James Vincent Russo (born April 23, 1953) is an American film and television actor. He has appeared in over 90 films in three decades.


Russo was born in New York City, New York. A graduate of 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 and was also a gravedigger. He was raised in Flushing, New York and spent his formative years on 156th street .

Russo's first role in his acting career was in the 1981 made-for-television movie Chicago Story. He would then go on to star in many hit films of the 1980s. His big break (but small role) came in the 1982 classic 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. Also in 1984, he starred in The Cotton Club, and played small-time hood Bugsy in Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in America. Russo's other big role was as a brutal rapist in the 1986 drama Extremities, opposite Farrah Fawcett. He also 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) and My Own Private Idaho (also 1991). Russo also had roles in the 1994 Western Bad Girls, the 1997 hit films The Postman, and Donnie Brasco. In 2009 he had a small role in Michael Mann's Public Enemies as a member of John Dillinger's gang.
In 2003, Russo was reunited with his co-star from The Postman, Kevin Costner, in the Western film Open Range. He has also made guest appearances in many TV dramas and movies, including The Equalizer, Miami Vice, CSI, CSI: Miami and Las Vegas.

In the summer of 2009, Russo starred in the psychological thriller 7E along with Brendan Sexton III, John Savage and Natasha Lyonne. The film has yet to be released. Russo had a supporting role in Quentin Tarantino's 2012 film Django Unchained.
He also appeared on Bastille's music video for "Of The Night".
Off-BroadwayExtremities (1982)Of the Night by Bastille 2013
Winner, 1983 Theatre World Award for ExtremitiesActor
-
A Family's Fury (announced) as
Actor
-
Down by the Water (pre-production)
-
Merchandise (pre-production) as
Sheriff Chalmers
-
Abused (post-production) as
Professor Carden
2024
Silent Partners (post-production) as
Frankie Cutts
2024
Undying (post-production) as
Ranger Jessup
2024
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 (completed)
2023
Inside Man as
Garo Balikian
2023
MobKing as
Don Dominic Sasso
2023
Condition of Return as
Mike Stafford
2022
Starf*cker as
'Daddy' / Carl
2020
Gravesend (TV Series) as
Crazy Chris
- On the Lam (2021) - Crazy Chris
- Saint Anthony (II) (2020) - Crazy Chris
- The Mezuzah (II) (2020) - Crazy Chris
- The Mezuzah (2020) - Crazy Chris
- The Feast of Avenue U (2020) - Crazy Chris
2020
Welcome Home as
Ben Jones
2020
The Penitent Thief as
Castor
2020
Chronicle of a Serial Killer as
Peter Brown
2020
A Soldier's Revenge as
Walsh
2020
5th Borough as
Det. Ricci
2020
Bullet Ride as
Mr. Langdon
2019
A Shot for Justice as
James White
2019
Possession Diaries as
Father Brien
2019
The Great Alaskan Race as
Wild Bill
2018
The Neighborhood (TV Series) as
Crazy Chris
- The Mezuzah (2018) - Crazy Chris
- The Feast of Avenue U (2018) - Crazy Chris
2018
The Actor as
Agent Bradley Scott
2018
Not a Stranger as
Bob Madden
2018
A Dog and Pony Show as
Banker Pete Melnick
2017
Jaded (TV Movie) as
Stone
2017
The Fifth Borough (Short) as
Detective Ricci
2017
The Deuce (TV Series) - The Principle Is All (2017)
2017
The Broken Ones as
Joe Murphy
2016
1st Strike as
Paul Fairfield
2016
The Bronx Bull as
Rocky Graziano
2016
Code of Honor as
Vincent Romano
2016
Paid in Full as
John Desmond
