Frank Grillo

Frank Anthony Grillo (born June 8, 1965)[1][2] is an American actor. He played Brock Rumlow / Crossbones in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and animated series What If...? (2021).

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

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

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

He had his first leading role in the action-horror film The Purge: Anarchy (2014), portraying Sergeant Leo Barnes, a role he reprised in The Purge: Election Year (2016), and 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

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

Film
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
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

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
Grillo at San Diego Comic Con International in 2013

Film
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1992 The Mambo Kings Machito
1993 Deadly Rivals Grogan
1996 Deadly Charades Vince Carlucci
2002 Simplicity General Short film
Minority Report Pre-Crime Cop
The Sweetest Thing Andy
2006 April's Shower Rocco
2007 Raw Footage Ben Chaffin Short film
2008 iMurders Joe Romano
2009 Pride and Glory Eddie Carbone
Blue Eyes Bob Estevez
2010 Edge of Darkness Agent One
Mother's Day Daniel Sohapi
My Soul to Take Paterson
2011 Warrior Frank Campana
2012 The Grey John Diaz
Lay the Favorite Frankie
End of Watch Sarge
Disconnect Mike
Zero Dark Thirty Red Squadron Commanding Officer
2013 Gangster Squad Russo
Collision Scott Dolan
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 Also executive producer
Stephanie Eric
Wolf Warrior 2 Big Daddy
Wheelman Wheelman Also producer
Beyond Skyline Mark Corley
2018 Reprisal Jacob Direct-to-video
Donnybrook Chainsaw Angus
El Chicano — Executive producer only
2019 Avengers: Endgame Brock Rumlow Cameo
Point Blank Abraham "Abe" Guevara Also producer
Into the Ashes Sloan Also executive producer
Black and Blue Terry Malone
Hell on the Border Bob Dozier Also executive producer
2020 Jiu Jitsu Harrigan
2021 No Man's Land Bill Greer Also executive producer
Body Brokers Vin
Boss Level Roy Pulver Also producer
Cosmic Sin Gen. Eron Ryle Direct-to-video
Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard Bobby O'Neill
Ida Red Dallas Walker
The Gateway Duke
Copshop Teddy Murretto Also producer
This Is the Night Vincent Dedea
2022 Stowaway Meeser [44]
Shattered Sebastian
A Day to Die Mason Direct-to-video
Operation Seawolf Cmdr. Race Ingram [45]
Paradise Highway Dennis [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]
MR-9 : Do or Die Roman Ross [51]
Justice League: Warworld Agent Faraday Voice, direct-to-video [52]
Black Lotus Saban [53]
TBA Lights Out † Michael 'Duffy' Duffield Post-production [54]
King of Killers † Jorg Drakos Post-production [55]
Hard Matter † Benjamin Post-production [56]
Hounds of War † TBA Post-production [57]
Year 2 † Wesley Marshall Post-production [58]
Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released

Television
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1993 Silk Stalkings Franco LaPuma Episode: "Ladies Night Out"
1996 Poltergeist: The Legacy Jerry Tate Episode: "Ghost in the Road"
1996–1999 Guiding Light Hart Jessup 74 episodes
1999 Wasteland Cliff Dobbs 3 episodes
2000 Battery Park Anthony Stigliano 7 episodes
2002; 2009 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Frank Barbarossa; Mark Van Kuren Episode: "Deception"; "Transitions"
2002 Hunter: Return to Justice Terence Gillette Television film
2002–2003 For the People Det. J.C. Hunter 18 episodes
The Shield Officer Paul Jackson 4 episodes
2003 Hunter: Back in Force Terence Gillette Television film
Karen Sisco Garrison Kick Episode: "Nostalgia"
2004 The District Vince Dymecki Episode: "Breath of Life"
2005 Blind Justice Marty Russo 13 episodes
2005–2006 Prison Break Nick Savrinn 18 episodes
2006 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Gary Sinclair Episode: "Happenstance"
Hollis & Rae Henry Callaway Television film
2007 Without a Trace Neil Rawlings Episode: "Tail Spin"
Las Vegas Jeremy Shapiro Episode: "The Burning Bedouin"
The Kill Point Albert Roman/Mr. Pig 8 episodes
CSI: NY Jimmie Davis Episode: "The Thing About Heroes..."
2008 The Madness of Jane Oliver Cornbluth Television film
Blue Blood Quarry
2010 The Gates Nick Monohan 13 episodes
2011 Breakout Kings Agent Stoltz Episode: "Queen of Hearts"
2013 Mary and Martha Peter Television film
2014–2017 Kingdom Alvey Kulina Main role
2018 FightWorld Series host Travel documentary
2020 Billions Nico Tanner 7 episodes
2021 What If...? Brock Rumlow (voice) 3 episodes
2023 Paul T. Goldman Dan Hardwick Episode: "The Chronicles" [59]
2024 Creature Commandos † Rick Flag Sr. In production [40]
Key
† Denotes television series that have not yet been released

References
  1. Mike Ryan (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. Frank Grillo [@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. Jean M. Moniz. "Biography". Frank-Grillo.com. Frank Grillo's Official Website. Archived from the original on August 29, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
  8. Jeri Jacquin (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. Nathan Southern (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. Tim Grierson (July 16, 2014). "The Long-Delayed Success of Frank Grillo". Backstage. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  12. Jason Buchanan (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. Amy Longsdorf (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.
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  15. 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. Samantha Highfill (November 24, 2014). "Frank Grillo talks Crossbones' return in 'Captain America: Civil War'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  18. Justin Kroll (October 29, 2013). "'The Butler' Producer Sets up Next Pic Starring Frank Grillo and Minnie Driver (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  19. 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. Perri Nemiroff (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. Brent Lang (November 7, 2014). "Frank Grillo to Star in 'Beyond Skyline'". Variety. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  22. Dave Trumbore (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.
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  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. Michael A. Lipton (May 20, 2002). "Fighting Glad". People. Archived from the original on December 31, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  34. Nellie Andreeva (February 9, 2010). "'Prison Break' actor joins ABC's 'Gates'". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
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  36. Borys Kit (May 2, 2011). "'The Gates' Actor Frank Grillo Cast in 'Lay the Favorite' (Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  37. Zach Dionne (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. Frank Grillo (July 25, 2014). "Me and my #1 son remy_grillo chillin in Cali". Frank Grillo's Verified Twitter. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  42. Frank Grillo (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.
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  45. 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.
  46. D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 19, 2021). "Lionsgate Boards Juliette Binoche, Frank Grillo & Morgan Freeman Thriller 'Paradise Highway'". Deadline. 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.
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  52. "'Justice League: Warworld' Cast Unveiled (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. April 27, 2023.
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  54. Wiseman, Andreas (January 27, 2022). "Frank Grillo, Mekhi Phifer, Scott Adkins & Dermot Mulroney Set For Action Movie 'Lights Out'". Deadline. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
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  57. Bastos, Margarida (May 7, 2022). "Frank Grillo Action Film 'Hounds of War' Acquired by XYZ Films". Collider. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  58. Grobar, Matt (May 2, 2022). "'NCIS' Actor Katrina Law Joins Frank Grillo In Werewolf Horror-Thriller 'Year 2'". Deadline. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  59. 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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