Rene Russo biography 2022
Rene Russo biography
Born on February 17, 1954, in a low-income neighborhood in Burbank, California, USA, Rene was raised by his single mother. Her starving artist father took off when Rene was just 2 years old, leaving his wife and two daughters to fend for themselves.
Rene's current insecurities grew when she was diagnosed with scoliosis (crooked back) at age 10. Not only did she have to wear a cast throughout her growing up because of her back condition, but she was also insecure about her back.
Her nickname, "the Jolly Green Giant," didn't help her ever-present shyness. A loner throughout her school years, Rene dropped out of Burroughs High School in the tenth grade. Not only was she a social outcast, but she also wanted to help her single mother, who already had two jobs to support her family. To ease her mother's financial burden, her position at an eyeglass factory was one of her many full-time jobs.
Rene Russo's luck changed after she attended a Rolling Stones concert. As she left the show (probably looking wide-eyed because of her crush on Mick Jagger), talent scout John Crosby was mesmerized by her beauty and wanted to meet her to take snapshots.
These photos and her encounter with John Crosby are what turned the once awkward girl into a glamorous model, the type of chance encounters supermodels like Claudia Schiffer and Cindy Crawford also experienced. Rene's modeling career began with a move to New York and a contract with the Ford Modeling Agency.
Her first line of work was doing Revlon cosmetics ads, where she remained unsure. Rene soon became the cover girl for fashion magazines such as Vogue and Harper's Bazaar and was one of the top fashion models of the 1970s and early 80s.
When she appeared on the cover of Vogue at 19, Rene's estranged father even tried to get back into her life. Her success led her to buy a house for her mother and one for herself. Having the intelligence to know that a modeling career doesn't last forever, Rene knew she needed a career change when she found herself shooting for a maternity catalog. In the tradition of models turned actresses, such as Cameron Diaz and Kim Basinger, Rene Russo decided to pursue an acting career after a lot of self-examination and becoming a devout Christian.
She reconnected with her former manager John Crosby, who helped launch her acting career. Her first role was a brief stint on the ABC series Sable. As Tom Berenger's wife, she moved to the big screen for the first time in the movie Major League.
Roles as wives of leading men followed in films such as One Good Cop and Mr. Destiny. Her role in the 1992 film Freejack can be considered her life-changing one, as it was here that she met her future husband, Danny Gilroy. Mick Jagger, the former "love of her life," also had a cameo in the film.
Then came the big-budget films. Her role as the kick-boxing detective opposite Mel Gibson opened the door to other significant parts with notable actors.
Roles in "In the Line of Fire" with Clint Eastwood, "Outbreak" with Dustin Hoffman, a comedic turn in "Get Shorty" with John Travolta, and "Tin Cup" with Kevin Costner on her resume.
After reuniting with Mel Gibson in Ransom and Lethal Weapon 4, Rene starred alongside Pierce Brosnan in the remake of The Thomas Crown Affair, the film's only redeeming quality.
Rene can be seen in the summer film The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle with Robert De Niro. She resides with her husband, Danny Gilroy, and their daughter, Rose, in Brentwood, California.
last updated October 2022
