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Tim Russ - professional details

acting directing writing producing music

The following list is in no way complete, but will hopefully be corrected and updated with your help (if any of you has information on something that's missing here, please share it with me, so that this page can be as correct and as complete as possible!). It is meant to give you an insight into the many aspects of the career of Tim Russ, a man most of you will primarily know as an actor. While that's basically true he also has some other talents and interests in the entertainment industry you may not be aware of. This list serves as an introduction to all these facets of a truly "fascinating" artist.

"The college program I was enrolled in was set up almost like an internship. The university didn't require students to take a great deal of extra-curricular courses; most of my credit hours were devoted to theatre. This meant that I was allowed to take up to 16 or 17 hours of theatre courses a semester. We did four main stage shows during the school year and three during the summer, all in repertory style. The school had celebrities come out from Los Angeles to perform in the shows which drew in the audiences and gave the students a chance to work alongside professionals. As an undergraduate you had the chance not only to act in these shows but also to work in many other different areas such as the sound department, lighting, construction, costumes and the box office. The idea behind the four-year program was to give students enough background experience in each area so that upon graduation you had all the skills needed to start your own theatre. It was an excellent and intensive program and one that gave me a great deal of experience very early on." (Tim Russ in an interview conducted by Steven Eramo for Cult Times, issue #14, Nov. 1996)

Tim Russ the actor

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"Acting is full of uncertainty. It's not a very secure lifestyle, but it is an exciting one." (Tim Russ in an interview conducted by Pete Hull for "Star Trek Communicator" #101, 1995)

Tim Russ graduated from Saint Edwards University, with a B.S. in Theater Arts and continued his studies at Illinois State University. He got his first acting job while still in University (Masterpiece Theater), and after a few years as part-time actor he began to make a living as an actor in 1985. Since then he's been working regularly on stage, in feature films and on TV. He has also done some voice-over work. A selected list of his credits will show you his wide range in all these media.

Theatre:

Dream Girls (L.A., Shubert Theater)

As You Like It

Cave Dwellers

Romeo and Juliet (CBS/MTM studios)

Barrabas (as "prisoner" and "high priest", at Los Angeles Theater Center, which earned him the NAACP Image Award)

Twelfth Night

Macbeth

ER (April 2001)

Movies

Fire with Fire (1986) as "Jerry"

Crossroads (1986) as "Robert Johnson"

Spaceballs (1987) as "Trooper" (The one who, when combing the desert, says "we ain't found shit")

Death Wish IV: The Crackdown (1987): as "Jesse"

Bird (1988) as "Harris" (a musician)

Pulse (1988) as "Policeman"

Eve of Destruction (1991) as "Carter"

Mr. Saturday Night (1992) as "A.D."

Night Eyes II (1992) as "Jesse Younger"

Dead Connection (1994) AKA "Final Combination" as "Detective Chuck Rowland"

Star Trek Generations (1994) as "Enterprise-B Lieutenant"

East of Hope Street (1996) as "Casey" (a social worker)

Trekkies (1997) as himself

Orbital Broadcast One (OB-1) (2002) as himself

The Oh in Ohio (2004/5) as the owner of a company

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (2004/5) as "The Clerk"

Unbeatable Harold (2004/5) as "Diner manager"

Star Trek of Gods and Men (2006) as "Tuvok" - also directed

Live Free or Die Hard (2007) as "Chuck Summers"

Greyscale (2008) as "Gavin Calhoun"

Series:

a) as a regular

The Highwayman (Mar.-May 1988) as "D.C. Montana"

The People Next Door (Sept.-Oct. 1989) as "The Answering Machine Guy"

Star Trek Voyager (1995-2001) as "Security Chief Tuvok"

Samantha Who (previously known as Sam I Am or Samantha Be Good) (2007-) as "Frank"

b) as a recurring regular

General Hospital (2006) as "Dr. Trent"

