James Russo
Born	April 23, 1953 New York City, New York

James Vincent Russo (born April 23, 1953) is an American film and television actor. He has starred on over 90 films in 3 decades.

Biography

Early life

Russo was born in New York City, New York. He is a graduate of New York University (NYU) and while in college, wrote and starred in the prize-winning short film called The Candy Store. Before he got into acting, he drove for a cab company and also he was a gravedigger.

Career

Russo's first role in his acting career was in the 1981 made-for-television movie Chicago Story. James has starred in some hit films in the 1980s. His big, but small role came in the 1982 cult classic comedy film Fast Times at Ridgemont High as a convenience store robber. In 1984, his other big role came in the hit film Beverly Hills Cop as Mikey Tandino, the friend of Axel Foley who gets 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. James's other big role was in the 1986 drama film Extremities as a rapist. He also starred in the 1988 drama-suspence-thriller film Freeway.

Russo's films roles in the 1990s include State of Grace in 1990. he played a private investigator in the 1991 film A Kiss Before Dying who is helping Sean Young's character investgating the murder of her twin sister. He also appeared in the 1991 film My Own Private Idaho. James starred in the western film Bad Girls in 1994. His other big role was in the 1997 hit fim The Postman as Idaho, the brutal sergeant of the Holnist army. Also in 1997, he starred in the hit film Donnie Brasco.

In the 2000s, Russo has appeared in some films like Deep Core in 2000. He starred in the 2001 film Penduluum. In 2003, he starred in the western film Open Range, which stars his The Postman co-star Kevin Costner. In 2006, he starred in the film Blue Lake Massacre. Russo has starred in movies-made-for-tv. He has made guest appearances on television shows like The Equalizer, Miami Vice, CSI, CSI: Miami, and Las Vegas.

Filmography

• Confessions of a Pit Fighter (2007)
• That's Amore! (2007)
• The Pink Conspiracy (2007)
• Broken Trail (2006)
• Dark World (2006)
• One Among Us (2006)
• Open Range (2003)
• The Box (2003)
• Penduluum (2001)
• Deep Core (2000)
• The Postman (1997)
• Donnie Brasco (1997)
• Bad Girls (1994)
• My Own Private Idaho (1991)
• A Kiss Before Dying (1991)
• State of Grace (1990)
• We're No Angels (1989)
• Freeway (1988)
• The Blue Iguana (1988)
• Extremities (1986)
• The Cotton Club (1984)
• Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
• Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
• Exposed (1983)
• Vortex (1982)
• Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

External links

• James Russo at the Internet Movie Database