Tim Russ

{{short description|American actor (born 1956)}}

{{Use American English|date=October 2023}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Tim Russ

| image = Tim Russ by Gage Skidmore.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Russ at the 2022 Phoenix Fan Fusion

| birth_name = Timothy Darrell Russ

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|6|22}}

| birth_place = Washington, D.C., U.S.

| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|musician|screenwriter|producer|director}}

| years_active = 1985–present

| children = 1

}}

Timothy Darrell Russ{{cite web| url= http://www.filmreference.com/film/92/Tim-Russ.html|title=Tim Russ Biography (1956-)|publisher= | website= filmreference.com}} (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. 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.{{cite web|url= https://youtube.com/watch?v=W-vq-lJrXwM|title=Knight Time Interview w Tim Russ |date=January 21, 2021 | via= YouTube}} 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.{{cite web |title=Clip of 'combing the desert', from the movie 'Spaceballs' | date= July 15, 2012| via= YouTube| url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3iFJpGJiug}}{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0750913/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 | title=Tim Russ | website=IMDb }} 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,{{cite web| url= http://www.ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=1726 | title= Set Report: iF Magazine Boldly Goes To Vulcan For Star Trek: Of Gods And Men| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090202091010/http://ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=1726 |archivedate= February 2, 2009| website= ifmagazine.com | publisher= | accessdate= }} 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.{{cite web| url=

http://startrekofgodsandmen.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58&Itemid=173 |title=Star Trek: Of Gods and Men|last= Administrator}}

Russ's character's name D. C. Montana in The Highwayman was a reference to Trek writer D. C. Fontana.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}

In 1990, he appeared in an episode of Freddy's Nightmares.{{Cite news|last1= Englund|first1=Robert|title=Dust to Dust|date= 1990-02-25|last2=Bergman|last3=Brestoff|last4=Dow|first2=Sandahl|first3=Richard|first4=Tony}}{{full citation needed|date=April 2019}}

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.{{cite news |title=Star Trek producers and Voyager actor Tim Russ discuss Renegades| website= filmindustry.network |url= https://filmindustry.network/star-trek-producers-and-voyager-actor-tim-russ-discuss-renegades/18220 |publisher=Film Industry Network |date=November 17, 2012}}

=Later work=

File:Tim Russ (32382294283).jpg

Russ appeared as Frank, a sarcastic doorman in the sitcom 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.{{cite web|title=National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Pacific Southwest Chapter 2014 Emmy Recipients List| url= http://nataspsw.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/2014-Recipient-List-for-Website.pdf| website= nataspsw.org| access-date= June 26, 2014}}

He played Captain Kells in the 2015 Bethesda Game Studios video game Fallout 4.{{cite web|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/video-games/Fallout-4/Lancer-Captain-Kells/|title=LANCER CAPTAIN KELLS|publisher=Behind the Voice Actors|accessdate=April 26, 2021|archivedate=November 15, 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115060900/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/video-games/Fallout-4/Lancer-Captain-Kells/}}

=Music and astronomy=

Russ has been a lifelong musician and a singer.{{cite web|title=Tim Russ – Star Trek: Voyager's Tuvok|url=http://www.successcircuit.com/interviews/tim-russ/|publisher=Success Circuit|access-date=April 4, 2015|archivedate=April 8, 2015|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408194420/http://www.successcircuit.com/interviews/tim-russ/}} In addition, Russ has been an avid amateur astronomer most of his adult life, and is a member of the [https://www.laas.org/ 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.{{Cite news |last=Kochi |first=Sudiksha |date=2021-08-27 |title='Star Trek' star Tim Russ helps detect asteroid for NASA's upcoming mission |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/2021/08/27/star-trek-actor-tim-russ-helps-nasa-detect-asteroid/8204195002/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319050620/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/2021/08/27/star-trek-actor-tim-russ-helps-nasa-detect-asteroid/8204195002/ |archive-date=2023-03-19 |access-date=2024-01-27 |work=USA Today}} In February 2022, he stated that he owned a 10-inch Dobsonian telescope, an 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, and a Unistellar eVscope.{{Cite news |date=2022-02-01 |title=Tim Russ: Actor, Director, and Amateur Astronomer |language=en-US |work=Sky & Telescope |url=https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-resources/famous-astronomers/tim-russ-actor-director-amateur-astronomer/#:~:text=Tim%20Russ%20is%20best%20known,Tuvok%20on%20Star%20Trek:%20Voyager. |access-date=2023-02-20}}

