Russo brothers
Encyclopedia
Anthony and Joe Russo, known together professionally as the Russo brothers, are Emmy Award
-winning American film
and television
directors. The brothers direct most of their work jointly, and they also occasionally work as producers, actors, and editors. The Russos are from Cleveland
, Ohio
, and were born a year apart. They are alumni of Case Western Reserve University
.
approached the duo and offered to produce their next film, along with his producing partner George Clooney
. This project was the crime comedy Welcome to Collinwood
, starring William H. Macy
, Sam Rockwell
, and Clooney.
When TV exec Kevin Reilly was rebuilding the FX network, he sought out the Russos to direct the pilot for his flagship series Lucky
, having liked the pair's work on Collinwood. Ron Howard
was a fan of the pilot, and he had a hand in hiring the brothers to direct the pilot for Fox's Arrested Development. The brothers won an Emmy
for their work on the episode. Ever since, they have been sought after directors for TV pilots. They are credited with creating the visual style that made Arrested Development so popular with its rabid audience of TV critics and fans.
In 2006, the Russo brothers returned to film, directing the Owen Wilson
comedy You, Me, and Dupree. The film grossed $140 million worldwide. For the 2007-08 TV season, the Russos joined the crew of the ABC
series Carpoolers
as executive producers and directors. Since 2009, they have served as executive producers and directors on the NBC
series Community
.
The Russos cite classic sitcoms M*A*S*H, Taxi
, and Cheers as influences. Their younger sister Angela Russo-Ostot also is in television, having worked as a writer and producer on V
and Trust Me
, among other series.
Primetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming...
-winning American film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
directors. The brothers direct most of their work jointly, and they also occasionally work as producers, actors, and editors. The Russos are from Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, and were born a year apart. They are alumni of Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
.
Careers
Anthony and Joe Russo were graduate students at Case Western when they began directing, writing, and producing their first feature, Pieces. They financed the film with student loans and credit cards. After viewing Pieces at a film festival, Steven SoderberghSteven Soderbergh
Steven Andrew Soderbergh is an American film producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, editor, and an Academy Award-winning film director. He is best known for directing commercial Hollywood films like Erin Brockovich, Traffic, and the remake of Ocean's Eleven, but he has also directed smaller less...
approached the duo and offered to produce their next film, along with his producing partner George Clooney
George Clooney
George Timothy Clooney is an American actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter. For his work as an actor, he has received two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award...
. This project was the crime comedy Welcome to Collinwood
Welcome to Collinwood
Welcome to Collinwood is a 2002 American crime comedy film about five small-time criminals, from the Collinwood neighborhood of Cleveland, who try to organize one last big job...
, starring William H. Macy
William H. Macy
William Hall Macy, Jr. is an American actor and writer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo. He is also a teacher and director in theater, film and television. His film career has been built mostly on his appearances in small, independent films, though...
, Sam Rockwell
Sam Rockwell
Sam Rockwell is an American actor known for his leading roles in Lawn Dogs, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Choke and Moon, as well as for his supporting roles in The Green Mile, Iron Man 2, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Frost/Nixon, Galaxy Quest, Matchstick Men, The Assassination of...
, and Clooney.
When TV exec Kevin Reilly was rebuilding the FX network, he sought out the Russos to direct the pilot for his flagship series Lucky
Lucky (TV series)
Lucky is an American dark comedy television series which ran for one season on FX Networks in 2003. The show starred John Corbett as Michael "Lucky" Linkletter, a professional poker player and gambling addict. The series was created by Robb Cullen and Mark Cullen...
, having liked the pair's work on Collinwood. Ron Howard
Ron Howard
Ronald William "Ron" Howard is an American actor, director, and producer. He came to prominence as a child actor, playing Opie Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show for eight years, and later the teenaged Richie Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days for six years...
was a fan of the pilot, and he had a hand in hiring the brothers to direct the pilot for Fox's Arrested Development. The brothers won an Emmy
Primetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming...
for their work on the episode. Ever since, they have been sought after directors for TV pilots. They are credited with creating the visual style that made Arrested Development so popular with its rabid audience of TV critics and fans.
