James Russo

Over a relatively short period, the elastic-faced, growl-voiced Russo has exhibited his bad boy capabilities in what seems like every boundary-treading flick under the sun. His film credits range from "Beverly Hills Cop" (1984) to indie maestros Scott and Beth B.'s "Vortex" (1982), his first starring role. He has also appeared in Gus Van Sant's "My Own Private Idaho" (1991) and in the "prefect of horror" Dario Argento's "Trauma" (1993).

The role that catapulted him to demi-stardom was in the 1982 off-Broadway hit "Extremities", when he played a rapist opposite Susan Sarandon. His star turn in Abel Ferrara's fleeting "Dangerous Game" (1993), may be construed as something of a reprise, as Russo again displayed lusty brutality and an enfeebling dependence that leads to more brutality.

• Born:
  April 23, 1953 in Queens, New York, USA
• Job Titles:
  Actor, Director, Screenwriter

Education

• New York University, New York, New York, film

Milestones

• 1981 Film acting debut, A Stranger Is Watching
• 1982 Breakthrough theater role, Raul in Extremities
• 1986 Reprised stage role in the film version of Extremities opposite Farrah Fawcett
• 1991 TV debut, Intimate Stranger
• 1997 Co-starred in Donnie Brasco and The Postman
• 2000 Appeared opposite Johnny Depp in Roman Polanski s The Ninth Gate
• 2000 Had featured role as a mobster in the CBS drama Falcone , adapted from the same source material as Donnie Brasco