Over a relatively short period, the elastic-faced, growl-voiced Russo has exhibited his bad boy capabilities in what seems like every boundary-treading flick under the sun. His film credits range from "Beverly Hills Cop" (1984) to indie maestros Scott and Beth B.'s "Vortex" (1982), his first starring role. He has also appeared in Gus Van Sant's "My Own Private Idaho" (1991) and in the "prefect of horror" Dario Argento's "Trauma" (1993).

The role that catapulted him to demi-stardom was in the 1982 off-Broadway hit "Extremities", when he played a rapist opposite Susan Sarandon. His star turn in