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Frank Grillo

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This article is about the American actor. For the Cuban-American musician "Francisco Grillo", see Machito.

Frank Grillo
Grillo at the premiere of Kingdom in October 2014
Born
Frank Anthony Grillo

(1965-06-08) June 8, 1965 (age 59)
New York City, New York, United States
Alma materNew York University
OccupationActor
Years active1992–present
Spouses
  • Kathy Grillo
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1991; div. 1998)​
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 2000; div. 2020)​
Children3

Frank Anthony Grillo (born June 8, 1965)[1][2] is an American actor and martial artist. He is known for playing Brock Rumlow / Crossbones in three superhero films and one series of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Sergeant Leo Barnes in two action-horror films within The Purge franchise. He has also appeared in Warrior (2011), The Grey (2012), End of Watch (2012), Zero Dark Thirty (2012), Wolf Warrior 2 and Wheelman (both 2017), and Boss Level (2021).

Grillo's television work includes the lead role in Kingdom (2014–2017) and recurring roles in Battery Park (2000), For the People (2002–2003), The Shield (2002–2003), Prison Break (2005–2006), Blind Justice (2005), The Kill Point (2007), and Billions (2020).

Early life

[edit]

Grillo was born in New York City to a working-class Italian-American family of Calabrian origin.[3] He was raised in the Bronx and in Rockland County, New York. Grillo began wrestling at eight years old, and took up boxing at eighteen.[4][5] In 1991, he started practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu, in which he has studied under Rickson Gracie and holds a brown belt.[6] Grillo graduated from New York University with a business degree and spent a year on Wall Street before being asked to do a Miller Genuine Draft beer commercial.[7][8] On the podcast The Fighter and the Kid, he stated that he holds Italian citizenship.[9]

Career

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Grillo (second from right) with his co-stars from Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Grillo started his acting career by appearing in commercials, for companies such as American Express and Sure deodorant. His first film role was in 1992's The Mambo Kings, and he went on to appear in the films Minority Report (2002), April's Shower (2006), and both iMurders and New Line Cinema's Pride and Glory in 2008.[10][11][12]

Grillo was in the 2010 horror film Mother's Day in the role of Daniel Sohapi and the following year, had a supporting role in the 2011 film Warrior as MMA trainer Frank Campana.[11] In 2012, he played Diaz in the survival thriller The Grey with Liam Neeson and as Sarge in End of Watch with Jake Gyllenhaal.[11] In 2013, he starred with Jaimie Alexander in the romantic thriller film Collision and had a bit role in the action film Homefront with Jason Statham.[13]

In 2014, Grillo was cast as HYDRA agent Brock Rumlow in the 2014 film Captain America: The Winter Soldier.[14] The same year, he starred as Sergeant Leo Barnes in the sequel The Purge: Anarchy, and reprised his role in 2016's The Purge: Election Year.[15][16] He also reprised the role of Brock Rumlow/Crossbones in the third installment of the Captain America film series, Civil War, which was released on May 6, 2016.[17]

In October 2013, Grillo started filming for The Crash, starring alongside Academy Award nominee Minnie Driver, Ed Westwick, AnnaSophia Robb, Dianna Agron, John Leguizamo, Mary McCormack, Christopher McDonald and Maggie Q.[18] The film is directed by Aram Rappaport and produced by Hilary Shor, Atit Shah, and Aaron Becker. The Crash was released on January 31, 2017.[19]

In 2015, Grillo starred in the films Demonic and Big Sky.[20][19][21][22] Another film in which he stars, Beyond Skyline, was originally set for release in 2015, and was ultimately released on Netflix in December 2017.[23]

In 2018, Grillo starred opposite Bruce Willis and Johnathon Schaech in the action film Reprisal. Years after its release, the film made it on Netflix's U.S. top five in October 2021.[24]

In 2019, Variety announced that Grillo has signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) for representation.[25]

Grillo produced and starred in Boss Level, which was announced in November 2017 and was originally scheduled to be released by Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures on August 16, 2019, but was delayed. It was subsequently bought by Hulu, which released it on March 5, 2021.[26] He also appeared in the sequel Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard with Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson.[27]

