Tony Russo AKA Russel

Tony Russo

1925 - 2017

Tony Russo aka Tony Russel was born Nov. 23, 1925, in Kenosha Wis., and passed away March 18, 2017, in Las Vegas Nev. He was a former film and stage TV actor. He is noted for having worked in the Italian film industry in the mid-60s and for his work as a voice actor where he was founder and president of English language Dubbers association (ELDA) in Italy. Tony had the privilege of turning down the lead role in A Fistful of Dollars. He developed and interest in acting at an early age and following his honorable discharge from the Army Air Core He took up language, speech, and drama at the University of Wisconsin. He won a best supporting actors award for the role of Eddie Fuseli in a production of "Golden boy" at the university. With that he asked the Government for a transfer to the Pasadena playhouse which they okayed. He graduated from the playhouse in 1952. After the playhouse, Tony got His big break when the film "War is Hell" won an award out of competition at the Cannes film festival in 1961. At that time He became a big hit in Italy. He worked in Italian adventures, crime dramas and spaghetti westerns. After eight years in Italy he went back to Hollywood and became part of the dinner theater circuit, working with actors like John Barrymore, Gene Raymond, Elvis Presley in King Creole , Robert Fuller, Fabian, Richard Egan, Jackie Coogan, June Wilkenson, Virginia Mayo, Lyle Talbot, Carol Lynley and Kathryn Crosby. His last film was "Vegas Strip wars" starring Rock Hudson in 1984. He did the Walt Disney sign of Zorro in which there was three different episodes. Tony and Renee his wife lived a quiet life playing Golf every day and being share holder members of Stallion Mountain and Black Mountain golf courses. Up until three years ago when he took ill and had to stop playing. Among Tony's starring roles are parts of the sci-fi epics Wild Wild Planet in 1965 and its sequel War of the Planets film concurrently in 1971. He worked as big red in the hard ride and starred in soul hustler in 1973. Tony will be missed by many. Services will be held at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nev., on Tuesday March 28, 2017, at 9:20 a.m. Everyone is welcome.



Davis Funeral Home

6200 S. Eastern Avenue

Las Vegas, NV., 89119

702-736-6200