Tim Russ, born June 22, 1956, in Washington, D.C., is an American actor,
musician, director, and screenwriter best known for portraying Lieutenant
Commander Tuvok in Star Trek: Voyager. His career spans film, television,
theater, and music, making him a versatile entertainer.
Russ grew up in a
military family, moving frequently due to his father’s U.S. Air Force career. He
attended Rome Free Academy in New York and later earned a degree in Theater Arts
from St. Edward’s University. He also studied at Illinois State University,
where he was inducted into its Hall of Fame.
His acting career began in
1985, with roles in The Twilight Zone, Spaceballs, Death Wish 4, and Roots: The
Gift. He appeared in Star Trek: The Next Generation (Starship Mine, 1993) and
Deep Space Nine (Invasive Procedures, 1993) before landing the role of Tuvok in
Voyager (1995–2001). He later reprised Tuvok in Star Trek: Picard (2023).
Beyond Star Trek, Russ starred in The Highwayman, iCarly, The Rookie: Feds,
and Live Free or Die Hard. He has directed Star Trek: Of Gods and Men and voiced
characters in Star Trek: Elite Force II.
Russ is also a musician,
releasing albums such as Kushangaza and Brave New World. He is an amateur
astronomer, contributing to NASA’s asteroid detection programs.