Filmography

class="wikitable sortable"

|+Films

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

rowspan="2" | 1986CrossroadsRobert Johnson
Fire with FireJerry Washington
rowspan="2" | 1987SpaceballsDesert-Combing Trooper
Death Wish 4: The CrackdownJesse
rowspan="2" | 1988BirdHarris
PulsePoliceman
1991Eve of DestructionCarter
rowspan="2" | 1992Night Eyes 2Jesse Younger
Mr. Saturday NightAssistant director
rowspan="2" | 1994Dead ConnectionDetective Chuck Roland
Star Trek GenerationsEnterprise-B Bridge Officer
1998East of Hope StreetCasey
2005The Cabinet of Dr. CaligariTown Clerk
rowspan="2" | 2006The Oh in OhioDouglas
Unbeatable HaroldDiner Manager
2007Live Free or Die HardAgent SummersDie Hard 4.0 (outside North America)
2008InAlienableNews Anchor
2011RampartCommand Staff Member #1

|

rowspan="3" | 2014Alongside NightGeneral Jack Guerdon
Asteroid vs. EarthCaptain Rogers
GreyscaleGavin Calhoun
2015Star Trek: RenegadesTuvokAlso director{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Kyrie |date=2012-12-06 |title=Star Trek may get new, darker life |url=http://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/columnists/oconnor/article/star-trek-may-get-new-darker-life-4097352.php |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=Houston Chronicle |language=en}}
rowspan="5" | 20185th PassengerCommander Franklin
A Fairy's GameWarlockVoice
JunkieMartin Green
KarmaFrank Hudson
Dick DicksterSammy Davas Jr.
2019VitalsThe Surgeon
2020The Midnight SkyMason Mosley{{Cite web |last=Galuppo |first=Mia |date=2020-01-14 |title=George Clooney's Good Morning, Midnight Adaptation Adds Ethan Peck, Sophie Rundle |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/george-clooney-good-morning-midnight-adds-sophie-rundle-ethan-peck-1269306/ |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}
2023Batman: The Doom That Came to GothamLucius FoxVoice{{cite web |last=Couch |first=Aaron |date=December 6, 2022 |title=Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham Sets Voice Cast (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/batman-the-doom-that-came-to-gotham-cast-1235275547/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}{{cite web |title=Tim Russ (visual voices guide) |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Tim-Russ/ |access-date=October 20, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} 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.

class="wikitable sortable"

|+Television

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

1985, 1987Hill Street BluesParamedic / Burton / Ben Childers3 episodes
1985The Twilight ZoneOfficer #2Episode: "Kentucky Rye"
rowspan="2" | 1986Amazing StoriesSecurity Guard #1Episode: "You Gotta Believe Me"
Heart of the CityCollinsEpisode: "When Push Comes to Shove"
rowspan="6" | 1987Jake and the FatmanPeteEpisode: "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?"
StarmanTyrone WashingtonEpisode: "The System"
TimestalkersSergeant FiltonTV film
The Twilight ZoneArcherEpisode: "Voices in the Earth"
ThirtysomethingSalesmanEpisode: "Pilot"
ThrobMan #2Episode: "Whose Coup Is It Anyway?"
1987–1988The HighwaymanD.C. Montana9 episodes
rowspan="2" | 198821 Jump StreetRay DaviesEpisode: "Slippin' Into Darkness"
Roots: The GiftMarcellus the slave doormanTV film
rowspan="3" | 1989Alien NationRonald KetnesEpisode: "Pilot"
Beauty and the BeastLieutenant Eric ParkerEpisode: "Sticks and Stones"
The People Next DoorAnswering Machine Guy2 episodes
rowspan="4" | 1990Cop RockJuror2 episodes
Family MattersJeffEpisode: "Sitting Pretty"
Freddy's NightmaresDr. Henry PicardEpisode: "Dust to Dust"
Mancuso, FBIMalcolm RashadEpisode: "Conspiracy"
1990, 1992The Fresh Prince of Bel-AirEugene / Agent Collins3 episodes
rowspan="2" | 1991LifestoriesK.C.Episode: "Darryl Tevis"
Dead SilenceDeputy RyanTV film
1992Tequila and Bonetti'Link'Episode: "The Rose Cadillac"
rowspan="4" | 1993Hangin' with Mr. CooperVictorEpisode: "Seoul Shake"
Living SingleOfficer TaylorEpisode: "Burglar in the House"
Murphy BrownSecret Service OfficerEpisode: "The Egg & I"
Star Trek: The Next GenerationDevorEpisode: "Starship Mine"
1993, 1995Star Trek: Deep Space NineT'Kar / Mirror Universe Tuvok2 episodes
1993Journey to the Center of the EarthJoe BriggsTV film
rowspan="3" | 1994Hangin' with Mr. CooperVictorEpisode: "Wedding Bell Blues"
Melrose PlaceRoger ChambersEpisode: "It's a Bad World After All"
SeaQuest DSVMartin 'Mycroft' ClemensEpisode: "Photon Bullet"
1995–2001Star Trek: VoyagerLieutenant Commander Tuvok172 episodes
1997

|Spider-Man

|Hobie Brown / Prowler (voice)

|Episode: "The Prowler"