More recently, he has appeared in the films This Is the Night with Naomi Watts, Copshop with Gerard Butler, Ida Red with Melissa Leo, The Yacht with Ruby Rose and A Day to Die with Bruce Willis.[28][29][30][31][32]

Television

[edit]
Nick Jonas, Joanna Going, Matt Lauria, Grillo and Jonathan Tucker at the premiere of the drama series Kingdom in October 2014

Grillo first appeared on television in episodes of Silk Stalkings (1993), and Poltergeist: The Legacy (1996) before being cast as oil tycoon Hart Jessup on the daytime soap opera Guiding Light in 1996 up until 1999.[33] In 2002, he was cast in the series For the People as Det. J.C. Hunter and played Hunter until 2003. One of his more notable television roles was on the crime drama Prison Break where he played Nick Savrinn from 2005 to 2006.[34] During that time, he also appeared on the Blind Justice as Marty Russo.[11]

He was in the first and only season of The Kill Point in 2007, and played the role of Jimmy in the CSI: NY episode "The Things About Heroes," which aired in November 2007.[1][35] In 2010, he starred in the sci-fi series The Gates opposite Marisol Nichols and Rhona Mitra. The series only lasted one season.[36]

Between 2014 and 2017, Grillo starred in the DirecTV drama series Kingdom as MMA coach Alvey Kulina alongside Nick Jonas and Jonathan Tucker.[37]

Grillo was a season 5 regular on the drama series Billions, starring as artist Nico Tanner opposite Damian Lewis and Maggie Siff.[38] He also reprised the role of Crossbones by voicing the character on the Marvel Cinematic Universe animated series What If...[39]

In April 2023, Grillo was officially cast as Rick Flag Sr. in the upcoming Creature Commandos animated series (2024), set within the newly created DC Universe managed by James Gunn and Peter Safran.[40]

Personal life

[edit]

Grillo married his first wife, Kathy, in 1991. They had one son together, born in 1997, and divorced in 1998.[41]

Grillo met actress Wendy Moniz in 1996 on the set of Guiding Light. They were married on October 28, 2000[33] and had two sons together, born in 2004 and 2008.[15][42] They divorced in 2020.[43]

