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James Russo

James Russo

52 movies on Netflix

Biography

James Russo is an American actor who works in film and television and has built a career of more than 150 screen appearances over three decades. He was a graduate of New York University and the High School of Art and Design, and he wrote and acted in The Candy Store, a short that won a prize. His first acting job was in the 1981 television movie Chicago Story, and his big break came with a small part as a convenience store robber in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982). He went on to play Mikey Tandino in Beverly Hills Cop (1984), a brutal rapist in Extremities (1986), and co-starred in Abel Ferrara's Dangerous Game (1993). Later credits include A Kiss Before Dying (1991), My Own Private Idaho (1991), Donnie Brasco (1997), The Postman (1997), Open Range (2003), Public Enemies (2009), and Django Unchained (2012). He has also supplied voice work for video games and appeared in television dramas.

73years old

Turns 74 on April 23in 191 days

  • Born New York City
  • Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
  • Also credited as James Vincent Russo

Movie Career

Films
52
Career span
43 years1982 to 2025

Genres

First and latest

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  1. Big break

    James Russo got his big break with a small part in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, the 1982 comedy, where he played a robber in a convenience store.

  2. A change of course

    Before he got his first break in acting, Russo drove a cab and also did construction work and dug graves.

  3. Early training

    After attending the High School of Art and Design and New York University, Russo both wrote and took a starring role in The Candy Store, a short film that won a prize.

James Russo movies on Netflix

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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  1. Donnie Brasco1997 Biography, Crime, Dramaas Paulie

    IMDb rating 7.7361K votes

  2. Beverly Hills Cop1984 Action, Comedy, Crimeas Mikey Tandino

    IMDb rating 7.4235K votes

  3. My Own Private Idaho1991as Richard Waters

    IMDb rating 6.968K votes

  4. The Postman1997as Idaho

    IMDb rating 6.184K votes

  5. The Ninth Gate1999as Bernie

    IMDb rating 6.7212K votes

  6. Open Range2003as Sheriff Poole

    IMDb rating 7.485K votes

  7. Boy Wonder2010as Larry Childs

    IMDb rating 6.89.9K votes

  8. Django Unchained2012as Dicky Speck

    IMDb rating 8.51.9M votes

Most often with

Kevin Costner directed two of these films, Abel Ferrara two and Christian Sesma two. Seven actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Danny Trejo, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Danny TrejoMichael Madsen, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Michael MadsenJohnny Depp, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Johnny DeppSean Penn, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Sean PennRobert Miano, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Robert MianoPaul Sloan, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Paul SloanKevin CostnerDirector, 2 filmsSee the 2 films by Kevin CostnerAbel FerraraDirector, 2 filmsSee the 2 films by Abel FerraraChristian SesmaDirector, 2 filmsSee the 2 films by Christian Sesma

Films together

Box office

What James Russo's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$1.3 billion

20 of the 52 films have a worldwide figure.

Of the 52 films: 20 worldwide figure; 4 us gross only; 7 never in cinemas; 21 figure not found.

  • 20Worldwide figure
  • 4US gross only
  • 7Never in cinemas
  • 21Figure not found

Top grosser

Django Unchained2012as Dicky Speck$425 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 95% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

  1. 1
    Django Unchained2012as Dicky Speck
    $425M32.1% of the total
  2. 2
    Beverly Hills Cop1984as Mikey Tandino
    $316M23.9% of the total
  3. 3
    Public Enemies2009as Walter Dietrich
    $214M16.2% of the total
  4. 4
    Donnie Brasco1997as Paulie
    $125M9.4% of the total
  5. 5
    Open Range2003as Sheriff Poole
    $68M5.2% of the total
  6. 6
    The Ninth Gate1999as Bernie
    $58M4.4% of the total
  7. 7
    Fast Times at Ridgemont High1982as Robber
    $27M2.0% of the total
  8. 8
    The Postman1997as Idaho
    $18M1.3% of the total
A Kiss Before Dying (1991), $15.4 millionBad Girls (1994), $15.2 millionExtremities (1986), $13.4 millionWe're No Angels (1989), $10.0 millionPanther (1995), $6.8 millionMy Own Private Idaho (1991), $6.4 millionA Stranger Is Watching (1982), $2.5 millionChina Girl (1987), $1.3 millionDangerous Game (1993), $1.3 millionJimmy and Stiggs (2025), $111,685The Penitent Thief (2021), $23,800American Strays (1996), $1,910

$72.5 millionfrom the other 12 films with a worldwide figure, 5% of the total

Awards

One award and honor.

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James Russo's awards and nominations, grouped by award
YearAwardFilmResult
Other honors
1983Theatre World AwardWon

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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