Leo Rossi(II)
- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Personable, dynamic and versatile character actor Leo Rossi has been
working profusely in both movies and TV shows alike from the mid-70s to
the present day. Rossi was born in 1947 in Trenton, New Jersey and grew
up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Leo first began acting in community
theater. Although often cast as mean, loutish and despicable characters
(he's portrayed more than his fair share of made Mafia guys as well as
a substantial number of cops and government agents), Rossi has shown on
many occasions that he can play more appealing and sympathetic roles
with equal skill and conviction. Leo was solid as crass'n'crude sexist
pig "Budd" in Halloween II (1981).
He has appeared in several movies for director
Jonathan Kaplan: he was
excellent as Bonnie Bedelia's character's insecure,
but basically decent husband Jack Muldowney in the wonderful
Heart Like a Wheel (1983) and
memorably chilling as the vile jerk who cheers on
Jodie Foster's barroom rape in the
acclaimed The Accused (1988).
Moreover, Leo has acted in three pictures for director
William Lustig: very likable as antsy mob
witness "Frank DeSalvo" in
Hit List (1989), extremely engaging as
eager beaver rookie homicide detective "Sam Dietz" in
Relentless (1989) (Rossi reprised this
part in three sequels and even co-produced the last two entries), and
really funny as crazed serial killer "Turkell" in
Maniac Cop 2 (1990). More recently,
Rossi had a nice sizable supporting role as
Robert De Niro's evil cousin "Carlo" in
the hit comedy Analyze This (1999).
Among the TV shows Leo Rossi has done guest spots on are
ER (1994),
Frasier (1993),
Murder, She Wrote (1984),
Tour of Duty (1987),
21 Jump Street (1987),
Cagney & Lacey (1981),
T.J. Hooker (1982),
Amazing Stories (1985),
Hunter (1984) and
Hill Street Blues (1981).