Leon Russom

Probably best known now as the Malibu police chief in the Coen Brothers’ THE BIG LEBOWSKI and the villain Padman (General Jonathan Kranz) on PRISON BREAK, Leon Russom over a fifty-five year career has appeared in more than two plays, a thousand television shows, and thirty-eight feature films. Born in Arkansas, Mr Russom trained at the Drama Centre London. Based in New York, he debuted in CYRANO DE BERGERAC with the Lincoln Center Repertory, then acted in a string of off-Broadway hits, FUTZ!, THE BOYS IN THE BAND, OH! CALCUTTA!, OLD FLAMES, THE NEW YORK IDEA, THE SHADOW OF A GUNMAN, THE SEA GULL. With the New York Shakespeare Festival he appeared in THE WARS OF THE ROSES (Shakespeare’s three Henry VI plays and RICHARD III. For four years he playedWillis Frame on the daytime television series ANOTHER WORLD. Brought to Los Angeles to appear in the feature NO WAY OUT he has remained in LA, acting in the features THE PHANTOM, THE RESCUE, HUCKLEBERRY FINN, and another Coen Brothers’ film TRUE GRIT, among others. On television he starred in a number films (including NO WAY HOME for which he received an Emmy nomination) and a plethora of guest star episodic roles. He is currently focused on Los Angeles vibrant 99 seat theater scene starring in Sam Beckett’s ENDGAME, Sam Sheppard’s BURIED CHILD, for which he received an Ovation (LA’s Tony award) nomination, RICHARD III, HENRY V for which he was also Ovation nominated, Padraic Duffy’s magical PAST TIME, Nate Rufus Edelman’s noir-comedy BRIGHT LIGHT CITY and, most recently KING LEAR. Three ultra-low budget films in which he appears, Gus Krieger’s THE BINDING, Steve Hicks’ FUZZ TRACK CITY and the Nelms brothers’ LOST ON PURPOSE, have recently been released on DVD.