In 2006, the Russo brothers returned to film, directing the Owen Wilson
Owen Wilson
Owen Cunningham Wilson is an American actor and writer, known for his roles in the films The Haunting, The Royal Tenenbaums, Zoolander, Meet the Parents, Wedding Crashers, You, Me and Dupree, Bottle Rocket, the Cars series, The Darjeeling Limited, Marley & Me, Midnight in Paris, Shanghai Noon,...
comedy You, Me, and Dupree. The film grossed $140 million worldwide. For the 2007-08 TV season, the Russos joined the crew of the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
series Carpoolers
Carpoolers
Carpoolers is an American single-camera comedy series, which ran on ABC from October 2, 2007 to March 4, 2008. The show was created by Bruce McCulloch, who also executive produced alongside Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank, David Miner, Marsh McCall, Joe Russo and Anthony Russo . Joe and Anthony Russo...
as executive producers and directors. Since 2009, they have served as executive producers and directors on the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
series Community
Community (TV series)
Community is an American television comedy series created by Dan Harmon that airs on NBC. The series is about a group of students at a community college in the fictional locale of Greendale, Colorado. The series heavily uses meta-humor and pop culture references, often parodying film and television...
.
The Russos cite classic sitcoms M*A*S*H, Taxi
Taxi (TV series)
Taxi was an American sitcom that originally aired from 1978 to 1982 on ABC and from 1982 to 1983 on NBC. The series, which won 18 Emmy Awards, including three for "Outstanding Comedy Series", focuses on the everyday lives of a handful of New York City taxi drivers and their abusive dispatcher...
, and Cheers as influences. Their younger sister Angela Russo-Ostot also is in television, having worked as a writer and producer on V
V (2009 TV series)
V is an American science fiction television series that ran for two seasons on ABC, from November 3, 2009 to March 15, 2011. A remake of the 1983 miniseries created by Kenneth Johnson, the new series chronicles the arrival on Earth of a technologically advanced alien species which ostensibly comes...
and Trust Me
Trust Me (TV series)
Trust Me is an American drama series that began airing on TNT on January 26, 2009 at 10 p.m Eastern/ 9 P.M Central. In Canada, Trust Me can be seen on Super Channel.Trust Me premiered with 3.4 million viewers....
, among other series.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Credit(s) |
| 1997 1997 in film -Events:* The original Star Wars trilogy's Special Editions are released.* Production begins on Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.* Titanic becomes the first film to gross US$1,000,000,000 at the box office making it the highest grossing film in history until Avatar broke the record in 2010.*... |
Pieces | actor (Joe only), directors, editors, producers, writers |
| 2002 2002 in film The year 2002 in film involved some significant events. The first significant releases of sequels took place between The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Men in Black II, Analyze That, Spy Kids 2: The Island of... |
Welcome to Collinwood Welcome to Collinwood Welcome to Collinwood is a 2002 American crime comedy film about five small-time criminals, from the Collinwood neighborhood of Cleveland, who try to organize one last big job... |
directors, writers |
| 2006 2006 in film - Highest-grossing films :Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top-grossing films that were first released in the United States in 2006... |
You, Me and Dupree You, Me and Dupree You, Me and Dupree is a 2006 romantic comedy film directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, written by Mike LeSieur, and produced by Mary Parent, Scott Stuber, and Owen Wilson.... |
directors |
| 2007 2007 in film This is a list of major films released in 2007.-Top grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2007... |
Crashing | producers |
Short subject
| Year | Title | Credit(s) |
| 2002 2002 in film The year 2002 in film involved some significant events. The first significant releases of sequels took place between The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Men in Black II, Analyze That, Spy Kids 2: The Island of... |
The Kiss | directors, producers, writers |
| 2006 2006 in film - Highest-grossing films :Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top-grossing films that were first released in the United States in 2006... |
No. 6 | producer (Joe only) |
| 2008 2008 in film This is a list of all major films made in 2008.-Highest-grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2008... |
Square One | writer (Anthony only) |
| Carfuckers | directors | |
| 2009 2009 in film The year 2009 saw the release of many films. Seven made the top 50 list of highest-grossing films, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that as of this year, their Best Picture category would consist of ten nominees, rather than five .- Highest-grossing films :Please note... |
Donkey Punch | producer (Anthony only) |
Television work
| Year(s) | Program | Episode(s) | Credit(s) |
