John Theodore Rossi (born June 4, 1975) is an American actor and producer. He portrayed Juan Carlos "Juice" Ortiz on the FX series Sons of Anarchy (2008–2014) and Hernan "Shades" Alvarez in Luke Cage (2016–2018). His film roles include Tino Hull in Red Sands (2009), Todd in Bad Hurt (2015), Francisco "Ghost" Alvarez in Lowriders (2017), Deuce in Vault (2019), and Youcef in Emily the Criminal (2022), the latter of which earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination.
Theo Rossi | |
|---|---|
 Rossi at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con International | |
| Born | John Theodore Rossi June 4, 1975[citation needed] Staten Island, New York City, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University at Albany |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Spouse |
Meghan McDermott (m. 2014) |
| Children | 2 |
Early life edit
Rossi was born in Staten Island, New York City. He is of Italian, Spanish, Lebanese & Syrian descent.[1] Growing up, he loved to ride dirt bikes.[2] He has openly admitted to dealing drugs for years before moving to California.[3] He studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in New York, where he appeared in several theatre productions.[4][5]
Career edit
Rossi played Juan Carlos "Juice" Ortiz on the FX series Sons of Anarchy. His production company, Dos Dudes Pictures, produced its first feature film in 2014, Bad Hurt, Rossi acting alongside Karen Allen and Michael Harney.[6][7]
Rossi has appeared in television shows such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Hawaii Five-O, Las Vegas, The Unit, Jericho, Bones, Without a Trace, Veronica Mars, NYPD Blue, CSI: Miami, Lie to Me and Lost. He has had recurring roles on Heist, American Dreams, and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. His film credits include Cloverfield, Code Breakers, House of the Dead 2: Dead Aim, Red Sands, The Informers, Kill Theory, Fencewalker and Meth Head.
He played Hernan "Shades" Alvarez in Luke Cage from 2016 until 2018.[8]
In 2019, Rossi joined the Advisory Board of the Harlem Film House, which presents the Hip Hop Film Festival, an annual event that focuses on filmmakers from the global culture of hip hop, and promotes financial sustainability for independent filmmakers from marginalized communities.[9][10][11]
Philanthropy edit
Rossi gets involved with the men and women of the military, with fellow Sons of Anarchy actors Kim Coates, Dayton Callie and Ron Perlman.[12] An Ambassador to the Boot Campaign, Rossi works with multiple organizations that raise money for wounded soldiers and those returning with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).[13] Throughout the off-season, Rossi has often traveled to different bases to visit US military personnel.[5] He has helped to organize the yearly Boot Ride event that benefits the Boot Campaign, giving fans a chance to spend a day riding with the Sons of Anarchy cast while raising money for U.S. military veterans.
Shortly after Hurricane Sandy hit Staten Island, Rossi, with friends and family, founded Staten Strong, a program administered by the Boot Campaign.[14][15] Staten Strong rebuilt three homes for Hurricane Sandy victims on Staten Island.[16]
He supports animal welfare and launched a campaign with The Humane Society of the United States to protect street dogs.[17] He appeared in a PETA ad promoting pet adoption.[18]
Personal life edit
Rossi resides in Austin, Texas. He consumes a "mostly plant-based diet" and occasionally consumes eggs.[19] He is married to Meghan McDermott. The couple's first child was born in 2015,[20] and their second in 2017.[21]
Filmography edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | The Myersons | Montilli | 2002 |
| 2003 | The Challenge | Anthony | |
| 2004 | Buds for Life | Teddy | |
| 2005 | House of the Dead 2 | Greg Berlin | |
| 2008 | Cloverfield | Antonio | |
| 2008 | Kill Theory | Carlos | |
| 2009 | The Informers | Spaz | |
| 2009 | Red Sands | Pfc. Tino Hull | |
| 2009 | Space | Mike | Short film |
| 2013 | Meth Head | Carlos | |
| 2016 | Bad Hurt | Todd | Also producer; Sunscreen Film Festival West Award for Best Narrative Feature |
| 2016 | When the Bough Breaks | Mike Mitchell | |
| 2017 | Lowriders | Francisco “Ghost” Alvarez | Nominated – Imagen Award for Best Actor - Feature Film |
| 2019 | Vault | Deuce | |
| 2019 | American Skin | Officer Dominic Reyes | |
| 2019 | Rattlesnake | Billy | |
| 2020 | Ghosts of War | Kirk | |
| 2021 | Army of the Dead | Burt Cummings | |
| 2022 | Emily the Criminal | Youcef | Nominated – Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Performance |
| 2022 | Escape the Field | Tyler | |
| 2022 | Vendetta | Rory Fetter | |
| 2022 | Dear Zoe | Nick DeNunzio | |
| 2023 | Squealer | Danny D. | |
| 2024 | Bosco | Ramos | |