2016
Vigilante Diaries as
Mr. Hanover (uncredited)
2015
Black Mass as
Agent Scott Gariola (uncredited)
2015
Daytona (Short) as
Frank Daytona
2015
American Justice as
Agent Cobb
2014
Chicago Fire (TV Series) as
Papa Lullo
- Let Him Die (2015) - Papa Lullo
- Santa Bites (2014) - Papa Lullo
- Arrest in Transit (2014) - Papa Lullo
2014
Strike One as
Paul Fairfield
2014
Perfect Sisters as
Steve Bowman
2013
Bastille: Of the Night (Music Video short) as
Police Detective
2013
Chavez Cage of Glory as
Tony
2013
Five Thirteen as
Agent Acevedo
2012
Vegas (TV Series) as
Anthony 'Red' Cervelli
- Sons of Nevada (2013) - Anthony 'Red' Cervelli
- Unfinished Business (2013) - Anthony 'Red' Cervelli
- Past Lives (2013) - Anthony 'Red' Cervelli
- Scoundrels (2013) - Anthony 'Red' Cervelli
- The Third Man (2013) - Anthony 'Red' Cervelli
- Road Trip (2013) - Anthony 'Red' Cervelli
- From This Day Forward (2013) - Anthony 'Red' Cervelli
- Masquerade (2012) - Anthony 'Red' Cervelli
- Bad Seeds (2012) - Anthony 'Red' Cervelli
- Solid Citizens (2012) - Anthony 'Red' Cervelli
- (Il)Legitimate (2012) - Anthony 'Red' Cervelli
- All That Glitters (2012) - Anthony 'Red' Cervelli
- Money Plays (2012) - Anthony 'Red' Cervelli
- Pilot (2012) - Anthony 'Red' Cervelli
2013
Samuel Bleak as
Charles Bleak
2012
Django Unchained as
Dicky Speck
2011
Star Wars: The Old Republic (Video Game) as
Vaz Traniff / Colonel Tott / Commissioner Jonah Carter / ... (voice)
2011
The Dragon Warrior as
Claudius
2011
Yellow Rock as
Max Dietrich
2011
Rage (Video Game)(voice)
2011
Good God Bad Dog (Short) as
Peter Elias
2010
Love Sick Diaries as
Lorenzo De'mon
2010
No Clean Break (TV Series) as
The Father
2010
The Making of 'Dreams and Shadows' (Video short) as
John Brunette
2010
Hawaii Five-0 (TV Series) as
Frank Salvo
- Malama Ka Aina (Respect the Land) (2010) - Frank Salvo
2010
Boy Wonder as
Larry Childs
2010
Dark Woods as
Sheriff Demming
2009
Dreams and Shadows as
John Brunette
2009
Dark Blue (TV Series) as
Robert Franzine
- Pilot (2009) - Robert Franzine
2009
Public Enemies as
Walter Dietrich
2009
Numb3rs (TV Series) as
John Curtis
- 12:01 AM (2009) - John Curtis
2009
The Hitmen Diaries: Charlie Valentine as
Rocco
2008
Little Red Devil as
Mr. Trundell
2008
Shoot First and Pray You Live (Because Luck Has Nothing to Do with It) as
Bob McGurk
2006
CSI: Miami (TV Series) as
Joey Salucci
- Wrecking Crew (2008) - Joey Salucci
- Fade Out (2006) - Joey Salucci
2008
Born of Earth as
Tom Reeser
2008
The Capture of the Green River Killer (TV Mini Series) as
Jeb Dallas
- Episode #1.2 (2008) - Jeb Dallas
- Episode #1.1 (2008) - Jeb Dallas
2008
Black Ops (Video) as
Commander Combs
2008
Kings of the Evening as
Ramsey
2007
The Pink Conspiracy as
Cox
2007
Blue Lake Butcher as
Sheriff Jack
2007
Chill (Video) as
Detective Defazio
2006
Las Vegas (TV Series) as
Warren Pemberton
- The Story of Owe (2006) - Warren Pemberton
2006
Blackwater Valley Exorcism (Video) as
The Bishop
2006
Shut Up and Shoot! as
David Sanchez
2006
Broken Trail (TV Mini Series) as
Captain Billy Fender
- Part Two (2006) - Captain Billy Fender (uncredited)
- Part One (2006) - Captain Billy Fender
2005
Confessions of a Pit Fighter as
Sharkey
2005
One Among Us as
Ryan Brannigan (the Ex-Cop)
2005
Joan of Arcadia (TV Series) as
James Karon
- Trial and Error (2005) - James Karon
2004
Without a Trace (TV Series) as
Michael Krauss
- Lost and Found (2004) - Michael Krauss
2004
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (TV Series) as
