Tim Russ

Tim Russ
Russ at the 2022 Phoenix Fan Fusion
Born
Timothy Darrell Russ

(1956-06-22) June 22, 1956 (age 68)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • musician
  • screenwriter
  • producer
  • director
Years active1985–present
Children1

Timothy Darrell Russ[1] (born June 22, 1956) is an American actor, musician, screenwriter, director and amateur astronomer. He is best known for his roles as Lieutenant Commander Tuvok on Star Trek: Voyager, Robert Johnson in Crossroads (1986), Casey in East of Hope Street (1998), Frank on Samantha Who?, Principal Franklin on the Nickelodeon sitcom iCarly, and D. C. Montana on The Highwaymen (1987–1988). He appeared in The Rookie: Feds (2022) and reprised his role as Captain Tuvok on Season 3 of Star Trek: Picard.

Early life, family and education

Russ was born in Washington, D.C., on June 22, 1956, to a government employee mother and a U.S. Air Force officer father.[1] He spent part of his childhood in Turkey. He attended his senior year of high school at Rome Free Academy, from which he graduated in 1974.[2] He graduated from St. Edward's University with a degree in theater arts. He additionally attended graduate school at Illinois State University where he was inducted into its Hall of Fame.

Career

Acting

In 1985, Russ appeared in The Twilight Zone episode "Kentucky Rye" as Officer #2. He made a brief appearance in the comedy film Spaceballs as a trooper who "combs" the desert with a giant comb.[3][4] Russ had a prominent role in the Charles Bronson film Death Wish 4.

Russ has been involved in the Star Trek franchise as a voice and film actor, writer, director, and producer. He played several minor roles before landing the role as the main character Tuvok in Star Trek: Voyager. Russ screentested, in 1987, for the role of Geordi La Forge on Star Trek: The Next Generation before being cast as Tuvok. Russ went into Voyager as a dedicated Trekkie with an extensive knowledge of Vulcan lore,[5] and has played the following roles in the Star Trek universe:

In 1995, Russ co-wrote the story for the Malibu Comics Star Trek: Deep Space Nine #29 and 30, with Mark Paniccia. Russ performed voice acting roles as Tuvok for the video games Star Trek: Voyager – Elite Force and Star Trek: Elite Force II. Russ is the director and one of the stars of the fan series Star Trek: Of Gods and Men, the first third of which was released in December 2007, with the remaining two-thirds released in 2008.[6]

Russ's character's name D. C. Montana in The Highwayman was a reference to Trek writer D. C. Fontana.[citation needed]

In 1990, he appeared in an episode of Freddy's Nightmares.[7]

Russ directed and co-starred in Star Trek: Renegades, and in both 2013 and 2014 reprised his role as the voice of Tuvok in the massively multiplayer online game Star Trek Online.[8]

Later work

Russ at the Paradise City Comic Con, December 2016

Russ appeared as Frank, a sarcastic doorman in Christina Applegate's comedy Samantha Who? from 2007 to 2009, and appeared for six seasons as Principal Ted Franklin in Nickelodeon's show iCarly. He also portrayed a doctor on an episode of Hannah Montana, "I Am Hannah, Hear Me Croak."

Russ won an Emmy Award in 2014 for public service ads he did for the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office on intellectual property theft and cyberbullying.[9]

He played Captain Kells in the 2015 Bethesda Game Studios video game Fallout 4.[10]

Music and astronomy

Russ has been a lifelong musician and a singer.[11] In addition, Russ has been an avid amateur astronomer most of his adult life, and is a member of the Los Angeles Astronomical Society. In 2021 he was among a small group of citizen astronomers who assisted in detection of the asteroid 617 Patroclus in preparation for NASA's Lucy probe.[12] In February 2022, he stated that he owned a 10-inch Dobsonian telescope, an 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, and a Unistellar eVscope.[13]