Twenty Good Years (2006) as "Marty"

iCarly (2007) as "School Principal"

Trust Me (2009) as "Gordon Benedict"

c) Guest Appearances:

Masterpiece Theater (1977) "Charlie Smith and the Fritter Tree" as "a young friend of Charlie's"

Hunter (10/26/1985) "Killer in the Halloween Mask" (episode # 2.5), as "Sam"

The New Twilight Zone (1985) ep.3/c "Kentucky Rye" as "Police Officer"

Steven Spielberg's Amazing Stories (1986) "You Gotta Believe Me" as "Security Guard #1"

Vietnam War Story (?) episode "The Mine" as "Sgt. Lemon"

Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story (1986)

Starman (1/9/87) ep. 12 "The System" as "Tyrone Washington"

Hill Street Blues (3/31/1987) ep. 7.19 "Days of Swine and Roses" as "Ben Childers"

The New Twilight Zone (1987) ep. 34/b "Voices in the Earth" as "Archer"

Jake and the Fat Man (1987) "Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?" as "Pete"

Thirtysomething (1987) premiere episode as "the guy who sold the sleeping bag"

Police Story (1988) "The Cop Killers"

21 Jump Street (1988) "Slippin' Into Darkness"

Alien Nation (1989) pilot movie, as "Ketnes"

Beauty and the Beast (1989) "Sticks and Stones" as "Lt. Parker"

Mancuso, F.B.I. (1990) "Conspiracy" as "Rashad"

Freddy's Nightmares (1990) "Dust to Dust" as "Dr. Herny Picard"

Cop Rock (1990) ep "Marital Blitz" (1.9) and "No Noose is Good Noose" (1.10), as "Juror"

Family Matters (1990) "Sitting Pretty" as "Jeff"

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)"Someday Your Prince Will Be in Effect" as "Eugene the security guard"

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1992) "Those Were the Days" as "FBI agent Marcus Collins"

Tequila & Bonetti (1992) "The Rose Cadillac" as "Link, the car thief"

Arresting Behavior (1992) in a recurring part

Murphy Brown (1993) "The Egg & I" as "Agent #1"

Dark Justice (1993) "Night Games" ep. 3.2

Living Single (1993) "Burglar in the House" as " Officer Taylor"

Seaquest DSV (1993) "Photon Bullet" as Martin Clemens aka "Mycroft"

ST-TNG (1993) "Starship Mine" as "Devor"

ST-DS9 (1993) "Invasive Procedure" as the Klingon mercenary T'Kar

Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (1993) "Seoul Shake" as "Victor"

Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (1994) "Wedding Bell Blues" as "Victor"

Melrose Place (1994) "It's a Bad World After All" as "a guy working for the District Attorney"

Monty (1994) pilot as "Man #1"

ST-DS9 (1995) "Through the Looking Glass" as the Mirror-Tuvok

Any Day Now (2002) "The Real Thing" as "Juror" (ep. # 415, Jan. 6, 2002)

E.R. (2005) "Alone In a Crowd" as "Dr. Medford" (season 11, ep. #15, Feb. 17, 2005)

Unfabulous (2005) as "Officer Jones", a Cop (episode "The Job" Nickelodeon)

Unfabulous (2005) - episode "The Perfect Moment, Pt. 2", playing the same policeman character again

NCIS (2006) - "Jeopardy" as "Jerry Kemper" (season 3, ep #68)

Without A Trace (2007) - "Tail Spin" as "Phil Hanson" (season 5, ep #106, Jan. 7, 2007)

Hannah Montana (2007) - "I am Hannah, Hear Me Croak" as "Dr. Meyer" (season 2, April 27, 2007)

More guest-appearances:

Hill Street Blues (a second episode)

Hunter

Life Stories

War Stories

The Young and the Restless

The Jon Lovitz Special (pilot)

TV-Movies:

Casebusters (1986) as "Dixon"

Timestalkers (1987)

Who Gets the Friends? (1988) as a "travel agent"

