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Gianni Russo

Gianni Russo

Actor, also producer and writer · Born December 12, 1943 (82) · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

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

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 12, 1943 (82)
From
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer and writer
Titles
35 on MovieCove · 55 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 27% in 30 days

What are Gianni Russo's films like?

Across their 10 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Power and Self.

Genres

Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 10th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Power
28%
Self
22%
Bonds
16%
Ideas
13%
Survival
9%
Morality
8%
Society
4%
Corruption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themePower2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 10 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 4 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 2 · Charged 4 · Intense 4

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 1 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 4

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 6 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 7 · Affecting 1 · Heavy 2

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 7 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles
Ally
1 of 4
Mentor
1 of 4
Herald
1 of 4
Threshold guardian
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
9
Absurd
4
Melancholic
3
Dread
2
Warm
1
Other
5

How their films linger

Unsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Gianni Russo's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 30 of their 35 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (16).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Gianni Russo's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

55 credits, 35 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Ennio(2021)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Con Man(2018)

    as Derek Lewis

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Send No Flowers(2013)

    as Johnny Pisano

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Prison Break(2005)

    Show 3 episodes · as Smallhouse

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • After the Sunset(2004)

    as Clippers Fan

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Seabiscuit(2003)

    as Alberto Gianini

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Forbidden Grass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director

  • Red Dragon(2002)

    as Newsie

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Rosy-Fingered Dawn: a Film on Terrence Malick(2002)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Rush Hour 2(2001)

    as Red Dragon Pit Boss

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Harvard Man(2001)

    as Andrew Bandolini

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • 3000 Miles to Graceland(2001)

    as Money Cart Guard

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Rope Art (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Actor

  • The Family Man(2000)

    as Nick

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Strong Medicine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Any Given Sunday(1999)

    as Christina's Advisor

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Crossing Paths (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Howard Thomas

  • Pacific Palisades (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 7 episodes · as Frank Nichols

  • Striptease(1996)

    as Willy Rojo

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • For Which He Stands(1996)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Kill Shot(2000)

    Producer · Writer · as Jake Mondello

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Super Mario Bros.(1993)

    as Scapelli

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Walker, Texas Ranger(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Morris Foley

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Carlo Rizzi

  • Renegade(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Don Carmine Bendetti

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • The Hat Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Fortunata

  • Stay Tuned(1992)

    as Guido

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Fashion(1991)

    as Marco Sabatini

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Another You(1991)

    as Carlos

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Silverfox (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Klaus Gerhardt

  • The Great Pretender (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Davey Desapio

  • Out for Justice(1991)

    as Sammy

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Freshman(1990)

    as Maitre D’ Gourmet Club

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Side Out(1990)

    as Dick Sydney

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Max Monroe: Loose Cannon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Ray Dominick

  • Hardball (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Chances Are(1989)

    as Anthony Bonino

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Jake and the Fatman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Wiseguy(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Wiseguy: Pilot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as David 'Dave' Steelgrave

  • Hunter(1984)

    Show 2 episodes · as Tony Rondino

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Winter Kills(1979)

    as Co-Pilot

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Laserblast(1978)

    as Tony Craig

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 4 episodes · as Carlo Rizzi (uncredited)

  • The Four Deuces(1975)

    as Chip Morono - the 'Deuce of Clubs'

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Lepke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Albert Anastasia

  • The Slight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Salvatore Mannino (as Luis Vito Russo)

  • The Godfather Part II(1974)

    as Carlo Rizzi

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Rockford Files(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Gianni Tedesco · as Johnny Bongard

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Russ Barton

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Toma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Bait (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Gianni Ruggeri

  • Goodnight, My Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Michael Tarlow

  • The Godfather(1972)

    as Carlo Rizzi

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • 7 anniversari (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 54 titles, 53 of them dated from 1972 to 2022; peak year 2000.

Biggest box office

The Godfather (1972)

$251M worldwide

Highest rated

The Godfather (1972)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

19722022

Peak 2000 · steadily prominent in film for years. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting50 of 54: 49 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score49thDirecting1 of 54: 1 only directing, 0 with another roleWriting1 of 54: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing2 of 54: 2 only producing, 0 with another roleEditing1 of 54: 1 only editing, 0 with another role

By decade

1970s13 · acting1980s6 · acting1990s19 · 19 acting · 1 crew2000s12 · 10 acting · 2 crew2010s2 · acting2020s1 · crew

Billing

usually 19th · top billed in 0% of 18 roles
7292

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Gianni Russo's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 48th percentile, the median of all 28; across their 10 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 21st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

21stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Approval · how many liked their films

16thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Reach · how many have seen their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Midcredits score across 35 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 35 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser13
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · actor

Send No Flowers (2013)

94th percentile spread · 37% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Godfather (1972)

Midcredits 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the acting 55/100 in their films, across 9 reviewed titles; fans 70, detractors 30. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Gianni Russo's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, 1 of the 4 categories sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 57 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles39–60 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 42 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 63 · intenseMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Gianni Russo work with?

People who share at least 2 of Gianni Russo's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Nelson McCormick shares the most, 2.

Directors

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers