Vyto Ruginis
{{short description|American actor}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Vyto Ruginis
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Vytautas Ignacas Ruginis
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1956|04|17}}
| birth_place = Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England
| occupation = Actor
| nationality = American
| education = {{ubl|University of Illinois (BFA)|Yale University (MFA)}}
| years_active = 1985–present
}}
Vytautas Ignacas "Vyto" Ruginis (born April 17, 1956){{cite web |url=https://zmones.15min.lt/naujiena/holivudo-aktorius-vyto-ruginis-nesu-garsus-ar-turtingas-bet-tikrai-pazenklintas-sekmes-645g4EDaBoZ |title=Holivudo aktorius Vyto Ruginis: "Nesu garsus ar turtingas, bet – tikrai paženklintas sėkmės" |author= |date=2014-01-12 |language=Lithuanian |website=Žmonės.lt |access-date=2024-08-11}}{{cite web |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/vyto-ruginis/credits/3000569007/ |title=Vyto Ruginis |website=TV Guide |access-date=2024-08-11}} is an American actor.{{cite web|title=September 12, 2015, The National Lithuanian American Hall of Fame Welcomes, Ann Jillian (Jurate Nausedaite), Vyto Ruginis, and Arnold Voketaitis|url=http://www.lithhof.org/index.php/events/item/151-nlahf-induction-2015|website=www.lithhof.org|access-date=November 12, 2016}} He is best known for playing vampire Russell Winters in the television series Angel in its first episode, "City Of", as well as for his appearances in CSI, Murder She Wrote, House MD, The X-Files, ER, Law & Order, NCIS: Los Angeles and other television programs.
Early life
Ruginis was born in Wolverhampton, England, to Lithuanian parents. He grew up in Cicero, Illinois. He received a BFA degree from the University of Illinois and an MFA from Yale University in 1982.{{cite news |last=Gudas |first=Ray |date=2004-07-05 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/366956383/ |title=Veteran TV, Film Actor Ruginis Returns Home |work=The Herald-Palladium |page=1B |access-date=2024-08-11}}
On September 12, 2015, Ruginis was inducted into the National Lithuanian American Hall of Fame.
Career
Ruginis has appeared in such films as The Devil's Advocate with Al Pacino and Keanu Reeves, Cliffhanger with Sylvester Stallone, Broken Arrow with John Travolta and Christian Slater, Jumpin' Jack Flash with Whoopi Goldberg, The Fast and The Furious, Auto Focus, and many more.
In 2014, Ruginis appeared in the stage play In the Water, directed by Sharyn Rothstein.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/19/theater/by-the-water-on-hurricane-sandys-aftermath.html|title='By the Water', on Hurricane Sandy's Aftermath|last=Isherwood|first=Charles|date=November 18, 2014|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 1, 2023}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
!Title !Role !Notes |
|---|
| 1986
| Joe Durkin | |
| 1986
| Carl | |
| 1987
| Burglar | K.E. Graybow | |
| 1987
| Fitzsimmons | |
| 1987
| Lyman McCray | |
| 1988
| Mr. Pandolfi | |
| 1988
| Slipping Into Darkness | Otis | |
| 1989
| The Prosecutor | |
| 1990
| Ted | |
| 1992
| Bad Love | Evan | |
| 1993
| FBI Agent Mathesen | |
| 1994
| Hendrix | |
| 1995
| Last Gasp | Ray Tattinger | |
| 1996
| Johnson | |
| 1996
| Ted Rhome | |
| 1997
| Charles Carter | |
| 1997
| Mitch Weaver, Justice Department | |
| 1998
| Yakima Wash | | |
| 1999
| The Secret Life of Girls | Daniel | |
| 1999
| Wishmaster 2: Evil Never Dies | Hosticka | |
| 1999
| Junior Lawyer | |
| 2000
| Robbers | Dayton | |
| 2001
| Harry | |
| 2001
| Don | |
| 2002
| Nickie D | |
| 2004
| Clancy | |
| 2006
| Hank Yates | |
| 2007
| Detective Maher | |
| 2008
| Governor Elect Lanzelin | |
| 2011
| |
| 2012
| Bad Blood | Sheriff | |
| 2014
| Lost Time | Mr. Coffey | |
| 2017
| Miracle | Bernardas | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
!Title !Role !Notes |
|---|
| 1988
| Star Trek: The Next Generation | Chief Engineer Logan | Episode: "The Arsenal of Freedom" |
| 1991
| Daniel Magadan, Jr. | Episode: "Confession" |
| 1999
| Mr. Goodman | Episode: "Love Unlimited" |
| 1999
| Angel | Russell Winters | Episode: "City Of" |
| 2000
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Phil Swelco | Episode: "Pledging Mr. Johnson" |
| 2001
| Bob | Television movie |
| 2001
| Lieutenant Bianco | Episode: "Medusa" |
| 2002
| Stuart Felding | Episode: "As If By Fate" |
| 2002–2003
| Tom Roback | 4 episodes |
| 2002
| Mitch | Episode: "Arctic Radar" |
| 2003
| JAG | Agent Dawkins | Episode: "Meltdown" |
| 2004
| David Jeffers | Episode: "Innocent" |
| 2004
| William Wachtler | Episode: ”Nowhere Man” |
| 2006–2007
| ER | Paramedic Wright | 3 episodes |
| 2009–2023
| Arkady Kolchek | 29 episodes |
| 2012
| Philip Gross | Television movie |
| 2013
| Edward Gretsky | Episode: "The American Dream" |
| 2014
| Christopher Carnahan | Episode: "You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone" |
| 2020
| Deputy | King #2 | 2 episodes |
=Video games=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
!Title !Role !Notes |
|---|
| 2017
| Grand Theft Auto Online: The Doomsday Heist DLC | Bogdan (voice) | |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|Biography}}
- {{IMDb name|749490}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ruginis, Vyto}}
Category:American people of Lithuanian descent
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male video game actors
Category:American male voice actors
Category:Male actors from Illinois
Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States