With a singularly nebulous background, which, by his account, included stints as a Las Vegas nightclub emcee, radio personality, and jewelry tycoon, and comparatively little acting experience, Gianni Russo won the role of Carlo Rizzi in The Godfather (1972) on the basis of his screen test. Since then, Russo has remained busy as an actor, mostly playing assorted "wiseguys" and Mafia types. He was appeared again with Marlon Brando in a small role in The Freshman (1990) in which Brando parodied his Don Corleone role to good effect. IMDb Mini Biography By: Bob Sorrentino

Filmography

• 2022Ennio — Producer
• 2018Con Man — Derek Lewis
• 2013Send No Flowers — Johnny Pisano
• Prison Break — Smallhouse
• 2004After the Sunset — Clippers Fan
• 2003Seabiscuit — Alberto Gianini
• 2002Forbidden Grass — Director
• 2002Red Dragon — Newsie
• 2002Rosy-Fingered Dawn: A Film on Terrence Malick — Editor
• 20013000 Miles to Graceland — Money Cart Guard
• 2001Harvard Man — Andrew Bandolini
• 2001Rush Hour 2 — Red Dragon Pit Boss
• 2000Rope Art
• Strong Medicine
• 2000The Family Man — Nick
• 1999Any Given Sunday — Christina's Advisor
• 1998Crossing Paths — Howard Thomas
• Pacific Palisades — Frank Nichols
• 1996Striptease — Willy Rojo
• 1995Kill Shot — Jake Mondello, Writer
• 1993Super Mario Bros. — Scapelli
• Walker, Texas Ranger — Morris Foley
• Renegade — Don Carmine Bendetti
• 1992Stay Tuned — Guido
• 1992The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980 — Carlo Rizzi
• The Hat Squad — Fortunata
• 1991Another You — Carlos
• 1991Out for Justice — Sammy
• 1991Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Fashion — Marco Sabatini
• 1991Silverfox — Klaus Gerhardt
• 1991The Great Pretender — Davey Desapio
• Max Monroe: Loose Cannon — Ray Dominick
• 1990Side Out — Dick Sydney
• 1990The Freshman — Maitre D’ Gourmet Club
• 1989Chances Are — Anthony Bonino
• Hardball
• Jake and the Fatman
• Wiseguy
• 1987Wiseguy: Pilot — David 'Dave' Steelgrave
• Hunter — Tony Rondino
• 1979Winter Kills — Co-Pilot
• 1978Laserblast — Tony Craig
• Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television — Carlo Rizzi (uncredited)
• 1975Lepke — Albert Anastasia
• 1975The Four Deuces — Chip Morono - the 'Deuce of Clubs'
• 1975The Slight — Salvatore Mannino (as Luis Vito Russo)
• 1974The Godfather Part II — Carlo Rizzi
• The Rockford Files — Johnny Bongard, Gianni Tedesco
• Kojak — Russ Barton
• 1973The Bait — Gianni Ruggeri
• Toma
• 1972Goodnight, My Love — Michael Tarlow
• 1972The Godfather — Carlo Rizzi
• 7 anniversari — Producer

Appearances as themselves (1)

• 2010Mulberry St. — Self