Anthony Russell's journey from music to acting has been a remarkable one. As a child, he showcased his talents by playing multiple instruments, including harmonica, ukulele, guitar, trombone, and piano. He even worked his way through college by playing and singing in a show band.
After graduating from Montclair State College with a degree in trombone and a minor in piano, Russell's band was booked as a Las Vegas lounge act in many of the major hotels. He even had the opportunity to work in the Atlantic City 500 Club, where Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis first got together as a team.
Encouraged by his best friend, Russell pursued his passion for acting by studying at HB Studios in New York. He eventually earned a coveted membership in the renowned Actors Studio, where he appeared in four stage productions. His other notable theatrical appearances include "A Streetcar Named Desire", "Guys & Dolls", "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", and "Two Gentlemen of Verona".
Russell also explored stand-up comedy, making appearances in many of the famous U.S. comedy clubs, including The Comedy Store, The Improv in Hollywood, The Ice House, and The Comedy Magic in Hermosa Beach. He also made comedic appearances on various television shows, including "The Merv Griffin Show", "The Dinah Shore Show", "Norm Crosby's Comedy Shop", "Madam's Place", "Make Me Laugh", and "The John Davidson Show".
His film credits include "Bugsy" with Warren Beatty, "Casino" with Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, "Ed Wood" with Johnny Depp and Martin Landau, "Out Of Justice" with Steven Segal, "Suddenly" with Kirstie Alley, "Living out Loud" with Holly Hunter and Danny DeVito, and "Winchell" with Stanley Tucci. On television, he had recurring roles on "The Fanelli Boys" and guest-starred on numerous 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".
Despite his busy acting career, Russell still finds time to play piano every day, drawing inspiration from classic American composers such as The Gershwins, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Rodgers and Hart, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, and Frank Loesser. He is also the lead singer and pianist of his own jazz band, where he performs stand-up comedy and has a great time.
In his free time, Russell enjoys watching old movies, walking with his beloved dog Angelo, learning old songs, and appreciating natural beauty. When time allows, he continues to work regularly as a stand-up comedian at The Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas.
