William Russ

William Hardy Russ IV is an American actor and television director. He is perhaps best known for his role as Alan Matthews in the sitcom Boy Meets World (1993–2000). Russ is also notable for his roles in the television series Wiseguy, the soap operas Another World and The Young and the Restless, and the feature films Pastime (1991) and American History X (1998). He stands at 6’1”.
==Life and career==
===Early life===
Russ was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, and is the son of a naval officer. He attended the University of Michigan, where he was a member of the Michigan Cheer team, which was all male at the time. He was also a diver at U of M.
===Career===
Russ' acting first began on the New York stage before he embarked onto a television and film career. In 1977, he had his first supporting role in Death Bed: The Bed That Eats. This film would not be officially released until 2003.
During the 1980s, Russ found work in more supporting roles, such as Crisis at Central High (1981), a television film also starring Academy Award winning actress Joanne Woodward, The Border (1981), The Right Stuff (1983) as Slick Goodlin, St. Elsewhere (1986), and Crime Story (1986). He continued finding work in both television and film. He also guest-starred in the television series Miami Vice in the 1985 episode "Evan" as the title character, an ATF agent who shared a history with Don Johnson's character, Sonny Crockett. He made fourteen appearances on the 1987-1990 crime drama Wiseguy as Roger Lococco.
Russ received critical acclaim when he starred in Pastime (1991) as Roy Dean Bream, a veteran minor league hurler who mentors a young phenomenon. The role earned him a nomination at the 1992 Independent Spirit Awards for "Best Male Lead."
In 1993, he was cast as Alan Matthews on the television sitcom Boy Meets World. Russ played this role until the series ended in 2000. Russ also directed several episodes of the series during the last three seasons. His other television directing credits include directing one episode of both Lizzie McGuire and Rude Awakening.
However, he continued performing in other series and films throughout his time on Boy Meets World, primarily television films. In 1998, he performed as Danny and Derek Vinyard's father in the critically acclaimed American History X. Later, he starred in the short-lived television serial drama Mister Sterling.
In fall 2009, it was announced that Russ would be cast as the new character Tucker on The Young and the Restless. Russ' time on the show was short, however, as it has been announced the role of Tucker was being recast with Stephen Nichols replacing Russ in the role.
Russ is the star of the comedy web series Home at Last. In the series, he portrays "Bob", a homeless man who moves in with the son he abandoned at birth.
===Personal life===
Russ is married to actress Clare Wren and has a daughter and son. He enjoys downhill skiing and windsurfing.
==Filmography==
Film
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes
1977	Death Bed: The Bed That Eats 	Sharon's Brother 	
1979	Just You and Me, Kid 	Demesta 	
1980	Cruising 	Paul Gaines 	
1981	Cattle Annie and Little Britches 	Little Dick Raidler 	
1982	The Border 	Jimbo 	
1983	The Right Stuff 	Slick Goodlin 	
1984	Courage 	Sonny 	
1985	Beer 	Merle Draggett 	
1987	Wanted: Dead or Alive 	Danny Quintz 	
1987	Dead of Winter 	Rob Sweeney 	
1988	The Unholy 	Luke 	
1989	Disorganized Crime 	Nick Bartkowski 	
1991	Pastime 	Roy Dean Bream 	
1992	Traces of Red 	Michael Dobson 	
1993	Aspen Extreme 	Dave Ritchie 	
1997	When Danger Follows You Home 	Det. Tyler Barnes 	
1998	American History X 	Dennis Vinyard 	
2001	Buck Naked Arson 	Ranger Lightcap 	
2001	Life as a House 	 	Uncredited Role
2009	Gary's Walk 	Vernon 	
2009	Pawn 	Justin Elliot Randolph	Short film
2009	A Fork in the Road 	Det. Ross 	
2010	1,001 Ways to Enjoy the Missionary Position	Evan 	post-production
2010	Green Guys 	Peter Donnelly 	post-production
Television
Year 	Title 	Role 	Notes
1977–1978	Another World 	Burt McGowan 	
1981 	Crisis at Central High 	J.O. Powell 	TV-Movie
1982 	CBS Library 	Rattlesnake 	Episode: Robbers, Rooftops and Witches
1982 	Rehearsal for Murder 	Frank Heller 	TV-Movie
1982 	The Dukes of Hazzard 	Scroggins 	Episode: The New Dukes
1983 	Remington Steele 	Chance McCormick 	Episode: Steele's Gold
1983 	V 	Brad 	Miniseries
1985 	Riptide 	Mack McPherson 	Episode: Polly Want an Explanation
1985 	Miami Vice 	Evan Freed 	Episode: Evan
1985 	Hunter 	Jack Lachman 	Episode: Fire Man
1985 	Command 5 	J.D. Smith 	TV-Movie
1985 	The Long Hot Summer 	Jody Varner 	TV-Movie
1986 	St. Elsewhere 	Patrick O'Casey 	Episode: Time Heals (1)Episode: Time Heals (2)
1986 	Blood & Orchids 	Lloyd Murdoch 	TV-Movie
