre, was offering internships for acting classes. In the months to follow, he studied Alexander, Meisner, Stella Adler, Lee Strasberg and Method acting. Russ worked as a utility actor in various plays during the internship before landing a lead role in Clifford Odet’s classic “Awake & Sing” playing Moe Axelrod, a role previously performed by Sanford Meisner.Russ began traveling to NYC to study at Tisch in various acting workshops as well as working with the NJ Theatre Exchange.
In March 2002, he landed the lead role in a short Independent film “Envy” portraying a character with multiple personality disorder. “Envy” won a Buzz award at the NY Independent Film Festival. Russ continued to act in various plays and films.Russ Russo is a working Los Angeles and New York City actor ranging from art house short projects to Off-Broadway theater to Independent film. Russ gained a reputation in the New York acting community as a rogue actor who dissolves into each role specifically to adhere to the character. After working for several years in stage and in short and feature films, The 2005 Indie Movie Awards saw him nominated for “Best Supporting Actor” for his role as Irish ‘Jonah Joe’ in the Underground Indie hit “Land of College Prophets”.
Russ appeared in several Indie feature films in 2006, most notably Williamsburg in which he received great reviews. As quoted on Film Threat, “Fortunately, the able cast brings their characters to life and provide a memorable tapestry of lives on the artistic fringes. Best here are Russ Russo as a chain-smoking painter selling his art on the sidewalk while he seems to cough and choke himself into a slow death…..All told, Williamsburg is an impressive and memorable achievement.” According to Together, “Russ Russo then won “Best Actor” at the 1st annual Wine & Country Film Festival at Martha Clara Vineyards for his role in the Feature film Williamsburg…….with a 4 Star review by the New York Times.”
Russ Russo was named Film Threat Magazine’s “Indie Actor to Watch” in July, 2006.
“Russo is predictably great, with a Top notch Russian accent” Mike Watt – Indiewire.com
“The bottom line is….. I just love to work.”
Russ Russo, Film Threat Magazine interview 2006
From 2007 to 2009 Russ played roles in several Indie films.
In 2009 and 2010 respectively, Russ was nominated for Back to Back Maverick Movie Awards in the category of “Best Supporting Actor” for the short Sci-Fi thriller G4TV’s “Against the Wall”, in the category with Academy Award Nominated actors including Tom Berenger (Platoon, Inception) , also Nominated for the Feature Film Mockumentary “Throws of Passion”.
In 2010, he completed work on the movie “Donner Pass” playing Jed, a fictional member of the Donner Party
In 2011 Russ completed work on a buzzed about thriller “Act of War” (Formerly The Projectionist) opposite True Blood’s Natasha Alam, Cool Running’s Doug E. Doug, Donnie Brasco’s Robert Miano, Twilight Saga’s Kiowa Gordon and The Soprano’s Joseph Gannascoli playing an Iraq Veteran , Jacob Nicks, who returns from War with PTSD and is haunted by his stay in a POW camp.
In Aug 2012, Russ appeared in the Viral hit video “BATMAN MAYBE” garnering over 1million views in a matter of days playing Bruce Wayne/Batman.
In September 2012 he guest starred on NBC’s newest show REVOLUTION produced by JJ Abrams (Lost) and Jon Favreau (Iron Man), scheduled to appear in the 3rd episode of the 1st season “No Quarter”.
In 2014 Russ won the New York City Manny Award for ‘Best Actor in a Leading Role’ for his work in “Act of War” Formerly The Projectionist), the film also won ‘Best Director’ and ‘Best Film’.
In 2014 Russ appeared opposite Ryan Phillippe in Phillippe’s directorial debut, ‘Catch Hell’ and began working on a pilot TV series for James Franco & Maker Studios based on the book “The Ultimate Evil” about the ‘Son of Sam’ murders.
From 2015-2023 , Russ continued to work in many short (Nominated & Winning Numerous Best Actor & Best Supporting Actor Awards at Film Festivals around the World), feature films (2017 Best Villain Award at the prestigious Action on Film Festival opposite the late, great Tom Sizemore (Heat, Saving Private Ryan, True Romance, Blackhawk Down) and episodics including a leading man turn in the forthcoming TV series ‘Chaser’ soon to be streaming.
One of his most special accomplishments , the opening of Monmouth County Film & TV Acting Classes , MC Actors Studio, both Online and In Studio in the notorious art district of Red Bank, NJ, where actors can practice their craft in a loving , caring and passionate environment to gain real on set, on film skills for On Camera Acting.