Frank Grillo

Early life

Grillo was born in New York City to a working-class Italian-American family of Calabrian origin. 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. In 1991, he started practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which he studied under Rickson Gracie; he currently holds a brown belt. 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. On the podcast The Fighter and the Kid, he stated that he holds Italian citizenship.

Career

Film

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.

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.

In 2014, Grillo was cast as Hydra agent Brock Rumlow in the 2014 film Captain America: The Winter Soldier. 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. 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.

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. 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.

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

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.

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

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. He also appeared in the sequel Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard with Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson.

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.

Grillo plays Ferruccio Lamborghini in the 2022 biographical drama Lamborghini: The Man Behind the Legend. The film is directed by Oscar-winning writer Bobby Moresco. The film also stars Oscar winner Mira Sorvino and Emmy nominee Gabriel Byrne.

In June 2024, set photos revealed that Grillo was set to appear in the DC Universe (DCU) film Superman as Rick Flag Sr., reprising the role in live-action after debuting as the character in the animated series Creature Commandos (2024–present).

Television

Grillo first appeared on television in episodes of Silk Stalkings (1993), and Poltergeist: The Legacy (1996) before being cast as businessman Hart Jessup on the daytime soap opera Guiding Light in 1996 up until 1999. During that time, he also appeared on the Blind Justice as Marty Russo.

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. In 2010, he starred in the sci-fi series The Gates opposite Marisol Nichols and Rhona Mitra. The series only lasted one season.

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

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

In 2024, Grillo voiced Rick Flag Sr. in the Max animated series Creature Commandos, the first series and installment of the new DC Universe (DCU) franchise managed by James Gunn and Peter Safran, and a successor to the previous DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Grillo's character, who is the father of DCEU character Rick Flag Jr., is set to appear across all DCU media, and Grillo was announced in May 2024 to be reprising the role in live-action, appearing as a cast regular for the second season of Peacemaker opposite John Cena.

Frank Grillo joined the cast of Tulsa King season 2, starring as Kansas City mob boss Bill Bevilaqua opposite Sylvester Stallone. Grillo has also filmed season 3 and is gearing up to film season 4 in late 2025.

