William Jess Russell has made a name for himself in the entertainment industry, impressing audiences with his versatility and range as a performer. His film credits include Jim Thompson's "The Kill Off," "Necronomicon," and "Mob Queen," with The Boston Globe commending his performance in "The Kill Off" and singling him out for special praise.
In addition to his film work, Russell has also had a successful career in television, appearing in shows such as "Orange is the New Black," "Ray Donovan," "The Deuce," "High Maintenance," "The Path," "Third Watch," and "Law and Order: Criminal Intent." He has also worked with commercial director Mark Story, who praised Russell, saying, "A great actor - write something for him!"
As a stage actor, Russell has performed in a wide range of productions, from Neil Simon to Sean O'Casey, Moliere and Shakespeare. He was also a member of the Manhattan avant-garde theatre troupe Quena Company, where he created and performed in various theatre pieces in colleges, prisons, and other venues.
One of Russell's most notable roles was as poet Tom McGrath in "The Grass Eats the Horse," a production created by Eric Blau, the same creator of "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris." He also collaborated with Blau on "Remembering Eye," a solo performance piece based on Blau's poetry, which was published as "Collected Works." The critic for Housatonic Media Group praised Russell's performance, saying, "Stunning piece for a solo actor -- Mr. Russell is that good and that poignant."
