Today Rene Russo is known more for her work as an actress in the stables of Hollywood. However, that isn’t how she started. The delectable California girl used to work the runways for some big fashion names in her 20s and early 30s. Comb through magazine editions of the likes of Vogue and Cosmopolitan and you’re certain to see some glamorous pictures of the model turned actress in some of those pages.
Russo’s career has seen her appear in a good number of movies, many of them very successful in terms of revenue and feedback. Her first work on the big screen was in the 1989 sitcom Major League. Since then, she has appeared on movies like Lethal Weapon 3 (1992); Lethal Weapon 4 (1998); Yours, Mine, and Ours (2005); and Thor: The Dark World (2013).
Rene Russo’s Bio, Age
Russo’s growing years were less than glamorous. She was born on February 17, 1954, to a couple that worked multiple jobs to make ends meet. Her mother, Shirley Russo worked as a barmaid and a factory worker. Her father, Nino Russo made a living as an auto mechanic and a sculptor. Rene attended Burroughs High School for a while before quitting her education in the tenth grade to help provide for her family.
Her luck began to turn around when she was spotted by a talent agent while attending a Rolling Stones concert in 1972. Soon, she penned a deal with Ford Modeling Agency. During her prime years as a model in the 1970s and early 1980s, she posed for the likes of Mademoiselle, Vogue, and Cosmopolitan as well as for other perfumery and cosmetic brands.
As she moved into her 30s, she made the timely choice of switching interests as her demand as a model was waning. Russo took classes in literature, Christian theology, and theatre and acting and started playing part in small theater productions in her home state. Rene Russo’s first television appearance came in 1987 when she was cast in ABC’s Sable, albeit in a supporting role. She made her feature film debut two years later in Major League and appeared in Mr. Destiny the following year.
As the 90s rolled on, she continued to build her reputation in the industry. This included appearing in her first role as a lead character in the movie One Good Cop (1991), and Freejack (1992), receiving her first Best Supporting Actress nomination for the latter amidst the movie’s overwhelming negative reviews.
Her portrayal of Detective Lorna Cole in 1992’s Lethal Weapon 3 made her into a real Hollywood star. She would reprise the role in the sequel to the movie which was released in 1998.
Besides her acting, Rene Russo has been praised for her ability to hold her own while working alongside her better known male contemporaries. She worked with Clint Eastwood in 1993’s Line of Fire; worked with Dustin Hoffman on Outbreak (1995); and on Tin Cup with Kevin Costner. She rounded up the 90s by playing Catherine Banning alongside Pierce Brosnan in The Thomas Crown Affair.
In the first half of the 2000s, she appeared in exactly five movie projects. These included The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (2000); Big Trouble (2002); Showtime (2002); Yours, Mine, and Ours (2005); and Two for the Money (2005). During this period she was on set with big names like Tim Allen, Robert De Niro, Matthew McConaughey, Al Pacino, and Dennis Quaid.
She then embarked on a six-year hiatus from acting and came back as Frigga, the mother of Thor, in Thor (2011). She reprised the role two years later in Thor: The Dark World. Her other movies since then include Nightcrawler (2014); Frank and Cindy (2015); The Intern (2015); Just Getting Started (2017); and Velvet Buzzsaw (2019).
What Is Her Net Worth?
Rene Russo has appeared in more than a handful of box office successes and bombs alike. However, her reputation speaks for itself and certainly for her net worth too. For her work as a model and an actress, she is valued at a net worth of $40 million.
Rene Russo’s Family: Husband and Daughter
The actress remains one of the few personalities within the entertainment industry that haven’t gone through some form of trauma in her relationship or marriage. Rene Russo got married in her late thirties, at the age of 38. She walked down the aisle with her husband, Dan Gilroy, March 14, 1992. Dan works within the same industry as Rene and makes a living as a screenwriter. Russo met her husband while they were both working on the movie Freejack.
The couple hasn’t experienced any mishaps in their relationship. They have one child, a daughter, Rose, who Rene gave birth to on August 31, 1993.
Body Measurements
The Burbank native is known for being a brunette and having piercing blue eyes. She stands at an average height of 5 feet 8 inches which translates to 1.73 meters. Her constant exercising and yoga also keep her at an athletic weight of 61 kg (135 lb). She has a bust size of 36 inches; waist size of 25 inches; and hip size of 36 inches.
Also Read: Top 10 Richest People in the world with full biography and details.
