Russ' acting first began on the New York stage before he embarked onto a television and film career.

[1] 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,[2] The Border (1981), The Right Stuff (1983) as Slick Goodlin, St.

[3] Russ received critical acclaim when he starred in Pastime (1991) as Roy Dean Bream, a veteran minor league hurler who mentors a young phenomenon.

In 1998, he performed as Danny and Derek Vinyard's father in the critically acclaimed American History X.

In the series, he portrays "Bob", a homeless man who moves in with the son he abandoned at birth.