William Russ | |
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Russ as Burt McGowan with Gail Brown on Another World, 1977. |
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Born | October 20, 1950 Portsmouth, Virginia |
Occupation | Actor |
Spouse | Clare Wren |
William Russ (born October 20, 1950) is an American actor, best known for his role as Alan Matthews on Boy Meets World.
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Russ was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, and is the son of a naval officer.[1] He attended the University of Michigan, where he was a member of the Michigan Cheer team, which was all male at the time.
Russ' acting first began on the New York stage before he embarked onto a television and film career. In 1977, he had his first supporting role in Death Bed: The Bed That Eats. This film would not be officially released until 2003.
During the 1980s, Russ found work in more supporting roles such as Crisis at Central High (1981), a television movie also starring Academy Award winning actress Joanne Woodward, The Border (1981), The Right Stuff (1983) as Slick Goodlin, St. Elsewhere (1986), Crime Story (1986), and Wiseguy. He continued finding work in both television and film. He also guest starred in the television series Miami Vice in the 1985 episode "Evan" as the title character, a ATF agent who shared a history with Don Johnson's character, Sonny Crockett.
Russ received critical acclaim when he starred in Pastime (1991) as Roy Dean Bream, a veteran minor league hurler who mentors a young phenomenon. The role earned him a nomination at the 1992 Independent Spirit Awards for "Best Male Lead."
In 1993, he was cast as Alan Matthews on the television sitcom Boy Meets World. Russ played this role until the series ended in 2000. Russ also directed several episodes of the show.
However, he continued performing in other series and films throughout his time on Boy Meets World, primarily television movies. In 1998, he performed as Danny and Derek Vinyard's father in the critically acclaimed American History X. Later, he starred in the short-lived television serial drama Mister Sterling.
His more recent work is the upcoming film A Fork in the Road alongside Jaime King.
In fall 2009, it was announced that Russ would be cast as the new character Tucker on The Young and the Restless. Russ' time on the show will be short, however, as it has been announced the role of Tucker is being recast with Stephen Nichols replacing Russ in the role.[2]
Russ is the star of the comedy web series "Home At Last." In the series, he portrays "Bob", a homeless man that moves in with the son he abandoned at birth.
Russ is married to actress Clare Wren and has a daughter and son. He enjoys downhill skiing and windsurfing.
Film | |||
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Year | Film | Role | Other notes |
1977 | Death Bed: The Bed That Eats | Sharon's Brother | |
1979 | Just You and Me, Kid | Demesta | |
1980 | Cruising | Paul Gaines | |
1981 | Cattle Annie and Little Britches | Little Dick Raidler | |
1982 | The Border | Jimbo | |
1983 | The Right Stuff | Slick Goodlin | |
1984 | Courage | Sonny | |
1985 | Beer | Merle Draggett | |
1987 | Wanted: Dead or Alive | Danny Quintz | |
Dead of Winter | Rob Sweeney | ||
1988 | The Unholy | Luke | |
1989 | Disorganized Crime | Nick Bartkowski | |
1991 | Pastime | Roy Dean Bream | |
1992 | Traces of Red | Michael Dobson | |
1993 | Aspen Extreme | Dave Ritchie | |
1997 | When Danger Follows You Home | Det. Tyler Barnes | |
1998 | American History X | Dennis Vinyard | |
2001 | Buck Naked Arson | Ranger Lightcap | |
Life as a House | Uncredited Role | ||
2009 | Gary's Walk | Vernon | |
Pawn | Justin Elliot Randolph | Short film | |
A Fork in the Road | Det. Ross | ||
2010 | 1,001 Ways to Enjoy the Missionary Position | Evan | post-production |
Green Guys | Peter Donnelly | post-production | |
Television | |||
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
1977–1978 | Another World | Burt McGowan | |
1981 | Crisis at Central High | J.O. Powell | TV-Movie |
1982 | CBS Library | Rattlesnake | Episode: Robbers, Rooftops and Witches |
Rehearsal for Murder | Frank Heller | TV-Movie | |
The Dukes of Hazzard | Scroggins | Episode: The New Dukes | |
1983 | Remington Steele | Chance McCormick | Episode: Steele's Gold |
V | Brad | Miniseries | |
1985 | Riptide | Mack McPherson | Episode: Polly Want an Explanation |
Miami Vice | Evan Freed | Episode: Evan | |
Hunter | Jack Lachman | Episode: Fire Man | |
Command 5 | J.D. Smith | TV-Movie | |
The Long Hot Summer | Jody Varner | TV-Movie | |