| TBA | Carry-On | Post-production |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–2002 | Boston Public | Brandon Webber | 2 episodes |
| 2002 | Big Shot: Confessions of a Campus Bookie | The Mook | Television film |
| 2002 | Malcolm in the Middle | Senior | Episode: "Humilithon" |
| 2004 | NYPD Blue | Pete Amici | Episode: "Chatty Chatty Bang Bang" |
| 2004 | Medical Investigation | Joe Vasquez | Episode: "Coming Home" |
| 2004 | American Dreams | Bobby Santos | 2 episodes |
| 2005 | Blind Justice | Eric Fitzgerald | Episode: "Rub a Tub Tub" |
| 2005 | Veronica Mars | Norris Clayton | Episode: "Weapons of Class Destruction" |
| 2005 | Code Breakers | Desantis | Television film |
| 2006 | Jane Doe: Yes, I Remember It Well | Antonio Ruiz | Television film |
| 2006 | Without a Trace | Corey Williams | Episode: "Odds or Evens" |
| 2006 | Lost | Sgt. Buccelli | Episode: "One of Them" |
| 2006 | Heist | Vinny Momo | 2 episodes |
| 2006 | The Unit | Mike | Episode: "Unannounced" |
| 2006 | Bones | Nick Arno | Episode: "The Woman in the Sand" |
| 2006 | Jericho | Randy Payton | 2 episodes |
| 2007 | Nurses | Unsold Pilot | |
| 2007 | Shark | Danny Vargas | Episode: "Here Comes the Judge" |
| 2007 | Las Vegas | Jason Scott | 2 episodes |
| 2007 | Grey's Anatomy | Stan Giamatti | 2 episodes |
| 2008–2014 | Sons of Anarchy | Juan Carlos "Juice" Ortiz | Main Role 85 episodes |
| 2009 | Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles | Lieutenant Dietze | 2 episodes |
| 2009 | CSI: Miami | Jimmy Castigan | Episode: "Dissolved" |
| 2010 | Lie To Me | Officer Tressler | Episode: "Teacher and Pupils" |
| 2012 | Hawaii Five-0 | Sal Painter | Episode: "Mai Ka Wa Kahiko" |
| 2012 | Alcatraz | Sonny Burnett | 2 episodes |
| 2013 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Enrique Rodriguez | Episode: "Presumed Guilty" |
| 2016–2018 | Luke Cage | Hernan "Shades" Alvarez | Series Regular |
| 2021 | True Story | Gene | Miniseries |
| 2022 | Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi | Senator Larik | Episode: "Choices" |
| TBA | The Penguin | Upcoming series |
References edit
- ^ "Theo Rossi on Emily the Criminal". Whynow. 2022.
- ^ "Theo Rossi Biography". Tvguide.com. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
- ^ Jim Norton (May 18, 2021). "UFC 262 Recap, Beneil Dariush, Felicia Spencer, actor Theo Rossi, and co-host Phoenix Carnevale" (Podcast).
- ^ "Biography". TheoRossi.com. 2008-11-16. Archived from the original on 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
- ^ a b "Theo Rossi (as Jean Carlos 'Juice' Ortiz) - Cast - Sons Of Anarchy - Shows". TV3. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
- ^ "Tribeca 2015 Interview: Theo Rossi Talks Bad Hurt (Exclusive)". Shockya.com. 2015-05-30. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
- ^ "'Sons of Anarchy' Star Theo Rossi Joins CAA (Exclusive)". Retrieved 2017-10-20.
- ^ "Netflix's "Luke Cage" Adds Rosario Dawson, Theo Rossi". 2 September 2015. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
- ^ Staff, S. B. N. (2019-09-30). "THEO ROSSI & BRUCE COHEN JOIN THE ADVISORY BOARD AT HARLEM FILM HOUSE". Silicon Beach News. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ^ House, Harlem Film (2019-09-17). "THEO ROSSI & BRUCE COHEN JOIN THE ADVISORY BOARD AT HARLEM FILM HOUSE". Medium. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ^ "Harlem Film House Our Team". Harlem Film House. 2020-12-27. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ^ "'Sons of Anarchy's' Ron Perlman, Theo Rossi and Dayton Callie Drop in on Marines and their Families Stationed in California on USO Tour". PRweb.com. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
- ^ "About". Boot Campaign. Archived from the original on 2016-11-05. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
- ^ Driscoll, Bree (29 March 2013). "Actor's 'Staten Strong' Effort Helps Fuel Recovery". NY1. Retrieved 2013-12-05.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Theo Rossi 'Staten Strong' - New York News". Myfoxny.com. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
- ^ Benanti, Carol Ann (8 March 2013). "StatenStrong 'angels' rebuild home for Staten Island Sandy victim". Blog.SILive.com. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
- ^ "Sons of Anarchy Star Theo Rossi Launches Campaign to Protect Street Dogs". Humane Society International. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
- ^ Leanne Aciz Stanton, "Theo Rossi and His Rescue Dog Benito Team Up With PETA to Encourage Pet Adoption". Us Weekly, 19 September 2018.
- ^ "An almost vegan food crawl with Theo Rossi, ‘Emily the Criminal’ star and hummus traditionalist". latimes.com. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
- ^ "Theo Rossi and Wife Meghan McDermott Welcome a Baby Boy!". 8 June 2015.
- ^ "A Second Son! Theo Rossi and Wife Meghan Welcome Arlo Benjamin".
External links edit
- Theo Rossi at IMDb