James Vincent Russo, a Manhattan-born actor, was born on April 23, 1953, to an Italian father and German mother. Raised in Flushing, New York, he graduated from the High School of Art and Design and attended New York University, where he wrote and starred in a prize-winning short film, "The Candy Store".
Russo developed an interest in acting and pursued it while working as a construction worker, gravedigger, and taxi driver. He made his on-camera debut in the TV movie "Chicago Story" (1981) and his first film appearance in the thriller "A Stranger Is Watching" (1982).
His breakthrough role came as a convenience store robber in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (1982),which led to the lead role in the low-budget thriller "Vortex" (1982). Russo's intense stare and chilling performances as secondary psychopaths and gangsters in films like "Once Upon a Time in America" (1984),"The Cotton Club" (1984),"Beverly Hills Cop" (1984),and "The Blue Iguana" (1988) solidified his reputation as a dependable "tough guy" performer.
On stage, Russo won a 1983 Theatre World Award for his role in "Extremities" and appeared in powerful roles in "Welcome to Andromeda," "Deathwatch," and "Marat/Sade." On TV, he guest-starred in crime series such as "The Equalizer," "Miami Vice," "Crime Story," "Gabriel's Fire," and "Dellaventura."
In the 2000s, Russo continued to appear in a range of films, including "The Postman" (1997),"No Way Home" (1996),"Donnie Brasco" (1997),"Open Range" (2003),and "The Ninth Gate" (1999),opposite Johnny Depp. He also wrote and starred in the film "The Box" (2003).
Russo has appeared in numerous low-budget indies, including "Pendulum" (2001),"Kings of the Evening" (2008),"The House Next Door" (2002),"The Hit" (2007),"Dark World" (2008),"Django Unchained" (2012),"Samuel Bleak" (2013),and "Badland" (2019).
In his personal life, Russo is divorced and has two children.