1986 | St. Elsewhere | Patrick O'Casey | Episode: Time Heals (1) Episode: Time Heals (2) |
Blood & Orchids | Lloyd Murdoch | TV-Movie | |
Second Serve | Josh | TV-Movie | |
Houston: The Legend of Texas | William Travis | TV-Movie | |
Crime Story | Det. Wes Connelly | Episode: Pilot (1) Episode: Pilot (2) Episode: Crime Pays |
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1987 | Tour of Duty | Sgt. Early Ray Michaels | Episode: War Lover |
1988 | The Loner | Jake Wilis | |
1988–1990 | Wiseguy | Rodger Lococco | |
1989 | Nasty Boys | Ben Farlow | TV-Movie |
1990 | Capital News | Redmond Dunne | |
A Promise to Keep | Carl | TV-Movie | |
1991 | Gabriel's Fire | Brad Fixx | Episode: Truth and Consequences |
The Young Riders | Episode: Daisy | ||
Crazy From the Heart | Dewey Whitcomb | TV-Movie | |
1992 | Bad City Story | Jim Malone | Unsold TV-Pilot |
Drive Like Lightning | Boll Donner | TV-Movie | |
Middle Ages | Terry | ||
1993 | The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. | Jack Randolph | Episode: Socrates' Sister |
CBS Schoolbreak Special | Coach Jim Doane | Episode: Other Mothers | |
seaQuest DSV | Rusty Thomas | Episode: Brothers and Sisters | |
1993–2000 | Boy Meets World | Alan Matthews | 120 episodes |
1994 | Viper | Mr. Townsend | Episode: Pilot |
1995 | Big Dreams and Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story | Bill West | TV-Movie |
The Marshal | Loyal Truscott | Episode: Pilot | |
Legend | Wild Bill Hickok | Episode: The Life, Death, and Life of Wild Bill Hickok | |
Trail of Tears | David | TV-Movie | |
1996 | Have You Seen My Son | Van Stein | TV-Movie |
A Husband, a Wife and a Lover | Art Maskin | TV-Movie | |
Nash Bridges | Scott Lamont/"The Monk" | Episode: Trackdown | |
1997 | Night Sins | Sheriff Steiger | Miniseries |
Stargate SG-1 | Capt. Jonas Hansen | Episode: The First Commandment | |
1999 | A Secret Life | Mark Whitman | TV-Movie |
Replacing Dad | George Marsh | TV-Movie | |
Come On, Get Happy: The Partridge Family Story | Joseph Bonaduce | TV-Movie | |
2000 | Ally McBeal | Michael Bassett | Episode: Two's a Crowd Episode: Without a Net |
Level 9 | Agent Colter | Episode: A Price to Pay | |
2001 | Touched by an Angel | Prof. Thomas North | Episode: Holy of Hollies |
2002 | The Division | Jesse Whalen | Episode: Shelby |
Crossing Jordan | D.A. Jack Olson | Episode: There's No Place Like Home | |
MDs | James Wiles | Episode: A La Casa | |
Robbery Homicide Division | Elliot Ayers | Episode: City of Strivers | |
2003 | Mister Sterling | Tommy Doyle | 9 episodes |
Dragnet | Ted Paris | Episode: Redemption | |
The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire | Rev. Deeker | Episode: Sleeping Lions | |
Finding John Christmas | Hank McAllister | TV-Movie | |
2004 | Silver Lake | Phil Patterson | TV-Movie |
Deadwood | Otis Russell | Episode: Jewel's Boot Is Made for Walking Episode: Sold Under Sin |
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CSI: NY | Mr. Prescott | Episode: Creatures of the Night | |
JAG | Maj. Gen. Earl Watson | Episode: Fighting Words Episode: This Just in from Baghdad |
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NYPD Blue | Hal Matheson | Episode: I Love My Wives, But Oh You Kid | |
2005 | The West Wing | Dan | Episode: Message of the Week |
Without a Trace | Max Cassidy | Episode: Freefall | |
2005–2008 | Boston Legal | A.D.A Christopher Palmer | 5 episodes |
2006 | The Sopranos | Paul Calviano | Episode: Moe n' Joe |
Just Legal | Bartender | Episode: The Bar | |
Reunion | Congress Clark | Episode: 1995 Episode: 1996 |
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2007 | Demons | Senator Carney | Unsold TV-Pilot |
Ghost Whisperer | Bill Bristow | Episode: Dead to Rights | |
Numb3rs | Michael Shannon | Episode: Money for Nothing | |
Standoff | Warren Keegan | Episode: Road Trip | |
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Jonah Quinn | Episode: The Case of the Cross-Dressing Carp | |
2008 | Wildfire | Congressman Dean Nichols | Episode: The More Things Change (1) Episode: The More Things Change (2) Episode: Friendship/Passion |
The Ex List | Jimmy Bloom | 6 episodes | |
2009 | The Mentalist | Dooley Gerber | Episode: Black Gold and Red Blood |
2009–2010 | The Young and the Restless | Tucker McCall | |
2011 | Home At Last | Bob | Episodes 1-6 |
2011 | 90210 | Salty's Place owner | episode: Up in Smoke |
Persondata | |||
Name | Russ, William | ||
Alternative names | |||
Short description | |||
Date of birth | 1950-10-20 | ||
Place of birth | Portsmouth, Virginia | ||
Date of death | |||
Place of death |