William Russ


William Russ is an American actor and television director. He played Alan Matthews on the sitcom Boy Meets World and appeared in the television series Wiseguy, the soap operas Another World and The Young and the Restless and the feature films The Right Stuff, Pastime and American History X.

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 . 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, a television film also starring Academy Award winning actress Joanne Woodward, The Border, The Right Stuff as Slick Goodlin, St. Elsewhere and Crime Story.
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 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.
In 2014, Russ reprised his role of Alan Matthews from Boy Meets World on its spinoff Girl Meets World. In season 2, he joined the production crew, and directed one episode, being the only cast member to direct episodes of both Boy Meets World and Girl Meets World.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1978Another WorldBurt McGowanUnknown episodes
1981Crisis at Central HighJ.O. PowellTV movie
1982CBS LibraryRattlesnakeEpisode: "Robbers, Rooftops and Witches"
1982Rehearsal for MurderFrank HellerTV movie
1982The Dukes of HazzardJosh ScrogginsEpisode: "The New Dukes"
1983Remington SteeleChance McCormickEpisode: "Steele's Gold"
1983VBradTV miniseries
1985RiptideMack McPhersonEpisode: "Polly Want an Explanation"
1985Miami ViceEvan FreedEpisode: "Evan"
1985HunterJack LachmanEpisode: "Fire Man"
1985Command 5J.D. SmithTV movie
1985The Long Hot SummerJody VarnerTV movie
1986St. ElsewherePatrick O'CaseyEpisodes: "Time Heals ", "Time Heals "
1986Blood & OrchidsLloyd MurdochTV movie
1986Second ServeJoshTV movie
1986Houston: The Legend of TexasWilliam TravisTV movie
1986Crime StoryDet. Wes ConnellyEpisodes: "Pilot ", "Pilot ", "Crime Pays"
1987Tour of DutySgt. Early Ray MichaelsEpisode: "War Lover"
1988The LonerJake WilisTV movie
1988–1990WiseguyRoger Lococco14 episodes
1989Nasty BoysBen FarlowTV movie
1990Capital NewsRedmond Dunne13 episodes
1990A Promise to KeepCarlTV movie
1991Gabriel's FireBrad FixxEpisode: "Truth and Consequences"
1991The Young RidersRogerEpisode: "Daisy"
1991Crazy From the HeartDewey WhitcombTV movie
1992Bad City StoryJim MaloneUnsold TV pilot
1992Drive Like LightningBoll DonnerTV movie
1992Middle AgesTerry3 episodes
1993The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.Jack RandolphEpisode: "Socrates' Sister"
1993CBS Schoolbreak SpecialCoach Jim DoaneEpisode: "Other Mothers"
1993seaQuest DSVRusty ThomasEpisode: "Brothers and Sisters"
1993–2000Boy Meets WorldAlan MatthewsMain role, 120 episodes, Directed 9 Episodes
1994ViperMr. TownsendEpisode: Pilot
1995'Bill WestTV movie
1995The MarshalLoyal TruscottEpisode: "Pilot"
1995LegendWild Bill HickokEpisode: "The Life, Death, and Life of Wild Bill Hickok"
1995Trail of TearsDavidTV movie
1996Have You Seen My SonVan SteinTV movie
1996A Husband, a Wife and a LoverArt MaskinTV movie
1996Nash BridgesScott Lamont/"The Monk"Episode: "Trackdown"
1997Night SinsSheriff SteigerTV miniseries
1997Stargate SG-1Capt. Jonas HansenEpisode: "The First Commandment"
1999A Secret LifeMark WhitmanTV movie
1999Replacing DadGeorge MarshTV movie
1999'Joseph BonaduceTV movie
2000Ally McBealMichael BassettEpisodes: "Two's a Crowd", "Without a Net"
2000Level 9Agent ColterEpisode: "A Price to Pay"
2001Touched by an AngelProf. Thomas NorthEpisode: "Holy of Holies"
2002The DivisionJesse WhalenEpisode: "Shelby"
2002Crossing JordanD.A. Jack OlsonEpisode: "There's No Place Like Home"
2002MDsJames WilesEpisode: "A La Casa"
2002Robbery Homicide DivisionElliot AyersEpisode: "City of Strivers"
2003Mister SterlingTommy DoyleMain role, 10 episodes
2003'Ted ParisEpisode: "Redemption"
2003The Brotherhood of Poland, New HampshireRev. DeekerEpisode: "Sleeping Lions"
2003Finding John ChristmasHank McAllisterTV movie
2004Silver LakePhil PattersonTV movie
2004DeadwoodOtis RussellEpisodes: "Jewel's Boot Is Made for Walking", "Sold Under Sin"
2004'Mr. PrescottEpisode: ""
2004JAGMaj. Gen. Earl WatsonEpisodes: "Fighting Words", "This Just In from Baghdad"
2004NYPD BlueHal MathesonEpisode: "I Love My Wives, But Oh You Kid"
2005The West WingDanEpisode: "Message of the Week"
2005Without a TraceMax CassidyEpisode: "Freefall"
2005–2008Boston LegalA.D.A Christopher Palmer5 episodes
2006The SopranosPaul CalvianoEpisode: "Moe n' Joe"
2006Just LegalBartenderEpisode: "The Bar"
2006ReunionCongress ClarkEpisodes: "1995", "1996"
2007DemonsSenator CarneyUnsold TV pilot
2007Ghost WhispererBill BristowEpisode: :Dead to Rights"
2007Numb3rsMichael ShannonEpisode: "Money for Nothing"
2007StandoffWarren KeeganEpisode: "Road Trip"
2007Jonah QuinnEpisode: ""
2008WildfireCongressman Dean NicholsEpisode: "The More Things Change ", "The More Things Change ", "Friendship/Passion"
2008The Ex ListJimmy BloomRecurring role, 9 episodes
2009The MentalistDooley GerberEpisode: "Black Gold and Red Blood"
2009–2010The Young and the RestlessTucker McCall
2010Cold CaseTim HudsonEpisode: "The Last Drive-In"
2011Home At LastBobEpisodes 1–6
201190210Salty's Place ownerEpisode: "Up in Smoke"
2011LeverageMorris BeckEpisode: "The 10 Li'l Grifters Job"
2012Criminal MindsDonald CollinsEpisode: "A Family Affair"
2012AwakeJim MayhewEpisode: "Guilty"
2012NCISPhillip WickesEpisode: "The Tell"
2014–2017Girl Meets WorldAlan MatthewsEpisodes: "Girl Meets Home for the Holidays", "Girl Meets Goodbye"
2015ScandalFrank HollandEpisode: "Even the Devil Deserves a Second Chance"
2017ColonyHennessey3 episodes
2018BoschCaptain Garwood3 episodes
20199-1-1Chuck2 episodes

Awards and nominations

Independent Spirit Awards