Filmography

Films
Year Title Role Notes
1986 Crossroads Robert Johnson
Fire with Fire Jerry Washington
1987 Spaceballs Desert-Combing Trooper
Death Wish 4: The Crackdown Jesse
1988 Bird Harris
Pulse Policeman
1991 Eve of Destruction Carter
1992 Night Eyes 2 Jesse Younger
Mr. Saturday Night Assistant director
1994 Dead Connection Detective Chuck Roland
Star Trek Generations Enterprise-B Bridge Officer
1998 East of Hope Street Casey
2005 The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari Town Clerk
2006 The Oh in Ohio Douglas
Unbeatable Harold Diner Manager
2007 Live Free or Die Hard Agent Summers Die Hard 4.0 (outside North America)
2008 InAlienable News Anchor
2011 Rampart Command Staff Member #1
2014 Alongside Night General Jack Guerdon
Asteroid vs. Earth Captain Rogers
Greyscale Gavin Calhoun
2015 Star Trek: Renegades Tuvok Also director[14]
2018 5th Passenger Commander Franklin
A Fairy's Game Warlock Voice
Junkie Martin Green
Karma Frank Hudson
Dick Dickster Sammy Davas Jr.
2019 Vitals The Surgeon
2020 The Midnight Sky Mason Mosley [15]
2023 Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham Lucius Fox Voice[16][17]
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1985, 1987 Hill Street Blues Paramedic / Burton / Ben Childers 3 episodes
1985 The Twilight Zone Officer #2 Episode: "Kentucky Rye"
1986 Amazing Stories Security Guard #1 Episode: "You Gotta Believe Me"
Heart of the City Collins Episode: "When Push Comes to Shove"
1987 Jake and the Fatman Pete Episode: "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?"
Starman Tyrone Washington Episode: "The System"
Timestalkers Sergeant Filton TV film
The Twilight Zone Archer Episode: "Voices in the Earth"
Thirtysomething Salesman Episode: "Pilot"
Throb Man #2 Episode: "Whose Coup Is It Anyway?"
1987–1988 The Highwayman D.C. Montana 9 episodes
1988 21 Jump Street Ray Davies Episode: "Slippin' Into Darkness"
Roots: The Gift Marcellus the slave doorman TV film
1989 Alien Nation Ronald Ketnes Episode: "Pilot"
Beauty and the Beast Lieutenant Eric Parker Episode: "Sticks and Stones"
The People Next Door Answering Machine Guy 2 episodes
1990 Cop Rock Juror 2 episodes
Family Matters Jeff Episode: "Sitting Pretty"
Freddy's Nightmares Dr. Henry Picard Episode: "Dust to Dust"
Mancuso, FBI Malcolm Rashad Episode: "Conspiracy"
1990, 1992 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Eugene / Agent Collins 3 episodes
1991 Lifestories K.C. Episode: "Darryl Tevis"
Dead Silence Deputy Ryan TV film
1992 Tequila and Bonetti 'Link' Episode: "The Rose Cadillac"
1993 Hangin' with Mr. Cooper Victor Episode: "Seoul Shake"
Living Single Officer Taylor Episode: "Burglar in the House"
Murphy Brown Secret Service Officer Episode: "The Egg & I"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Devor Episode: "Starship Mine"
1993, 1995 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine T'Kar / Mirror Universe Tuvok 2 episodes
1993 Journey to the Center of the Earth Joe Briggs TV film
1994 Hangin' with Mr. Cooper Victor Episode: "Wedding Bell Blues"
Melrose Place Roger Chambers Episode: "It's a Bad World After All"
SeaQuest DSV Martin 'Mycroft' Clemens Episode: "Photon Bullet"
1995–2001 Star Trek: Voyager Lieutenant Commander Tuvok 172 episodes
1997 Spider-Man Hobie Brown / Prowler (voice) Episode: "The Prowler"[17]
2002 Any Day Now Juror Episode: "The Real Thing"
2005 ER Dr. Medford Episode: "Alone in a Crowd"
Unfabulous Officer Jones Episode: "The Job"
2006 NCIS Jerry Kemper Episode: "Jeopardy"
General Hospital Dr. Trent 4 episodes
Twenty Good Years Marty 3 episodes
2007 Hannah Montana Dr. Meyer Episode: "I Am Hannah, Hear Me Croak"
Without a Trace Phil Hansen Episode: "Tail Spin"
2007–2012 iCarly Principal Ted Franklin 11 episodes
2007–2009 Samantha Who? Frank the Doorman 35 episodes
2009 Lincoln Heights Principal Episode: "Lucky"
Trust Me Gordon Benedict 2 episodes
2010 CSI: Miami Leonard Sterling Episode: "Meltdown"
The Secret Life of the American Teenager Vicar Episode: "Ben There, Done That"
2010–2011 Sym-Bionic Titan Solomon (voice) 9 episodes[17]
2011 Good Luck Charlie Dr. Meyers Episode: "L.A.R.P. in the Park"
Suits Robert Geller Episode: "Identity Crisis"
The Young and the Restless Judge Morrison Episodes 9,741 and 9,742
2012 The Soul Man Devon Episode: "How to Be a Church Lady"
Gibby Principal Ted Franklin Unaired Pilot
2013 Castle Dr. Malcolm Wickfield Episode: "Time Will Tell"
Guys with Kids Specialist Episode: "Rare Breed"
Lab Rats Special Agent Gordon Episode: "Parallel Universe"
2014 Regular Show Sergeant, Helicopter Pilot (voice) Episode: "Portable Toilet"[17]
2015 The Night Shift Bossman Episode: "Recovery"
Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! General Gottlieb TV film
2017 The Good Doctor Patient Chuck Episode: "Oliver"
2018 Criminal Minds Agent Lawrence Episode: "To A Better Place"
9-1-1 Marriage Counsellor Episode: "Let Go"
NCIS: New Orleans Felix Episode: "Ties That Bind"
Superior Donuts Professor Mills Episode: "Grades of Wrath"
Supergirl Councilman Jul-Us Episode: "Dark Side of The Moon"
2019 Black Monday Walter Darcy Episode: "339"
PEN15 Mr. Wyzell 2 episodes
The Orville Dr. Sherman Episode: "Lasting Impressions"
NASA's Unexplained Files Himself, Astronomer Episode: "Did Aliens Nuke Mars?"
Swamp Thing Dr. Chowodury 2 episodes
American Horror Story: 1984 David Chambers Episode: "Red Dawn"
How to Get Away with Murder Judge Kofi Bonaparte Episode: "I Want to Be Free"
2020 The Resident Tyrone Griffiths Episode: "Last Shot"
2021 Them The Custodian 2 episodes
4400 Elijah Landry Episode: “You Only Meant Well”
2021-2023 iCarly Principal Ted Franklin 2 episodes
2023 Poker Face Max Episode: "The Orpheus Syndrome"
Star Trek: Picard Captain Tuvok 2 episodes[18]
2024 Ted E.R Doctor Episode: "He's Gotta Have It"
NCIS Dr. Erik Harper Episode: "Heartless"
Video games
Year Title Role Notes
2000 Star Trek: Voyager – Elite Force Lieutenant Commander Tuvok
2003 Star Trek: Elite Force II [17]
2005 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Various
2006 Lost Planet: Extreme Condition Bandero [17]
2009 Stormrise Donovan
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 Black Panther
Dragon Age: Origins Zathrian
2012 The Secret World Harrison Blake
2013 Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Additional voices English dub
2013–2014 Star Trek Online Tuvok [17]
2014 The Elder Scrolls Online Blademaster Qariar
2015 Fallout 4 Lancer Captain Kells [17]
2016 Mirror's Edge: Catalyst Birdman [17]
Fallout 4: Far Harbor Zealot Ware, Lancer Captain Kells
Mafia III Additional voices
2017 Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus Gunslinger Joe
2020 The Last of Us Part II Additional Voices
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands Thenios
2022 Horizon Forbidden West Jetakka [17]
2023 Starfield Dad, Guillaume Degarmo, Maurice Lyon
Production
Year Title Notes
1998 East of Hope Street Credited with Nate Thomas
Writing
Year Title Notes
1998 East of Hope Street Credited with Nate Thomas
Directing
Year Title Notes
1998 Star Trek: Voyager Episode: "Living Witness"
2007 Star Trek: Of Gods and Men Fan production
Plugged Short film satirizing advertising (in final edits)
2014 Star Trek: Renegades Fan production