Filmography

[edit]
Grillo at San Diego Comic-Con in 2013

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1992 The Mambo Kings Machito
1993 Deadly Rivals Grogan
1996 Deadly Charades Vince Carlucci
2002 Simplicity General Short
The Sweetest Thing Andy
Minority Report Pre-Crime Cop
Hunter: Return to Justice Detective Terence Gillette TV movie
2003 Hunter: Back in Force Detective Terence Gillette TV movie
April's Shower Rocco
2006 Hollis & Rae Henry Callaway TV movie
2007 Raw Footage Ben Chaffin Short
2008 iMurders Joe Romano
Pride and Glory Eddie Carbone
The Madness of Jane Oliver Cornbluth TV movie
Blue Blood Quarry TV movie
2009 Blue Eyes Bob Estevez
2010 Edge of Darkness Agent One
Mother's Day Daniel Sohapi
My Soul to Take Paterson
2011 Warrior Frank Campana
The Grey John Diaz
2012 Lay the Favorite Frankie
End of Watch Sergeant "Sarge" Daniels
Disconnect Mike
Zero Dark Thirty Red Squadron Commanding Officer
2013 Gangster Squad Russo
Collision Scott Dolan
Mary and Martha Peter TV movie
Homefront Cyrus Hanks
2014 Captain America: The Winter Soldier Brock Rumlow
The Purge: Anarchy Sgt. Leo Barnes
2015 Demonic Mark Lewis
Big Sky Jesse
2016 Captain America: Civil War Brock Rumlow / Crossbones
The Purge: Election Year Sgt. Leo Barnes
2017 The Crash Guy Clifton
Stephanie Eric
Wolf Warrior 2 Big Daddy
Wheelman Wheelman
Beyond Skyline Mark Corley
2018 Reprisal Jacob Video
Donnybrook Chainsaw Angus
2019 Avengers: Endgame Brock Rumlow
Point Blank Abraham "Abe" Guevara
Into the Ashes Sloan
Black and Blue Terry Malone
Hell on the Border Bob Dozier
2020 Boss Level Roy Pulver
Jiu Jitsu Harrigan
2021 No Man's Land Bill Greer
Cosmic Sin Gen. Eron Ryle Video
Body Brokers Vin
Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard Bobby O'Neill
Ida Red Dallas Walker
The Gateway Duke
Copshop Teddy Murretto
This Is the Night Vincent Dedea
2022 Stowaway Meeser [44]
Shattered Sebastian
A Day to Die Capt. Brice Mason
Paradise Highway Dennis [45]
Operation Seawolf Cmdr. Race Ingram [46]
Lamborghini: The Man Behind the Legend Ferruccio Lamborghini [47]
2023 Little Dixie Doc Alexander [48]
The Resurrection of Charles Manson Robert [49]
One Day as a Lion Pauly Russo [50]
Black Lotus Saban [51]
Justice League: Warworld Agent Faraday (voice) [52]
MR-9: Do or Die Roman Ross [53]
King of Killers Jorg Drakos [54]
2024 Lights Out Michael 'Duffy' Duffield [55]
Die Alone Kai
Long Gone Heroes †
Werewolves † Wesley Marshall
Hounds of War † TBA
2025 Superman † Rick Flag Sr.
TBA Hard Matter † Benjamin
Untitled sixth Purge Film † Sgt. Leo Barnes
Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1993 Silk Stalkings Franco LaPuma Episode: "Ladies Night Out"
1996 Poltergeist: The Legacy Jerry Tate Episode: "Ghost in the Road"
1996–99 Guiding Light Hart Jessup Main role
1999 Wasteland Cliff Dobbs Recurring role
2000 Battery Park Anthony Stigliano Main role
2002 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Frank Barbarossa Episode: "Deception"
2002–03 For the People Det. J.C. Hunter Main role
The Shield Officer Paul Jackson Recurring role (Season 1-2)
2003 Karen Sisco Garrison Kick Episode: "Nostalgia"
2004 The District Vince Dymecki Episode: "Breath of Life"
2005 Blind Justice Detective Marty Russo Main role
2005–06 Prison Break Nick Savrinn Recurring role (Season 1)
2006 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Gary Sinclair Episode: "Happenstance"
2007 Without a Trace Neil Rawlings Episode: "Tail Spin"
Las Vegas Jeremy Shapiro Episode: "The Burning Bedouin"
The Kill Point Albert Roman/Mr. Pig Main role
CSI: NY Jimmie Davis Episode: "The Thing About Heroes..."
2009 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Mark Van Kuren Episode: "Transitions"
2010 The Gates Nick Monohan Main role
2011 Breakout Kings Agent Stoltz Episode: "Queen of Hearts"
2014–17 Kingdom Alvey Kulina Main role
2018 FightWorld Himself/Host Main host
2020 Billions Nico Tanner Recurring role (Season 5)
2021–23 What If...? Brock Rumlow (voice) Recurring role (Season 1)
Guest (Season 2)
2023 Paul T. Goldman Dan Hardwick Recurring role[56]
2024 Tulsa King † Bill Bevilaqua Main role (Season 2)
Creature Commandos † Rick Flag Sr. Voice, main role
2025 Peacemaker † Main role (Season 2)
Key
† Denotes series that have not yet been released

