Russell Simmons

Characters played by Russell Simmons

Self — Tougher Than Leather (1988)

Mike D appears as himself as a member of the Beastie Boys, who are among the musical performers featured in the film. Their performance is part of the film's musical sequences, which accompany the story of Run-D.M.C.'s effort to find the killer of their friend Runny Ray.

Career Overview

Russell Simmons has 60 screen credits in a career dating back to 1985. Their work spans 5 cinematic universes — most prominently The Black List with 1 titles. Signature works include The Hip Hop Project, Awake: The Life of Yogananda, The Tents. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For: Acting
Gender: male
Known Credits: 60
Birth Date: 1957-10-04
Birth Place: Queens, New York, USA

Known For

Associated Universes

Universe traveler — spans 5 universes

The Black List (1 titles)
Street Fury Collection (1 titles)
Beef Collection (1 titles)
Nutty Professor (1 titles)
The Nutty Professor Collection (1 titles)

Frequent Collaborators

Bruce Willis (1 collaborations)
Doug E. Fresh (1 collaborations)
Sway Calloway (1 collaborations)
Chris ‘Kazi’ Rolle (1 collaborations)
Diana ‘Princess’ Lemon (1 collaborations)
Christopher ‘Cannon’ Mapp (1 collaborations)
Louis Martinez (1 collaborations)
Anupam Kher (1 collaborations)
George Harrison (1 collaborations)
Ravi Shankar (1 collaborations)

Credits

actors (45 credits)
- Robot Dracula
  Russell
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- Sean Combs: The Reckoning
  
  - Pain vs Love (2025) ... Self (archive footage) actor actors
  
  2025
- Beastie Boys Story
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2020
- Undateable John
  Suicide Hotline Operator
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2019
- A Fatherless America
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2019
- ReMastered: Who Killed Jam Master Jay?
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2018
- Survivor's Guide to Prison
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2018
- Feel Rich: Health Is the New Wealth
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2017
- G-Funk
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2017
- On Meditation
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2016
- Vegan: Everyday Stories
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2016
- Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2016
- Unity
  Narrator (voice)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2015
- Awake: The Life of Yogananda
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2014
- Yoga Is: A Transformational Journey
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2012
- The Tents
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2012
- Rappin' With The Rickster
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2010
- Jim Jones - This Is Jim Jones
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2009
- Shooting Star(s): The Rise of Hip Hop Photographer Johnny Nunez
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2009
- 2 Turntables and a Microphone
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2008
- The Black List: Volume One
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2008
- In Prison My Whole Life
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2008
- Def Comedy Jam Classics: Volume Two
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2006
- The Hip Hop Project
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2006
- 9/11/03: A Day in the Life of New York
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2005
- Street Fury: Envy
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2005
- The Colbert Report
  
  - Russell Simmons (2007) ... Self - Guest actor actors
  
  2005
- Run DMC: Forever Kings
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2004
- The L Word
  
  - Light My Fire (2006) ... Self actor actors
  
  2004
- The Celebrity Apprentice
  
  - Tit for Tat (2004) ... actor actors
  
  2004
- Beef
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2003
- Death of a Dynasty
  Self (uncredited)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2003
- Real Time with Bill Maher
  
  - January 21, 2011 (2011) ... Self actor actors
  
  - May 18, 2007 (2007) ... Self actor actors
  
  - March 19, 2004 (2004) ... Self actor actors
  
  2003
- Jimmy Kimmel Live!
  
  - Gary Busey, Russell Simmons, & The Transplants (2005) ... Self - Guest actor actors
  
  2003
- Brown Sugar
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2002
- It's Black Entertainment
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2002
- American Rap Stars
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2002
- Butter
  Celebrity Guest #2
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1998
- Motown 40: The Music Is Forever
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1998
- Moesha
  
  - A Concerted Effort (2) (1996) ... Russell Simmons actor actors
  
  - A Concerted Effort (1) (1996) ... Russell Simmons actor actors
  
  1996
- The Show
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1995
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien
  
  - Heather Graham, Sam Rockwell, Russell Simmons (2003) ... Self - Guest actor actors
  
  1993
- Tougher Than Leather
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1988
- Big Fun in the Big Town
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1986
- Krush Groove
  Crocket
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1985
production (12 credits)
- All Def Comedy
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2016
- ADD Presents: Tyree Elaine
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2016
- ADD Presents: Robert Powell
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2016
- Lemon
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2011
- Waist Deep
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2006
- And You Don't Stop: 30 Years of Hip-Hop
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2004
- How to Be a Player
  producer
  
  production
  
  1997
- Gridlock'd
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  1997
- The Nutty Professor
  producer
  
  production
  
  1996
- The Addiction
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  1995
- Tougher Than Leather
  producer
  
  production
  
  1988
- Krush Groove
  co-producer
  
  production
  
  1985
directing (1 credits)
- The History Makers: Success
  director
  
  directing
  
  2005
writing (2 credits)
- Def Comedy Jam, Vol. 6
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2001
- Def Comedy Jam, Vol. 7
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2000