Roots - the Gift (1988) as "House slave Marcellus"

Dead Silence (1991) (aka as "Crash") as "Dep. Ryan"

The Heroes of Desert Storm (1992) (aka "Heroes of the Storm") as "Julian Crumes, Navy"

Journey to the Center of the Earth (1993) as "security officer Joe Briggs"<;;/SPAN>

Bitter Vengeance (1994) as "Lt. James"

Voice: Vulcan'sheart.gif (326550 bytes) GenW1.jpg (49163 bytes) GenW2.jpg (55656 bytes) EliteForce.jpg (38421 bytes)

  • Spider-Man (animated) (1997) "Partners in Danger: Part 11: The Prowler"; as "Prowler/Hobie Brown"

  • We Have No Home (1998) radio play written by Dawn Comer, about John Horse the black Seminoles

  • Great Angel Fantasies, Nine Celestial Chronicles, story "The Man Who Loved the Faioli" (Dove Audio Books, ISBN # 0-7870-0711-5)

  • Star Trek: "Vulcan's Heart" (1999), Simon & Schuster Audio, written by Josepha Sherman & Susan Shwartz, read by Tim Russ

  • Star Trek: Voyager "Elite Force" (2000), voice of Tuvok, Activision, Raven software.

  • Star Trek: The Next Generation: "The Genesis Wave, Book One" (2000), Simon & Schuster Audio, written by John Vornholt, read by Tim Russ

  • "Bugsters!" (2001): Tim reads two characters in his own project, Sterling, the Waterbug, and Stretch, the Earthworm

  • "The Genesis Wave, Book Two" (2001), Simon & Schuster Audio, written by John Vornholt, read by Tim Russ
  • "The Genesis Wave, Book Three" (2002), Simon & Schuster Audio, written by John Vornholt, read by Tim Russ
  • "Genesis Force" (2003), Simon & Schuster Audio, written by John Vornholt, read by Tim Russ
  • "Elite Force II" (2003), voice of Tuvok, Activision, Raven software.
  • "Life 2.0", voice of the radio psychologist (2003)
  • "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2005) (VG) (voice of the following characters: Rupert Brown, Dennis Campbell, Ed Clemmons, Gordon Dixon, Walter Harris, John Lassiter, Jack Morgan)
  • "Hotwire", computer game (2005), voice over work
  • "Divas of Novella" (2008), voice of the ship computer

Internet:

"Fahrenheit 452: The Art Police" (2000): 7 episodes, as "Mike"

DVD:

"Roddenberry on Patrol" (2003), as "Red shirt bandit"

Tim Russ the director:

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"I think the best directors are ones in which their heart is really in the project. You really want to tell a story and you feel a story. It's much easier to direct something like that." (Tim Russ in an interview conducted by Kathy Krantz, for "The Trekker", July-August 1985)

Tim Russ has always been interested in directing. So it's no surprise that he took advantage of the directing internship offered by Paramount and finally got a chance to direct an episode of ST-Voyager in 1998. It was not exactly his first job as a director, but the first time he was in charge of such a large project. Needless to say that he got rave reviews...

Video

Ballet 101 and Ballet 201

TV and short movies:

ST-VOY (1998) "Living Witness"


The Heartbreak Café (2001) Episode #37, "Decisions, Decisions"

FBI Files (2002/3?), episode #1683 (about a bank robber and kidnapper). Should air in the Spring of 2003 on the Discovery Channel

Critical Rescue (2002/3?), episode # 2307 (about the Oklahoma Tornado in 1999). Should air sometime late Spring 2003 on the Discovery Channel

Psychic Investigators (2002): this is a pilot presentation which has not been sold yet.

"Roddenberry on Patrol" (2003), short movie, parody, available on DVD

"Mind Games" (2003), short movie, not available yet.

"The Routine" (2003), short movie, not available yet.