2002Any Day NowJurorEpisode: "The Real Thing"
rowspan="2" | 2005ERDr. MedfordEpisode: "Alone in a Crowd"
UnfabulousOfficer JonesEpisode: "The Job"
rowspan="3" | 2006NCISJerry KemperEpisode: "Jeopardy"
General HospitalDr. Trent4 episodes
Twenty Good YearsMarty3 episodes
rowspan="2" | 2007Hannah MontanaDr. MeyerEpisode: "I Am Hannah, Hear Me Croak"
Without a TracePhil HansenEpisode: "Tail Spin"
2007–2012iCarlyPrincipal Ted Franklin11 episodes
2007–2009Samantha Who?Frank the Doorman35 episodes
rowspan="2" | 2009Lincoln HeightsPrincipalEpisode: "Lucky"
Trust MeGordon Benedict2 episodes
rowspan="2" | 2010CSI: MiamiLeonard SterlingEpisode: "Meltdown"
The Secret Life of the American TeenagerVicarEpisode: "Ben There, Done That"
2010–2011

|Sym-Bionic Titan

|Solomon (voice)

|9 episodes

rowspan="3" | 2011Good Luck CharlieDr. MeyersEpisode: "L.A.R.P. in the Park"
SuitsRobert GellerEpisode: "Identity Crisis"
The Young and the RestlessJudge MorrisonEpisodes 9,741 and 9,742
rowspan="2" | 2012The Soul ManDevonEpisode: "How to Be a Church Lady"
GibbyPrincipal Ted FranklinUnaired Pilot
rowspan="3" | 2013CastleDr. Malcolm WickfieldEpisode: "Time Will Tell"
Guys with KidsSpecialistEpisode: "Rare Breed"
Lab RatsSpecial Agent GordonEpisode: "Parallel Universe"
2014

|Regular Show

|Sergeant, Helicopter Pilot (voice)

|Episode: "Portable Toilet"

rowspan="2" | 2015The Night ShiftBossmanEpisode: "Recovery"
Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!General GottliebTV film
2017The Good DoctorPatient ChuckEpisode: "Oliver"
rowspan="5" | 2018Criminal MindsAgent LawrenceEpisode: "To A Better Place"
9-1-1Marriage CounsellorEpisode: "Let Go"
NCIS: New OrleansFelixEpisode: "Ties That Bind"
Superior DonutsProfessor MillsEpisode: "Grades of Wrath"
SupergirlCouncilman Jul-UsEpisode: "Dark Side of The Moon"
rowspan="7" | 2019Black MondayWalter DarcyEpisode: "339"
PEN15Mr. Wyzell2 episodes
The OrvilleDr. ShermanEpisode: "Lasting Impressions"
NASA's Unexplained FilesHimself, AstronomerEpisode: "Did Aliens Nuke Mars?"
Swamp ThingDr. Chowodury2 episodes
American Horror Story: 1984David ChambersEpisode: "Red Dawn"
How to Get Away with MurderJudge Kofi BonaparteEpisode: "I Want to Be Free"
2020The ResidentTyrone GriffithsEpisode: "Last Shot"
rowspan="2" | 2021ThemThe Custodian2 episodes
4400Elijah LandryEpisode: “You Only Meant Well”
2021-2023

| iCarly

Principal Ted Franklin2 episodes
rowspan="2" | 2023Poker FaceMaxEpisode: "The Orpheus Syndrome"
Star Trek: PicardCaptain Tuvok2 episodes{{Cite web |last=Griffin |first=Louise |date=March 31, 2023 |title=Star Trek: Picard boss breaks down Tuvok Voyager cameo |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/star-trek-picard-voyager-cameo-newsupdate/ |access-date=October 20, 2024 |website=Radio Times |language=en-GB}}
rowspan="2" |2024

|Ted

|E.R Doctor

|Episode: "He's Gotta Have It"

NCIS

|Dr. Erik Harper

|Episode: "Heartless"

class="wikitable sortable"

|+Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2000Star Trek: Voyager – Elite Forcerowspan="2" | Lieutenant Commander Tuvok
2003Star Trek: Elite Force II
2005Law & Order: Criminal IntentVarious
2006Lost Planet: Extreme ConditionBandero
rowspan="3" | 2009StormriseDonovan
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2Black Panther
Dragon Age: OriginsZathrian
2012The Secret WorldHarrison Blake
2013Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIIIAdditional voicesEnglish dub
2013–2014Star Trek OnlineTuvok
2014The Elder Scrolls OnlineBlademaster Qariar
2015Fallout 4Lancer Captain Kells
rowspan="3" | 2016Mirror's Edge: CatalystBirdman
Fallout 4: Far HarborZealot Ware, Lancer Captain Kells
Mafia IIIAdditional voices
2017Wolfenstein II: The New ColossusGunslinger Joe
rowspan="2" | 2020The Last of Us Part IIAdditional Voices
World of Warcraft: ShadowlandsThenios
2022Horizon Forbidden WestJetakka
2023StarfieldDad, Guillaume Degarmo, Maurice Lyon
2024Lego Horizon AdventuresSylens

class="wikitable sortable"

|+Production

YearTitleNotes
1998East of Hope StreetCredited with Nate Thomas

class="wikitable sortable"

|+Writing

YearTitleNotes
1998East of Hope StreetCredited with Nate Thomas

class="wikitable sortable"

|+Directing

YearTitleNotes
1998Star Trek: VoyagerEpisode: "Living Witness"
rowspan="2" | 2007Star Trek: Of Gods and MenFan production
PluggedShort film satirizing advertising (in final edits)
2014Star Trek: RenegadesFan production

References

{{Reflist}}