Rene Russo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rene Russo
Russo in 1996
Born	Rene Marie Russo (1954-02-17) February 17, 1954 (age 71) Burbank, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, model
Years active	1987–2004 2010–present
Spouse(s)	Dan Gilroy ​ (m. 1992)​
Children	1

Rene Marie Russo (born February 17, 1954) is an American actress and former model. She started her career as a fashion model in the 1970s, appearing on famous magazine covers like Vogue and Cosmopolitan.

Rene Russo made her first movie appearance in the 1989 comedy Major League. She became very well-known in the 1990s for her roles in action and thriller films. Some of these popular movies include Lethal Weapon 3 (1992), In the Line of Fire (1993), Outbreak (1995), Get Shorty (1995), Ransom (1996), Lethal Weapon 4 (1998), and The Thomas Crown Affair (1999).

After starring in the family comedy Yours, Mine & Ours (2005), Russo took a break from acting for five years. She returned to movies as Frigga, the mother of the main hero, in the superhero film Thor (2011). She played this role again in Thor: The Dark World (2013) and Avengers: Endgame (2019). In 2014, Russo starred in the crime thriller Nightcrawler. For this role, she won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress. She has also appeared in films like The Intern (2015) and Velvet Buzzsaw (2019).

Early Life and School

Rene Russo was born in 1954 in Burbank, California. Her mother, Shirley, worked in a factory and as a barmaid. Her father, Nino Russo, was a sculptor and car mechanic who left the family when Rene was two years old.

Russo grew up with her mother and sister, Toni. She went to John Burroughs High School, where director Ron Howard was also a student. She had scoliosis, a condition that curved her spine, and had to wear a special brace. Because she was very tall, her classmates sometimes called her "Jolly Green Giant."

Russo described herself as a "geek" in an interview. She said that being bullied in high school made her drop out in the tenth grade. Growing up, she didn't have big career goals. She explained that she was focused on helping her family because money was tight. She took many part-time jobs, like working in an eyeglass factory and as a movie theater cashier.

Becoming a Model

Rene Russo's modeling career began after she was reportedly discovered at a Rolling Stones concert in 1972. An agent named John Crosby saw her and encouraged her to try modeling.

With Crosby's help, Russo signed with the Ford Modeling Agency. She quickly became one of the top models in the 1970s and early 1980s. She appeared on the covers of popular magazines such as Vogue, Mademoiselle, and Cosmopolitan. She also appeared in many advertisements for perfumes and cosmetics.

Acting Career

Starting in the 1980s

As Rene Russo entered her 30s, her modeling jobs became less frequent. She decided to take a break from modeling and focus on acting. She studied theater and acting, performing in small plays in Los Angeles and other parts of California. She learned a lot from veteran actor Allan Rich, who taught her about acting.

Russo made her television debut in 1987. She had a supporting role in the TV series Sable, which was based on a comic book. Her first movie role was in the 1989 comedy Major League. She played the girlfriend of a former baseball star. The movie was well-received by critics.

Success in the 1990s

In 1990, Russo appeared in the fantasy comedy Mr. Destiny with Jim Belushi. In 1991, she got her first main role in a movie called One Good Cop. She played the wife of a detective in New York City.

Russo became very famous in 1992 with her role as Lorna Cole in the action film Lethal Weapon 3. She starred alongside Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. This movie earned a lot of money worldwide, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of 1992. Her other film in 1992 was the science fiction movie Freejack. Even though it received mixed reviews, Russo was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Throughout the 1990s, Russo continued to take on important roles in successful movies.

• In 1993, she starred with Clint Eastwood in the thriller In the Line of Fire. She played a federal agent.
• In 1995, she worked with director Wolfgang Petersen again in the medical disaster film Outbreak. She played a doctor who discovers a dangerous virus. She also starred with John Travolta in the crime comedy Get Shorty. This movie was very popular at the box office.

In 1996, Russo played a psychologist in the romantic comedy Tin Cup with Kevin Costner. She also reunited with Mel Gibson in the crime thriller Ransom. While Tin Cup did well, Ransom was a huge hit, earning over $300 million worldwide.

In 1997, Russo appeared in the comedy Buddy. In 1998, she played Lorna Cole again in Lethal Weapon 4, the last movie in the series. In 1999, she starred with Pierce Brosnan in the heist film The Thomas Crown Affair. Critics praised her performance in this movie, which also earned a lot of money.

Movies in the 2000s

In 2000, Russo played the villain Natasha Fatale in the adventure comedy The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle. This movie was based on the famous cartoon. She was nominated for both a Saturn Award and a Razzie Award for her role.

She worked with Robert De Niro again in the 2002 comedy Showtime, also starring Eddie Murphy. In the same year, she appeared in the comedy Big Trouble. This film's release was delayed due to the events of September 11, 2001, and it didn't do well at the box office.

In 2005, Russo starred in and produced Two for the Money with Al Pacino and Matthew McConaughey. She played the wife of a sports gambling agent. Also in 2005, Russo starred with Dennis Quaid in Yours, Mine & Ours. She played a widowed handbag designer with ten children. This movie was a commercial success, even though critics didn't love it. After this film, Russo took a five-year break from acting to focus on her health and personal life.

Return to Acting in the 2010s

Russo at the premiere of Thor in May 2011

Rene Russo returned to acting in 2010. She was convinced by director Kenneth Branagh to play Frigga, the mother of the superhero Thor, in the 2011 film Thor. Many of her scenes were cut from the first movie, but she had more screen time in Thor: The Dark World (2013). These Thor films were very successful and introduced her to a new generation of fans. She said, "The funny thing is now I have kids coming up to me, and I'm thinking, 'how do you know my movies?' And they say, 'That's Thor's mummy'."

In 2014, Russo starred in the crime thriller Nightcrawler with Jake Gyllenhaal. Her husband, Dan Gilroy, wrote and directed the film. The movie received great reviews, and many critics called it one of the best films of 2014. Russo's performance was highly praised, with one critic saying it was "easily her finest in several years."

In 2015, Russo played a groupie in the independent comedy Frank and Cindy. She also reunited with Robert De Niro in the comedy The Intern. She played a massage therapist and his love interest. This film was a global success. In 2017, Russo starred with Morgan Freeman and Tommy Lee Jones in the comedy Just Getting Started.

In 2019, Russo worked again with Jake Gyllenhaal and Dan Gilroy in Velvet Buzzsaw. She played a tough art gallery owner. This film was released by Netflix and received positive reviews. She also briefly appeared as Frigga again in Avengers: Endgame.

Personal Life

Rene Russo married screenwriter Dan Gilroy on March 14, 1992. They met while working on the movie Freejack in 1992. They have one daughter named Rose, who has also tried modeling. The family lives in Brentwood, Los Angeles.

In 2014, Rene Russo shared on The Queen Latifah Show that she has faced a health condition since childhood. She decided to start taking medication for it after a difficult time.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

Rene Russo has been recognized for her acting with several awards and nominations.

See also

In Spanish: Rene Russo para niños

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