"Deja Vu" (2005, for Robert Michael Conrad Productions), with Chase Masterson and Garrett Wang

The Heartbreak Café (2005) Episode "Writer's Block"

"Eye of the Beholder" (2006, for Robert Michael Conrad Productions), with Chase Masterson and Menina Fortunato

"Story by Amy Niles" (2006, for Robert Michael Conrad Productions), with Crystal Allen and Menina Fortunato

"Star Trek of Gods and Men" (2006, independent Star Trek movie)

"Plugged" (2007, for Robert Michael Conrad Productions), with Dominic Keating and Gary Graham

"Super Heroes" (2007, for Robert Michael Conrad Productions), with Gary Graham and Lynn-Holly Johnson

"Mistaken Identity" (2008, for Robert Michael Conrad Productions), with Gary Graham

"Low Tech" (2008, for Robert Michael Conrad Productions)

"Scene-5" (2008, for Robert Michael Conrad Productions)

"Divas of Novella" (2008, for Robert Michael Conrad Productions), Tim also plays the ship computer

"Night at the Silent Theater" (2008)

"The Company Man" (2009), written by James Nestor, for Robert Michael Conrad Productions

Lou Anders, review of tape 4.12 in "Star Trek Monthly" #47, Dec. '98: "Brilliantly directed by regular cast member Tim Russ, Living Witness twists and turns to a final, unpredictable resolution that is sure to delight fans."

Internet:

"Fahrenheit 452: The Art Police": Among other things, Tim has co-director credit for the comedy short mini-series.

Tim Russ the producer:

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"This has been... I suppose 'educational' would be putting it mildly... Making the film, of course, involved a series of headaches, but those are the problems you want - the creative challenges." (Tim Russ to John Walsh about his first project as a producer)

Tim Russ recently started another career as producer of independent films. His first work in that regard, a thought-provoking drama, was a collaboration with a colleague from University, Nate Thomas.

"East of Hope Street" (1996) independent movie, directed by Nate Thomas, script co-written by Nate Thomas and Tim Russ. A true story about a young Hispanic girl from El Salvador, who finds herself in an out-of-headlines urban drama, wherein she must learn to survive the inner city, a foster home, and a social system in a Los Angeles, most of us have never seen. Awards: Best Urban Drama (Film Festival in New York), successful at the Louisiana Film Festival, First Place in the Cross Cultural Category at the Black Film Makers Hall of Fame in Oakland It also screened at the Latino Film Festival in Universal Studios and Paramount Theatres venues, where it was introduced by no less than Edward James Olmos! Academy Winner Gregory Nava said after seeing the film: "If blacks and Latinos would stick together, we'd make a better place to live." (information quoted from "The Vulcan Insider", Winter 1998-issue, the newsletter of Tim Russ' official fanclub).

"Fahrenheit 452: The Art Police" (2000): press release on this comedy- short mini-series used to be found at http://www.galaxy.tv/free/art_police/art_police.html, but Galaxytv as a whole seems to be offline right now. Maybe they are re-designing.

Tim is credited as creator, producer, writer, director and star. He shares all these credits with his co-stars, Bruce A. Young (The Sentinel) and Dan Chase (East of Hope Street). The music was written and performed by Bill Burchell and Neil Norman. Originally the series was supposed to run for 24 episodes, but was cut short when galaxyonline.com changed ownership. So only 7 episodes were produced and are up on the galaxy.tv-page - assuming your internet connection is fast enough and assuming the link works, which it does not always do.

"Bugsters!" (2001): an audio book for young children, written, produced and performed by Tim Russ and Jedda Roskilly. Narrator: Jedda Roskilly, characters: Tim Russ, Ethan Phillips, Chase Masterson and Jedda Roskilly. Music by Bill Burchell.

"Kushangaza" (2001): Tim also produced his latest CD himself, together with Bill Burchell from "The Cosmic Orchestra"

"Brave New World" (2003): yet another CD produced by Tim Russ and Bill Burchell

"Bugsters Tunes & Tales" (2004): A new release of "Bugsters!" with nine all new original songs, five of them also in an instrumental version. Tim wrote the songs, performed them and produced the new CD.