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Ryan, Mike (June 16, 2014). "Frank Grillo: On the Verge With 'The Purge: Anarchy' and Returning For 'Captain America 3' Read More: Frank Grillo: On the Verge With 'The Purge: Anarchy' and Returning For 'Captain America 3'". Screen Crush. Retrieved December 31, 2014. SC: You don't look 50. FG: I'm actually not really 50. SC: You aren't? FG: It's OK, I don't mind people saying that I'm 50. But, no, I was born in 1965 and IMDb has 1963. Whatever. I'm still old. I just had a birthday.
  2. ^ Grillo, Frank [@FrankGrillo] (June 8, 2014). "Thanks all for the B-Day wishes. Much love and appreciation!!!" (Tweet). Archived from the original on May 1, 2016 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ "Questions & Answers: April 15, 2006". Frank Grillo's Official Website. April 15, 2006. Archived from the original on December 25, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2012. Yes, I am Italian and that is where my family is from also. In fact many of my relatives still live there. Maybe we are related.
  4. ^ Frank Grillo's Fight Charles Thorp, Men's Journal
  5. ^ Grillo ’Em All: The Rise of a Hollywood Tough Guy Rafe Barthomomew, Grantland (October 8, 2014)
  6. ^ Frank Grillo Is Staying Ripped After 50 Sean Hyson, Muscle & Fitness
  7. ^ Moniz, Jean M. "Biography". Frank-Grillo.com. Frank Grillo's Official Website. Archived from the original on August 29, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
  8. ^ Jacquin, Jeri (January 26, 2012). "FRANK GRILLO: The Grey". Military Press. Archived from the original on February 15, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  9. ^ Schaub, Brendan; Callen, Bryan (October 4, 2017). "The Fighter and The Kid - Episode 298: Frank Grillo". YouTube (Podcast). The Fighter and the Kid. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  10. ^ Southern, Nathan (2015). "Frank Grillo - About This Person". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 2, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  11. ^ a b c d Grierson, Tim (July 16, 2014). "The Long-Delayed Success of Frank Grillo". Backstage. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  12. ^ Buchanan, Jason (2015). "IMurders (2009) Review Summary". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 2, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  13. ^ Longsdorf, Amy (July 12, 2014). "Frank Grillo: from soap fave to leading man". Times Leader. Archived from the original on December 31, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  14. ^ Graser, Marc (October 29, 2012). "Frank Grillo to play Crossbones in 'Captain America' sequel". Variety. Archived from the original on November 1, 2012. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  15. ^ a b Samantha Highfill on (December 18, 2014). "We spend a day with Frank Grillo, Hollywood's one-two punch". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  16. ^ Frank Grillo Returning For Another ‘Purge’!
  17. ^ Highfill, Samantha (November 24, 2014). "Frank Grillo talks Crossbones' return in 'Captain America: Civil War'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  18. ^ Kroll, Justin (October 29, 2013). "'The Butler' Producer Sets up Next Pic Starring Frank Grillo and Minnie Driver (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  19. ^ a b Kroll, Justin (October 29, 2013). "'The Butler' Producer Sets up Next Pic Starring Frank Grillo and Minnie Driver (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  20. ^ Nemiroff, Perri (June 14, 2014). "Frank Grillo Talks KINGDOM, His Involvement in THE RAID Remake, the Potential for More Rumlow / Crossbones in CAPTAIN AMERICA 3, and More". Collider. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  21. ^ Lang, Brent (November 7, 2014). "Frank Grillo to Star in 'Beyond Skyline'". Variety. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  22. ^ Trumbore, Dave (October 10, 2013). "Bella Thorne and Kyra Sedgwick Tackle BIG SKY". Collider. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  23. ^ "'Beyond Skyline': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. December 13, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  24. ^ Schonter, Allison (October 31, 2021). "Bruce Willis Heist Movie Forces Its Way Into Netflix's Top 10". Popculture. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  25. ^ Kroll, Justin (March 25, 2019). "Frank Grillo Signs With CAA (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  26. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (November 23, 2020). "Hulu Strikes U.S. Deal For Frank Grillo Action Sci-Fi Movie 'Boss Level'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  27. ^ White, James (March 3, 2019). "Frank Grillo Takes Aim At The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard". Empire. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  28. ^ "'Boss Level' star Frank Grillo talks facing bullets and brutality in film's murder mystery". Orange County Register. February 24, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  29. ^ McNary, Dave (September 1, 2020). "Gerard Butler, Frank Grillo Starring in Police Drama 'Copshop'". Variety. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  30. