The son of a naval officer, William Russ traveled all over the United States as a child. Russ studied drama at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. After graduation he toured Europe as a member of an Ann Arbor mime troupe. He later attended New York's Neighborhood Playhouse on a scholarship, and appeared on stage in several plays, including Macbeth. He has appeared in many films, taking a star turn as an aging baseball player in 1991's Pastime. Russ is best known for his TV work, including seven years playing blue-collar dad Alan Matthews on Boy Meets World. Russ is also a director. From Boy Meets World's Alan Matthews to Wiseguy's Roger Lococco, Russ has earned a reputation as a talented, versatile character actor. William Russ, also known as Rusty, is married to actress Clare Wren (Young Guns), and has a son and a daughter. He enjoys thrill sports such as downhill skiing and high-wind surfing.
William Russ directed the following episodes of Boy Meets World:
"Heartbreak Cory", "Ain't College Great?”,
"Everybody Loves Stuart”, “Poetic License: An Ode to Holden Caulfield”,
"The Psychotic Episode”, "They're Killing Us”, "The Honeymooners”, “The War”,
"Seven the Hard Way”
(edit) William Russ has appeared in two Lifetime Original Movies on the Lifetime cable network: Sexual Advances, with Stephanie Zimbalist, in 1992, and When Danger Follows You Home, with JoBeth Williams, in 1997. (edit) William Russ directed an episode of Lizzie McGuire under the name Rusty Russ. (edit) William Russ won the 1985 Drama-Logue Award for his performance in the stage play Ghosts On Fire opposite Holly Hunter. (edit) William Russ performed on stage in 2004 in the play, Happy Birthday Wanda June, with The Actor's Gang, a theatrical troupe headquartered in Culver City, California. (edit) William Russ's character on Wiseguy, Roger Lococco had the habit of calling people Buckwheat. In an interview on the Wiseguy DVD Russ states, "... 15 years later people still say to me, 'How's it going Buckwheat?'" (edit) William Russ played Burt McGowen on Another World for one year, three months. (edit) William Russ's film credits include American History X (1998), playing Dennis Vinyard, and The Right Stuff (1983), playing Chalmers "Slick" Goodlin. (edit) William Russ was a Best Actor Nominee for the Independent Spirit Award for his role as an aging baseball pitcher in the 1991 film Pastime. (edit) An interview with William Russ appears as an extra in the Wiseguy: Season 1, Part 2 DVD. (edit) William's nickname is Rusty. (edit) He started filming Life as a House (2001) playing Officer Kurt Walker, but was injured in a motorbike crash and replaced by Scott Bakula . (edit)
"Heartbreak Cory", "Ain't College Great?”,
"Everybody Loves Stuart”, “Poetic License: An Ode to Holden Caulfield”,
"The Psychotic Episode”, "They're Killing Us”, "The Honeymooners”, “The War”,
"Seven the Hard Way”
(edit) William Russ has appeared in two Lifetime Original Movies on the Lifetime cable network: Sexual Advances, with Stephanie Zimbalist, in 1992, and When Danger Follows You Home, with JoBeth Williams, in 1997. (edit) William Russ directed an episode of Lizzie McGuire under the name Rusty Russ. (edit) William Russ won the 1985 Drama-Logue Award for his performance in the stage play Ghosts On Fire opposite Holly Hunter. (edit) William Russ performed on stage in 2004 in the play, Happy Birthday Wanda June, with The Actor's Gang, a theatrical troupe headquartered in Culver City, California. (edit) William Russ's character on Wiseguy, Roger Lococco had the habit of calling people Buckwheat. In an interview on the Wiseguy DVD Russ states, "... 15 years later people still say to me, 'How's it going Buckwheat?'" (edit) William Russ played Burt McGowen on Another World for one year, three months. (edit) William Russ's film credits include American History X (1998), playing Dennis Vinyard, and The Right Stuff (1983), playing Chalmers "Slick" Goodlin. (edit) William Russ was a Best Actor Nominee for the Independent Spirit Award for his role as an aging baseball pitcher in the 1991 film Pastime. (edit) An interview with William Russ appears as an extra in the Wiseguy: Season 1, Part 2 DVD. (edit) William's nickname is Rusty. (edit) He started filming Life as a House (2001) playing Officer Kurt Walker, but was injured in a motorbike crash and replaced by Scott Bakula . (edit)
William Russ: (When asked if he monitors his children’s TV watching) Yes, of course. They don’t watch much TV during the week. There is so much media hype.
(edit)
William Russ: (When asked if any place where he has lived is more meaningful to him) I was born in Virginia but spent a lot of time in New Orleans, so I love both of those places. But right now, I live in California, so I like it here too.
(edit)
William Russ: (on jobs he has had other than acting) I have been a welder, a cab driver, a waiter, a cook, dishwasher, garbage truck worker. I like to write so I probably would write more if I didn’t act. Maybe more directing too.
(edit)
(Asked if he was anything like Alan Matthews, his character in Boy Meets World, William Russ: Yeah, I’m a lot like him actually. He’s a great character.
(edit)
Person Vital Stats
Person
Score: 9.2 Superb 21 votes
Score: 9.2 Superb 21 votes
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