"...2nd Thoughts" (2007): the new songs for this CD were also produced by Tim.

Tim Russ the writer:

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"Left to my own devices, I would probably write everything from satire to science fiction, action-adventure to thrillers. I enjoy developing, creating and building projects from the ground up, but not as a solitary writer." (Tim Russ in an interview conducted by John S. Hall for "Dreamwatch")

Writing may not be as important a part of Tim Russ' professional life as acting or directing, but he's had some success in that area as well, including an award ...

  • "The Zone" (a public service announcement, which won the Sony Innovators Award)

  • DS9 Comics #29/30 Malibu Comics "Enemies and Allies", story credit together with Mark Paniccia

Comic1.jpg (76452 bytes) Comics3.jpg (915098 bytes) Comic2.jpg (87658 bytes) Comics5.jpg (184298 bytes)Covers of #29 and #30, plus the first page of part 2 with Tim's credit (click on thumbnails to see the whole picture!). The Mirror-Tuvok is brave, as you can see, but he is also right-handed!

Comic4.jpg (77457 bytes)

  • "East of Hope Street" (1996) writing credit together with Nate Thomas

  • Editorial for "Star Trek Communicator" #116, (1998) also working as "guest editor" on that issue

  • "Bugsters!" (2001) audio book for children, written, produced and performed by Tim Russ and Jedda Roskilly

  • "Déjà Vu" - sci-fi short film, that he also directed (2005, with Chase Masterson and Garrett Wang)

  • "Mythe" - sci-fi horror movie-script, in development, together with Jedda Roskilly and Devin Lorrance

  • "Eye of the Beholder" - short film that he also directed (2006, with Chase Masterson and Menina Fortunateo)

  • "Story by Amy Niles" - short film, that he also directed (2006, with Crystal Allen and Menina Fortunato)

  • "Plugged" - short film, that he also directed (2007, with Dominic Keating, Gary Graham, Nikita Ager and Lynn Holly Johnson)

  • "Super Heroes" - short film, that Tim also directed (2007, with Gary Graham and Lynn Holly Johnson)

  • "Mistaken Identity" - short film, that Tim also directed (2008, with Gary Graham)

  • "Low Tech" - short film, that Tim also directed (2008, in post-production)

  • "Scene-5" - short film, written by Tim and Kristine Lynne Adams, that Tim also directed (2008, in post-production)

Tim is also a song-writer. The following songs that you can find on his CDs were written by him:

"I Can't Imagine"

"Crazy"

"Strangers"

"Kushangaza"

"We" (together with Bill Burchell)

"Brave New World"

Tim also wrote the lyrics for all the Bug-songs on "Bugsters Tunes & Tales", though he shares writing credits for the lyrics of "Camouflage" with his girlfriend Jedda Roskilly.

Tim Russ the musician:

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"I've been a musician for 25 years, a guitarist and a vocalist; I used to make my living at it six nights a week. I've played in all sizes of bands and played solo. I really haven't been doing it that much lately although I played a gig last night - I'll do that every two or three months. It's very easy material and fairly well-known and recognizable stuff which doesn't take long to put together." (Tim Russ in an interview conducted by John S. Hall for "Dreamwatch")

What else is there to say - except: if you get a chance to catch one of his performances, do it! He is *fantastic*!