1986 	Second Serve 	Josh 	TV-Movie
1986 	Houston: The Legend of Texas 	William Travis 	TV-Movie
1986 	Crime Story 	Det. Wes Connelly 	Episode: Pilot (1)Episode: Pilot (2)Episode: Crime Pays
1987 	Tour of Duty 	Sgt. Early Ray Michaels 	Episode: War Lover
1988 	The Loner 	Jake Wilis 	
1988–1990	Wiseguy 	Roger Lococco 	
1989 	Nasty Boys 	Ben Farlow 	TV-Movie
1990 	Capital News 	Redmond Dunne 	
1990 	A Promise to Keep 	Carl 	TV-Movie
1991 	Gabriel's Fire 	Brad Fixx 	Episode: Truth and Consequences
1991 	The Young Riders 	 	Episode: Daisy
1991 	Crazy From the Heart 	Dewey Whitcomb 	TV-Movie
1992 	Bad City Story 	Jim Malone 	Unsold TV-Pilot
1992 	Drive Like Lightning 	Boll Donner 	TV-Movie
1992 	Middle Ages 	Terry 	
1993 	The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. 	Jack Randolph 	Episode: Socrates' Sister
1993 	CBS Schoolbreak Special 	Coach Jim Doane 	Episode: Other Mothers
1993 	seaQuest DSV 	Rusty Thomas 	Episode: Brothers and Sisters
1993–2000	Boy Meets World 	Alan Matthews 	120 episodes
1994 	Viper 	Mr. Townsend 	Episode: Pilot
1995 	Big Dreams and Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story	Bill West 	TV-Movie
1995 	The Marshal 	Loyal Truscott 	Episode: Pilot
1995 	Legend 	Wild Bill Hickok 	Episode: The Life, Death, and Life of Wild Bill Hickok
1995 	Trail of Tears 	David 	TV-Movie
1996 	Have You Seen My Son 	Van Stein 	TV-Movie
1996 	A Husband, a Wife and a Lover 	Art Maskin 	TV-Movie
1996 	Nash Bridges 	Scott Lamont/"The Monk" 	Episode: Trackdown
1997 	Night Sins 	Sheriff Steiger 	Miniseries
1997 	Stargate SG-1 	Capt. Jonas Hansen 	Episode: The First Commandment
1999 	A Secret Life 	Mark Whitman 	TV-Movie
1999 	Replacing Dad 	George Marsh 	TV-Movie
1999 	Come On, Get Happy: The Partridge Family Story 	Joseph Bonaduce 	TV-Movie
2000 	Ally McBeal 	Michael Bassett 	Episode: Two's a CrowdEpisode: Without a Net
2000 	Level 9 	Agent Colter 	Episode: A Price to Pay
2001 	Touched by an Angel 	Prof. Thomas North 	Episode: Holy of Hollies
2002 	The Division 	Jesse Whalen 	Episode: Shelby
2002 	Crossing Jordan 	D.A. Jack Olson 	Episode: There's No Place Like Home
2002 	MD's 	James Wiles 	Episode: A La Casa
2002 	Robbery Homicide Division 	Elliot Ayers 	Episode: City of Strivers
2003 	Mister Sterling 	Tommy Doyle 	9 episodes
2003 	Dragnet 	Ted Paris 	Episode: Redemption
2003 	The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire 	Rev. Deeker 	Episode: Sleeping Lions
2003 	Finding John Christmas 	Hank McAllister 	TV-Movie
2004 	Silver Lake 	Phil Patterson 	TV-Movie
2004 	Deadwood 	Otis Russell 	Episode: Jewel's Boot Is Made for WalkingEpisode: Sold Under Sin
2004 	CSI: NY 	Mr. Prescott 	Episode: Creatures of the Night
2004 	JAG 	Maj. Gen. Earl Watson 	Episode: Fighting WordsEpisode: This Just in from Baghdad
2004 	NYPD Blue 	Hal Matheson 	Episode: I Love My Wives, But Oh You Kid
2005 	The West Wing 	Dan 	Episode: Message of the Week
2005 	Without a Trace 	Max Cassidy 	Episode: Freefall
2005–2008	Boston Legal 	A.D.A Christopher Palmer	5 episodes
2006 	The Sopranos 	Paul Calviano 	Episode: Moe n' Joe
2006 	Just Legal 	Bartender 	Episode: The Bar
2006 	Reunion 	Congress Clark 	Episode: 1995Episode: 1996
2007 	Demons 	Senator Carney 	Unsold TV-Pilot
2007 	Ghost Whisperer 	Bill Bristow 	Episode: Dead to Rights
2007 	Numb3rs 	Michael Shannon 	Episode: Money for Nothing
2007 	Standoff 	Warren Keegan 	Episode: Road Trip
2007 	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 	Jonah Quinn 	Episode: The Case of the Cross-Dressing Carp
2008 	Wildfire 	Congressman Dean Nichols	Episode: The More Things Change (1)Episode: The More Things Change (2)Episode: Friendship/Passion
2008 	The Ex List 	Jimmy Bloom 	6 episodes
2009 	The Mentalist 	Dooley Gerber 	Episode: Black Gold and Red Blood
2009–2010	The Young and the Restless 	Tucker McCall 	
2010 	Cold Case 	Tim Hudson 	Season 7, Episode 18
2011 	Home At Last 	Bob 	Episodes 1-6
2011 	90210 	Salty's Place owner 	Episode: "Up in Smoke"
2011 	Leverage 	Morris Beck 	Episode: "The Ten Li'l Grifters Job"
2012 	Criminal Minds 	Donald Collins 	Episode: "A Family Affair"
2012 	Awake 	Jim Mayhew 	Episode: "Guilty"
2012 	NCIS 	Phillip Wickes 	Episode: "The Tell"
2014 	Girl Meets World 	Alan Matthews 	Episode: holiday episode
==Awards and nominations==
Independent Spirit Awards
*1992: Nominated, "Best Male Lead" - Pastime
==References==
==External links==
*
*Home at Last
*
Category:Actors
Category:Males
Category:People from Virginia
Category:Boy Meets World
Category:1950s births
Category:ABC
Category:Girl Meets World
Category:Disney Channel Actors and Actresses
Category:Directors
Category:Touchstone Pictures
Category:Hollywood Pictures
Category:American people
Category:Touchstone Television