Anthony Russo (born February 3, 1970) and Joseph Russo (born July 18, 1971), collectively known as the Russo brothers (/ˈruːsoʊ/ ROO-soh), are American directors, producers, and screenwriters. They direct most of their work together. They are best known for directing four films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU): Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Endgame grossed over $2.798 billion worldwide, briefly becoming the highest-grossing film of all time.
Russo brothers
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Joe (left) and Anthony Russo in 2019
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| Born | Anthony Russo (1970-02-03) February 3, 1970 (age 54) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. Joseph Russo (1971-07-18) July 18, 1971 (age 52) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1997–present |
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The brothers have also worked as directors and producers on the comedy series Arrested Development (2003–2005), Community (2009–2014), and Happy Endings (2011–2012). They won a Primetime Emmy Award for Arrested Development.
Anthony Russo (born February 3, 1970)[1][2] and Joseph Russo (born July 18, 1971)[2][3] were born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, the sons of Patricia Gallupoli and attorney and judge Basil Russo.[4] Their parents are both of Italian descent.[5] Their paternal and maternal families emigrated from Sicily and Abruzzo, respectively, and settled in Ohio.[4] They attended Benedictine High School.[6] Joe graduated from the University of Iowa and majored in English and writing, while Anthony graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and majored in business before switching to English.[7][8][9]
The Russo brothers were graduate students at Case Western Reserve University (where Anthony studied law and Joe studied acting at UEA) when they began directing, writing, and producing their first feature, Pieces. They financed the film with student loans and credit cards.[10] After viewing Pieces at the Slamdance Film Festival, Steven Soderbergh approached the duo and offered to produce their next film, along with his producing partner George Clooney.[10] This project was the crime comedy Welcome to Collinwood, starring William H. Macy, Sam Rockwell, and Clooney.[11]
FX network executive Kevin Reilly hired the Russos to direct the pilot for the series Lucky, having liked the pair's work on Collinwood. Ron Howard was a fan of the pilot, and he had a hand in hiring the brothers to direct the pilot for Fox's Arrested Development.[10]
In 2017, the brothers founded the production company AGBO.[12]
The Russo brothers directed Avengers: Infinity War (2018), which became the first superhero movie to gross over $2 billion at the box office. They are the third directors to make a $2 billion movie after James Cameron's films Avatar and Titanic and J. J. Abrams's film Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Its sequel, Avengers: Endgame, was released on April 26, 2019, broke numerous box office records, and became the second superhero movie to gross over $2 billion.[13] They join James Cameron as the only directors to make two $2 billion films.[14]
The brothers are financing the Los Angeles and Beijing joint-production company Anthem & Song, which is producing the Chinese superhero film The Hero's Awakening.[15][16]
The Russos also served as producers of the film Everything Everywhere All At Once, written and directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert.[17] The film, released in theatres in March 2022, is A24's highest-grossing film worldwide at the box office.[18]
| Year | Title | Directors | Writer(s) | Producers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Pieces[a] | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2002 | Welcome to Collinwood | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2006 | You, Me and Dupree | Yes | No | No |
| 2007 | Crashing | No | No | Executive |
| 2014 | Captain America: The Winter Soldier | Yes | No | No |
| 2014 | A Merry Friggin' Christmas | No | No | Executive |
| 2016 | Captain America: Civil War | Yes | No | No |
| 2018 | Avengers: Infinity War | Yes | No | No |
| 2018 | Dizzy Pursuit | No | No | Executive |
| 2019 | Avengers: Endgame | Yes | No | No |
| 2019 | 21 Bridges | No | No | Yes |
| 2019 | Mosul | No | No | Yes |