References

  1. ^ a b "Tim Russ Biography (1956-)". filmreference.com.
  2. ^ "Knight Time Interview w Tim Russ". January 21, 2021 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ "Clip of 'combing the desert', from the movie 'Spaceballs'". July 15, 2012 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ "Tim Russ". IMDb.
  5. ^ "Set Report: iF Magazine Boldly Goes To Vulcan For Star Trek: Of Gods And Men". ifmagazine.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2009.
  6. ^ Administrator. "Star Trek: Of Gods and Men".
  7. ^ Englund, Robert; Bergman, Sandahl; Brestoff, Richard; Dow, Tony (February 25, 1990). "Dust to Dust".[full citation needed]
  8. ^ "Star Trek producers and Voyager actor Tim Russ discuss Renegades". filmindustry.network. Film Industry Network. November 17, 2012.
  9. ^ "National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Pacific Southwest Chapter 2014 Emmy Recipients List" (PDF). nataspsw.org. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  10. ^ "LANCER CAPTAIN KELLS". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on November 15, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  11. ^ "Tim Russ – Star Trek: Voyager's Tuvok". Success Circuit. Archived from the original on April 8, 2015. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  12. ^ Kochi, Sudiksha (August 27, 2021). "'Star Trek' star Tim Russ helps detect asteroid for NASA's upcoming mission". USA Today. Archived from the original on March 19, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  13. ^ "Tim Russ: Actor, Director, and Amateur Astronomer". Sky & Telescope. February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  14. ^ O'Connor, By Kyrie (December 6, 2012). "Star Trek may get new, darker life". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  15. ^ Galuppo, Mia (January 14, 2020). "George Clooney's Good Morning, Midnight Adaptation Adds Ethan Peck, Sophie Rundle". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  16. ^ Couch, Aaron (December 6, 2022). "Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham Sets Voice Cast (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Tim Russ (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 20, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  18. ^ Griffin, Louise (March 31, 2023). "Star Trek: Picard boss breaks down Tuvok Voyager cameo". Radio Times. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
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