| 2003 | Lucky Lucky (TV series) Lucky is an American dark comedy television series which ran for one season on FX Networks in 2003. The show starred John Corbett as Michael "Lucky" Linkletter, a professional poker player and gambling addict. The series was created by Robb Cullen and Mark Cullen... |
"Calling Dr. Con" | directors |
| 2003-05 | Arrested Development | Both: "Pilot" Anthony only: "Top Banana," "Key Decisions," "The Immaculate Election," "Spring Breakout" Joe only: "Bringing Up Buster," "In God We Trust," "Pier Pressure," "Marta Complex," "Shock and Aww," "Missing Kitty," "Hand to God," "Motherboy XXX," "Meet the Veals" |
directors |
| 2004 | LAX LAX (TV series) LAX is a television drama set at the Los Angeles International Airport and draws its name from the airport's IATA airport code, "LAX".-Synopsis:... |
"Pilot" | directors |
| 2004-05 | all episodes | co-executive producers | |
| 2006 | Secrets of a Small Town | Failed ABC American Broadcasting Company The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948... pilot |
executive producers |
| What About Brian What About Brian What About Brian is an American comedy-drama television series created by Dana Stevens and co-produced by J.J. Abrams' company Bad Robot Productions. The series premiered on April 16, 2006, on ABC, as a midseason replacement and concluded on March 26, 2007... |
"Pilot" | directors | |
| 2006-07 | all episodes | executive producers | |
| 2007-08 | Carpoolers Carpoolers Carpoolers is an American single-camera comedy series, which ran on ABC from October 2, 2007 to March 4, 2008. The show was created by Bruce McCulloch, who also executive produced alongside Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank, David Miner, Marsh McCall, Joe Russo and Anthony Russo . Joe and Anthony Russo... |
Both: "Pilot" Anthony only: "The Code," "The Recital" Joe only: "Laird of the Rings," "What Would You Do?," "Down for the Count," "The Seminar," "A Divorce to Remember," "The Handsomest Man," "Lost in America" |
directors |
| all episodes | executive producers | ||
| 2008 | Courtroom K | Failed Fox pilot | directors |
| 2009 | Untitled Family Pilot | Failed NBC pilot | directors |
| Comedy Showcase Comedy Showcase Comedy Showcase is a series of one-off comedy specials featuring some of Britain's fledgling comedy talent. Its format is reminiscent of the much earlier Comedy Playhouse.... |
"The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret is an American-British sitcom starring David Cross, Sharon Horgan, Blake Harrison, Will Arnett and Spike Jonze... " |
directors | |
| 2009–present | Community Community (TV series) Community is an American television comedy series created by Dan Harmon that airs on NBC. The series is about a group of students at a community college in the fictional locale of Greendale, Colorado. The series heavily uses meta-humor and pop culture references, often parodying film and television... |
Both: "Pilot" Anthony only: "Introduction to Film," "Social Psychology," "Home Economics," "The Politics of Human Sexuality," "Physical Education," "Beginner Pottery," "The Psychology of Letting Go," "Basic Rocket Science," "Asian Population Studies," "Custody Law and Eastern European Diplomacy," "Biology 101" Joe only: "Spanish 101," "Advanced Criminal Law," "Football, Feminism and You," "Debate 109," "Investigative Journalism," "Romantic Expressionism," "Pascal's Triangle Revisited," "Anthropology 101," "Accounting for Lawyers," "Cooperative Calligraphy," "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons," "Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking," "Comparative Wine Tasting," "A Fistful of Paintballs A Fistful of Paintballs "A Fistful of Paintballs" is the 23rd episode and part one of the two-part second season finale of Community. The episode originally premiered on May 5, 2011 on NBC. Acting as a sequel to "Modern Warfare" from the first season, Dean Pelton once again announces plans for a new game of paintball. The... ," "Geography of Global Conflict" |
directors |
| all episodes | executive producers | ||
| 2010 | Running Wilde Running Wilde Running Wilde was an American comedy television series created by Mitchell Hurwitz for the Fox Network. It starred Will Arnett as Steve Wilde, a self-centered, idle bachelor and heir to an oil fortune... |
"Pilot" | directors, executive producers |
| The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret is an American-British sitcom starring David Cross, Sharon Horgan, Blake Harrison, Will Arnett and Spike Jonze... |
"In Which Claims are Made and a Journey Ensues" (original Comedy Showcase pilot, some footage reshot) | directors | |
| 2011 | The Council of Dads | Fox pilot | directors |
| 2011-present | Happy Endings Happy Endings (TV series) Happy Endings is an American television series for the ABC network. The single-camera ensemble comedy premiered on April 13, 2011, as a midseason replacement, with a one-hour premiere of two back-to-back episodes starting at 9:30 pm ET/PT... |
Both: "Pilot" Anthony only: "Barefoot Pedaler," "Blax, Snake, Home" Joe only: "Bo Fight," "Yesandwitch" |
directors |
| all episodes | executive producers | ||
| Up All Night Up All Night (TV series) Up All Night is an American television comedy series created by Emily Spivey that premiered on NBC on September 14, 2011, at 10 p.m. , before assuming its regular time slot on Wednesday, September 21, 2011, at 8 p.m.... |
Joe only: "Cool Neighbors," "Working Late and Working It" | directors | |