Some of his more memorable outings as a musician:

  • Tim Russ played the guitar himself in "Crossroads"

  • He sang and danced in the Broadway production of "Dream Girls"

  • He has four CDs out :

    • "Only a Dream in Rio" (1999) produced and arranged by Steve Donovan, with the following songs:

      • "Only a Dream in Rio" (by James Taylor)

      • "Imelda" (by Mark Knopfler)

      • "Louisiana 1927" (by Randy Newman)

      • "Rosalinda's Eyes" (by Billy Joel)

    • "Tim Russ" (2000) produced by Neil Norman, performed by Tim Russ (vocals and rhythm guitar), Neil Norman (lead guitar), J. Palmer (bass), Bill Burchell and David Carr (keyboards), Kevin Karamitros and Bruce Gary (percussion), Crescendo Records, GNPD 2270, with the following songs:

      • "I Can't Imagine" (by Tim Russ)

      • "Can't Do It Like That" (by Teddy Andreas/Lenny Cordola)

      • "I Would Stop The World" (by Michael Leeson, Peter Vale)

      • "Crossroads" (by Robert Leroy Johnson)

      • "Money Talks" (by Georgio Moroder)

      • "Where Do The Children Play" (by Cat Stevens)

      • "Crazy" (by Tim Russ)

      • "Louisiana" (by Randy Newman)

      • "Strangers" (by Tim Russ)

      • <;P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px">"Great Divide" (by Bruce Randall Hornsby)

      • "Love The One You're With" (by Stephen Stills)

    • "Kushangaza" (2001) produced by Tim Russ and Bill Burchell, performed by Tim Russ (rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, lead vocals), Neil Norman (lead guitar), Bill Burchell (keyboards) and Kevin Karamitros (drums and percussion on "Kushangaza"). UPC 698731-00020-0, TR/84 Music. Dedicated: "To my daughter Maddy, with love".

      • "Kushangaza" (by Tim Russ)

      • "Soapbox Preacher" (by Robbie Robinson)

      • "The Door" (by Keb Mo)

      • "We..." (by Tim Russ and Bill Burchell)

      • "Crossfire" (by Stevie Ray Vaughn)

      • "Hideaway" (by John Fogerty)

      • "Holiday Inn" (by Elton John and Bernie Taupin)

    • "Brave New World" produced by Tim Russ and Bill Burchell, performed by Tim Russ (rhythm guitar, lead guitar, acoustic guitar and vocals) and Bill Burchell (keyboards & sequencing). Dedicated "To Jedda, Maddy, and my family with love".
      • "Brave New World" (Music and Lyrics by Tim Russ)
      • "Sing It" (Music and Lyrics by Egan)
      • "I Love My Baby" (Music and Lyrics by Willy Dixon
      • "Moondance" (Music and Lyrics by Van Morrison)
      • "Take Me To The River" (Music & Lyrics by Al Green, Mabon Hodges)
      • "Who's Been Talkin'?" (Musich & Lyrics by Chester Burnette)
      • "World Gone By Me"(Music and Lyrics by Peter Boe)
    • The new release of "Bugsters", also contains several Bug-songs, most of which are performed by Tim.
    • "...2nd Thoughts" produced by Neil Norman, Tim Russ and Bill Burchell, dedicated "To my family with love".
      • "Shine" (Ricky Fante)
      • "Stand Up and Be Strong" (K. Moore, C. Gibb)
      • "Lie to Me" (Bruce McCabe, David Z.)
      • "Walkin' the Dog" (Shelton Broks)
      • "Sing It" (Egan)
      • "Kushangaza" (Tim Russ)
      • "Louisiana" (Randy Newman)
      • "Love the One You're With" (Stephen Stills)
      • "Brave New World" (Tim Russ)
      • "Can't Do It Like That" (Teddy Andreas, Lenny Cordova)
      • "I Would Stop The World" (Michael Leeson, Peter Vale)
      • "Soap Box Preacher" (Robbie Robinson)
      • "We" (Tim Russ, Bill Burchell)
      • "Great Divide" (Bruce Randall Hornsby)

    Information on how to order the CDs as well as sound clips can be found at: http://www.timrusswebpage.net/audio/

    There is also a chance to download the songs (so far both newer albums, "Tim Russ" and "Kushangaza", are available) as mp3s from http://www.emusic.com, by becoming a member.