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Anthony Russell has transformed his extensive musical talent into a versatile acting career spanning stage, film, and television.
As a child, Russell mastered the harmonica, ukulele, guitar, trombone, and piano. During college, he performed as a singer and musician in a show band. After earning a trombone major and piano minor from Montclair State College, his band secured gigs as a lounge act at major Las Vegas hotels. He also performed at the Atlantic City 500 Club, famously known as the place where Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis first teamed up.
Inspired by his best friend who recognized his potential, Russell moved to New York to study acting at HB Studios, eventually gaining membership in the prestigious Actors Studio. He participated in four stage productions with the group and was part of the cast of "Lamppost Reunion," which won the best ensemble acting award at Hollywood’s Court Theater. His other stage roles include performances in "A Streetcar Named Desire," "Guys & Dolls," "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest," and "Two Gentlemen of Verona."
In addition to acting, Russell pursued stand-up comedy, appearing at renowned U.S. comedy venues such as The Comedy Store, The Improv in Hollywood, The Ice House, and The Comedy Magic in Hermosa Beach. His comedic appearances include "The Merv Griffin Show," "The Dinah Shore Show," "Norm Crosby's Comedy Shop," "Madam's Place," "Make Me Laugh," and "The John Davidson Show," among others. He has opened for Las Vegas legends like Frankie Avalon, Julie London, Roger Miller, Joe Williams, Tony Martin, and Lou Rawls.
Russell’s film credits feature roles in "Bugsy" with Warren Beatty, "Casino" alongside Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, "Ed Wood" with Johnny Depp and Martin Landau, "Out of Justice" with Steven Seagal, "Suddenly" with Kirstie Alley, "Living Out Loud" starring Holly Hunter and Danny DeVito, and "Winchell" with Stanley Tucci. On television, he was a recurring character on "The Fanelli Boys" and appeared as a guest on shows including "NYPD Blue," "Becker," "Home Improvement," "Mad About You," "Roseanne," "The George Carlin Show," "The Profiler," "Reba," "The John Larroquette Show," "Diagnosis Murder," "Silk Stalkings," "Night Court," "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch," "Family Law," and "Arliss."
Russell continues to play piano daily, with a deep appreciation for classic American composers such as The Gershwins, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Rodgers and Hart, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, and Frank Loesser. He leads a jazz band where he sings, plays, performs stand-up, and thoroughly enjoys himself. His other interests include watching classic films, walking his beloved dog Angelo, learning vintage songs, and savoring natural beauty. When possible, he regularly performs stand-up comedy at The Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas.