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (August 26, 2020). "'Ida Red': Frank Grillo, Melissa Leo & Josh Hartnett Lead Cast In Action-Thriller Shot During The Pandemic". Deadline. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  31. ^ Kay, Jeremy (June 1, 2021). "Voltage boards sales on Ruby Rose, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Frank Grillo thriller 'The Yacht' (exclusive)". Screen. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  32. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (May 12, 2021). "Vertical Entertainment Acquires 'A Day to Die' Starring Frank Grillo & Bruce Willis". Deadline. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  33. ^ a b Lipton, Michael A. (May 20, 2002). "Fighting Glad". People. Archived from the original on December 31, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  34. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 9, 2010). "'Prison Break' actor joins ABC's 'Gates'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  35. ^ Vancheri, Barbara (July 17, 2014). "Frank Grillo is out for revenge in 'The Purge: Anarchy'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  36. ^ Kit, Borys (May 2, 2011). "'The Gates' Actor Frank Grillo Cast in 'Lay the Favorite' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  37. ^ Dionne, Zach (October 28, 2014). "Nick Jonas' 'Kingdom' Costar Frank Grillo Refused to Work With Him, At First". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  38. ^ Petski, Denise (December 16, 2019). "'Billions': Frank Grillo To Recur In Season 5 Of Showtime Series". Deadline. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  39. ^ "Exclusive: Frank Grillo Returning to MCU as Crossbones in 'What If...?'". Collider. January 11, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  40. ^ Gonzalez, Umberto (April 12, 2023). "Frank Grillo to Play the DCU's Rick Flag in 'Creature Commandos' (Exclusive)". TheWrap. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  41. ^ Grillo, Frank (July 25, 2014). "Me and my #1 son remy_grillo chillin in Cali". Frank Grillo's Verified Twitter. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  42. ^ Grillo, Frank (December 27, 2014). "Liam and Rio discussing why daddy doesn't have a driver for them". Frank Grillo's Verified Twitter. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  43. ^ "Frank Grillo and Actress Wendy Moniz Divorce After 19 Years of Marriage". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  44. ^ Kay, Jeremy (June 1, 2021). "Voltage boards sales on Ruby Rose, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Frank Grillo thriller 'The Yacht' (exclusive)". ScreenDaily.com. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  45. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 19, 2021). "Lionsgate Boards Juliette Binoche, Frank Grillo & Morgan Freeman Thriller 'Paradise Highway'". Deadline. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  46. ^ Ritman, Alex (June 22, 2021). "Cannes: Dolph Lundgren, Frank Grillo Set Sail in U-Boat Actioner 'Operation Seawolf' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  47. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (September 22, 2021). "Gabriel Byrne & Mira Sorvino Join Lamborghini Biopic Starring Frank Grillo; Filming Underway In Italy". Deadline. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  48. ^ Grobar, Matt (January 11, 2022). "Paramount Pictures Acquires Rights To John Swab's Action-Thriller 'Little Dixie' Starring Frank Grillo". Deadline. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  49. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 22, 2022). "Frank Grillo Sets Horror Thriller 'Man's Son' Inspired By California Desert Occult Activity". Deadline. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  50. ^ Long, Lacy (June 29, 2022). "J.K. Simmons, Frank Grillo, Virginia Madsen Board Crime Drama 'One Day as a Lion'". Collider. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  51. ^ Grobar, Matt (July 15, 2022). "Frank Grillo Boards Action-Thriller 'Black Lotus' From Director Todor Chapkanov". Deadline. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  52. ^ "'Justice League: Warworld' Cast Unveiled (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. April 27, 2023.
  53. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (June 10, 2022). "Frank Grillo To Star In Action Movie 'MR-9', Filming To Begin Imminently In U.S. & Bangladesh". Deadline. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  54. ^ Ritman, Alex (February 16, 2022). "Frank Grillo Joins 'Underworld' Creator Kevin Grevioux's Action-Adventure 'King of Killers'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  55. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (January 27, 2022). "Frank Grillo, Mekhi Phifer, Scott Adkins & Dermot Mulroney Set For Action Movie 'Lights Out'". Deadline. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  56. ^ Campione, Katie (June 10, 2022). "Untitled Jason Woliner Project Adds Rosanna Arquette, Melinda McGraw and More at Peacock". Yahoo!. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
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