Tim Russ stars as Tuvok, a Vulcan who serves as the Tactical/Security Officer aboard the U.S.S. Voyager in Paramount Network Television’s STAR TREK: VOYAGER. While Voyager treks through the uncharted Delta Quadrant, Tuvok’s powerful combination of wisdom, experience and physical skills make him a valued crew member.
Born into a military family in Washington, D.C., Russ was raised on Air Force bases around the world. He and his younger brother and sister spent time in Asia and the Middle East before his family settled in Sacramento, California. Russ feels there is a direct correlation between growing up in a military family and being an actor; he says, “each has elements of insecurity; each makes you adapt to change; and both are unpredictable by nature.”
His first professional job came while he was at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, when he appeared in a PBS Masterpiece Theatre production. But it wasn’t until 1985, eight years later, that he began to work full time at his craft. While his efforts have been split equally between film, television and stage, his most memorable roles to date have been in television.
Russ starred as Sam Jones’ computer-whiz compadre in the NBC primetime series “The Highwayman,” and as the Answering Machine Guy in the NBC comedy “The People Next Door.” This role found him playing an annoying alter-ego character who resided in series star Jeffrey Jones’ answering machine. In addition, he had a recurring role in the syndicated drama “Arresting Behavior,” which was loosely based on the reality program “Cops,” and made guest appearances in “Freddy’s Nightmares” with Robert Englund and the NBC pilot “Journey To The Center Of The Earth.”
Russ had a long history with Star Trek even before landing the role of Tuvok. He played a humanoid terrorist in an episode of “Star Trek: The Next Generation;” he appeared as T’Kar, a Klingon mercenary, in “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine;” and as a Starfleet tactical officer in the 1994 feature film “Star Trek: Generations.” In addition, Russ recently directed his first episode of VOYAGER, #191, “Living Witness.”
Russ is a veteran of the stage as well, having appeared in numerous roles across the country. Most recently, he starred in an updated version of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” which was staged at the CBS/MTM studios. He received the NAACP Image Award for his portrayal of dual roles as “prisoner” and “high priest” in the Los Angeles Theater Center production of “Barrabas.” Russ has also appeared in productions of “Dream Girls” at L.A.’s Shubert Theater, “As You Like It,” “Twelfth Night,” “Macbeth” and “Cave Dwellers.”
When not acting, he finds time to indulge his other passions - music and film production. Russ co-wrote and produced the independent feature film “East of Hope Street,” which recently won Best Urban Drama at the New York Independent Film & Video Festival and Best Feature Film at the New Orleans Urban Film Festival. An accomplished guitarist and vocalist, he has performed in a number of bands and stage productions during the past 20 years. In addition, a public service announcement he wrote called “The Zone” won the Sony Innovators Award.