Sinclair
- Getting Off (2004) - Sinclair
2003
Open Range as
Sheriff Poole
2003
A Good Night to Die as
Roy
2003
Short (Short) as
Agent (voice)
2003
Stealing Sinatra as
Frank Sinatra
2002
Against All Evidence (TV Movie) as
Mr. Quinn
2002
Redemption (Video) as
Capt. Grill
2002
The House Next Door as
Carl Schmidt
2001
Double Deception as
Snake
2000
Hidden War (TV Movie) as
Matt Forman
2000
The Unscarred as
Mickey Vernon
2000
Deep Core as
Darryl Simmons
2000
Falcone (TV Series) as
Victor Mura
- Pilot (2000) - Victor Mura
1999
Paper Bullets as
John Rourke
1999
Sonic Impact as
Agent Nick Halton
1999
Diamonds as
Damian (uncredited)
1999
Jimmy Zip as
Otis Campbell
1999
BitterSweet (Video) as
Joe Massa
1998
Charades as
Max Targenville
1998
Detour (Video) as
Ziggy Rotella
1998
My Husband's Secret Life (TV Movie) as
Sal Bianculli
1997
C-16: FBI (TV Series) as
Frank Saretti
- Eight Pounds of Pressure (1997) - Frank Saretti
1997
Dellaventura (TV Series) as
Tommy Bats
- Above Reproach (1997) - Tommy Bats
1997
Under Oath as
Warren Erickson
1997
The Girl Gets Moe as
Brannagin
1997
Laws of Deception as
Gino Carlucci
1996
The Real Thing as
Rupert Little
1995
The Set Up (TV Movie) as
Kliff
1995
Condition Red as
Dan Cappelli
1995
The Secretary (TV Movie) as
Ted Burke
1993
Dangerous Game as
Francis Burns
1993
Double Deception (TV Movie) as
Jon Kane
1993
Desperate Rescue: The Cathy Mahone Story (TV Movie) as
Don Feeney
1992
Illicit Behavior as
Bill Tanner
1992
In the Shadow of a Killer (TV Movie) as
Charlie Van
1991
Intimate Stranger (TV Movie) as
Nick Ciccini
1991
Cold Heaven as
Daniel Corvin
1991
My Own Private Idaho as
Richard Waters
1991
Gabriel's Fire (TV Series) as
Charles Crowley
- Belly of the Beast (1991) - Charles Crowley
1991
A Kiss Before Dying as
Dan Corelli
1990
State of Grace as
DeMarco (uncredited)
1989
The Belt as
Vittorio De Simone
1988
Friday the 13th: The Series (TV Series) as
Janos Korda
- Symphony in B-Sharp (1988) - Janos Korda
1987
Un siciliano in Sicilia (TV Mini Series) as
Giuseppe
- Episode #1.3 (1987) - Giuseppe
- Episode #1.2 (1987) - Giuseppe
- Episode #1.1 (1987) - Giuseppe
1987
Crime Story (TV Series) as
Nat Martino
- Ground Zero (1987) - Nat Martino
1985
Miami Vice (TV Series) as
Frank Sacco
- The Prodigal Son (1985) - Frank Sacco
1985
The Equalizer (TV Series) as
Police Detective
- China Rain (1985) - Police Detective (as Jim Russo)
1984
The Cotton Club as
Vince Hood
1984
Beverly Hills Cop as
Mikey Tandino
1984
Once Upon a Time in America as
Bugsy
1982
Fast Times at Ridgemont High as
Robber
1982
McClain's Law (TV Series) as
Vinny Lo Cicero
- What PATRIC Doesn't Know (1982) - Vinny Lo Cicero
1982
A Stranger Is Watching as
Ronald Thompson
1981
Chicago Story (TV Movie)
Writer
2014
The Bag Man (original screenplay "Motel")
Director
Producer
-
Merchandise (executive producer) (pre-production)
2021
Take Back (executive produced by)
2018
Not a Stranger (executive producer) / (producer)
2013
7E (executive producer)
2002
The House Next Door (producer)
Music Department
2018
Not a Stranger (composer: theme music)
Thanks
2021
Flag Day (special thanks)
2006
The Garage (special thanks)
Self
-
Chuck Zito: An American Story (Documentary) (post-production) as
Self
2010
Dark Woods: Behind the Scenes (Video short) as
Self
Archive Footage
2000
Headliners & Legends with Matt Lauer (TV Series documentary) - Farrah Fawcett (2000)
1997
Playboy: Farrah Fawcett, All of Me (Video documentary) as
Self