| 2019 | Super Me | No | No | Executive |
| 2020 | Extraction | No | Joe Russo | Yes |
| 2020 | Relic | No | No | Executive |
| 2021 | Cherry | Yes | No | Yes |
| 2022 | The Gray Man | Yes | Joe Russo | Yes |
| 2022 | Everything Everywhere All at Once | No | No | Yes |
| 2023 | Extraction 2 | No | Joe Russo | Yes |
| 2023 | All Fun and Games | No | No | Executive |
| 2024 | The Electric State | Yes | No | Yes |
| Year | Title | Director(s) | Executive producer(s) |
Episode(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Lucky | Yes | No | "Pilot", "Up the Streaks" |
| 2003–2005 | Arrested Development | Yes | No |
Episodes
Both: "Pilot"
Anthony only: "Top Banana", "Key Decisions", "The Immaculate Election", "Spring Breakout" Joe only: "Bringing Up Buster", "In God We Trust", "Pier Pressure", "Marta Complex", "Shock and Aww", "Missing Kitty", "Hand to God", "Motherboy XXX", "Meat the Veals" |
| 2004–2005 | LAX | Yes | Yes |
Episodes
Both: "Pilot"
Anthony only: "The Longest Day", "The Pictures to Prove It", "Mixed Signals" Joe only: "Finnegan Again, Begin Again", "Thanksgiving", "Senator's Daughter" 7 episodes |
| 2006 | What About Brian | Yes | No | "Pilot" |
| 2007–2008 | Carpoolers | Yes | Yes |
Episodes
Both: "Pilot"
Anthony only: "The Code", "The Recital" Joe only: "Laird of the Rings", "What Would You Do?", "Down for the Count", "The Seminar", "A Divorce to Remember", "The Handsomest Man", "Lost in America" All episodes |
| 2009 | Comedy Showcase | Yes | No | "The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret" |
| 2009–2014 | Community | Yes | Yes |
Episodes
Both: "Pilot"
Anthony only: "Introduction to Film", "Social Psychology", "Home Economics", "The Politics of Human Sexuality", "Physical Education", "Beginner Pottery", "The Psychology of Letting Go", "Basic Rocket Science", "Asian Population Studies", "Custody Law and Eastern European Diplomacy", "Biology 101", "Competitive Ecology", "Foosball and Nocturnal Vigilantism" Joe only: "Spanish 101", "Advanced Criminal Law", "Football, Feminism and You", "Debate 109", "Investigative Journalism", "Romantic Expressionism", "Pascal's Triangle Revisited", "Anthropology 101", "Accounting for Lawyers", "Cooperative Calligraphy", "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons", "Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking", "Competitive Wine Tasting", "A Fistful of Paintballs", "For a Few Paintballs More", "Geography of Global Conflict", "Advanced Gay", "Documentary Filmmaking: Redux", "Geothermal Escapism", "Advanced Advanced Dungeons & Dragons" 34 episodes |
| 2010 | Running Wilde | Yes | Yes | "Pilot" |
| The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret | Yes | No | Original Comedy Showcase Pilot | |
| 2011–2012 | Happy Endings | Yes | Yes |
Episodes
Both: "Pilot"
Anthony only: "Barefoot Pedaler", "Blax, Snake, Home", "Secrets and Limos" Joe only: "Bo Fight", "Yesandwitch", "The St. Valentine's Day Massacre" 7 episodes |
| Up All Night | Yes | No |
Episodes
Joe only: "Cool Neighbors", "Working Late and Working It", "Day After Valentine's Day"
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| 2012 | Animal Practice | Yes | Yes |
Episodes
Both: "Pilot"
Anthony only: "Clean-Smelling Pirate" Joe only: "Ralphie" 3 episodes |
| 2015 | Agent Carter | Joe Russo | No | Episode: "Bridge and Tunnel" (as Joseph V. Russo) |
| 2019 | Deadly Class | No | Yes | 10 episodes |
| Larry Charles' Dangerous World of Comedy | No | Yes | 4 episodes | |
| 2022-present | From | No | Yes | 20 episodes |
| 2023 | Citadel | No | Yes |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Arrested Development | Joe | Episode "Hand to God" |
| 2006 | You, Me and Dupree | Personal Trainer | |
| 2014 | Captain America: The Winter Soldier | Dr. Fine | |
| 2016 | Captain America: Civil War | Dr. Theo Broussard | |
| 2018 | Avengers: Infinity War | Bert | Deleted scene |
| 2019 | Avengers: Endgame | Grieving Man | Credited as Gozie Agbo |
| Thanos[20] | Additional motion-capture only; uncredited | ||
| 2020 | The Simpsons | Movie Executive (Voice) | Episode "Bart the Bad Guy" |
| 2021 | Cherry | Restaurant Owner | |
| 2022 | The Gray Man | CIA DDO Fine | uncredited |
I was born in February of 1970 and Joe was born in the hood of Brooklyn, New York. I am the top shot.
The Russo and Gallupoli families ... emigrated from the humble villages of Longi and Caccamo, Sicily, and Spoltore, Abruzzo