Personal life

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

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

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. (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.
2. Grillo, Frank. (June 8, 2014). "Thanks all for the B-Day wishes. Much love and appreciation!!!".
3. (April 15, 2006). "Questions & Answers: April 15, 2006". Frank Grillo's Official Website.
4. [https://www.mensjournal.com/entertainment/frank-grillos-fight-w208614/ Frank Grillo's Fight] Charles Thorp, ''[[Men's Journal]]''
5. [https://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/frank-grillo-kingdom-directv-end-of-watch/ Grillo 'Em All: The Rise of a Hollywood Tough Guy] Rafe Barthomomew, ''[[Grantland]]'' (October 8, 2014)
6. [https://www.muscleandfitness.com/athletes-celebrities/interviews/frank-grillo-staying-ripped-after-50/ Frank Grillo Is Staying Ripped After 50] Sean Hyson, ''[[Muscle & Fitness]]''
7. Moniz, Jean M.. "Biography". Frank Grillo's Official Website.
8. (January 26, 2012). "FRANK GRILLO: The Grey". Military Press.
9. (October 4, 2017). "The Fighter and The Kid – Episode 298: Frank Grillo". [[The Fighter and the Kid]].
10. (2015). "Frank Grillo – About This Person". [[The New York Times]].
11. (July 16, 2014). "The Long-Delayed Success of Frank Grillo". Backstage.
12. (2015). "IMurders (2009) Review Summary". [[The New York Times]].
13. (July 12, 2014). "Frank Grillo: from soap fave to leading man". Times Leader.
14. Graser, Marc. (October 29, 2012). "Frank Grillo to play Crossbones in 'Captain America' sequel". [[Variety (magazine).
15. [https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3355767/frank-grillo-returning-third-the-purge/ Frank Grillo Returning For Another 'Purge'!]
16. (November 24, 2014). "Frank Grillo talks Crossbones' return in 'Captain America: Civil War'".
17. Kroll, Justin. (October 29, 2013). "'The Butler' Producer Sets up Next Pic Starring Frank Grillo and Minnie Driver (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
18. Kroll, Justin. (October 29, 2013). "'The Butler' Producer Sets up Next Pic Starring Frank Grillo and Minnie Driver (EXCLUSIVE)". [[Variety (magazine).
19. (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.
20. (November 7, 2014). "Frank Grillo to Star in 'Beyond Skyline'". Variety.
21. (October 10, 2013). "Bella Thorne and Kyra Sedgwick Tackle BIG SKY". Collider.
22. (December 13, 2017). "'Beyond Skyline': Film Review". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
23. (October 31, 2021). "Bruce Willis Heist Movie Forces Its Way Into Netflix's Top 10".
24. Kroll, Justin. (March 25, 2019). "Frank Grillo Signs With CAA (EXCLUSIVE)".
25. Wiseman, Andreas. (November 23, 2020). "Hulu Strikes U.S. Deal For Frank Grillo Action Sci-Fi Movie 'Boss Level'". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
26. (March 3, 2019). "Frank Grillo Takes Aim At The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard".
27. (February 24, 2021). "'Boss Level' star Frank Grillo talks facing bullets and brutality in film's murder mystery".
28. (September 1, 2020). "Gerard Butler, Frank Grillo Starring in Police Drama 'Copshop'".
29. (August 26, 2020). "'Ida Red': Frank Grillo, Melissa Leo & Josh Hartnett Lead Cast In Action-Thriller Shot During The Pandemic".
30. (June 1, 2021). "Voltage boards sales on Ruby Rose, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Frank Grillo thriller 'The Yacht' (exclusive)".
31. (May 12, 2021). "Vertical Entertainment Acquires 'A Day to Die' Starring Frank Grillo & Bruce Willis".
32. Wiseman, Andreas. (2021-09-22). "Gabriel Byrne & Mira Sorvino Join Lamborghini Biopic Starring Frank Grillo; Filming Underway In Italy".
33. Chaudhry, Anubhav. (November 27, 2024). "Here's Why Frank Grillo's Hair is Black in Superman & White in Creature Commandos".
34. (November 29, 2024). "Frank Grillo Shares Surprising, Spoilery New Details About Rick Flag Sr.'s SUPERMAN And PEACEMAKER Roles".
35. (February 9, 2010). "'Prison Break' actor joins ABC's 'Gates'". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
36. (July 17, 2014). "Frank Grillo is out for revenge in 'The Purge: Anarchy'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
37. (May 2, 2011). "'The Gates' Actor Frank Grillo Cast in 'Lay the Favorite' (Exclusive)". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
38. (October 28, 2014). "Nick Jonas' 'Kingdom' Costar Frank Grillo Refused to Work With Him, At First".
39. (December 16, 2019). "'Billions': Frank Grillo To Recur In Season 5 Of Showtime Series".
40. (January 11, 2021). "Exclusive: Frank Grillo Returning to MCU as Crossbones in 'What If...?'".
41. Gonzalez, Umberto. (April 12, 2023). "Frank Grillo to Play the DCU's Rick Flag in 'Creature Commandos' (Exclusive)".
42. Moreau, Jordan. (May 10, 2024). "Frank Grillo Joins 'Peacemaker' Season 2 as Rick Flag Sr.".
43. Yin-Poole, Wesley. (November 11, 2024). "Peacemaker Season 2 Footage Shows First Look at Frank Grillo's Rick Flag Sr.".
44. Rice, Lynette. (2025-08-06). "'Tulsa King' Teaser For Season 3 Features Dwight Manfredi Issuing A Warning To His Enemies".
45. Andreeva, Nellie. (2025-09-17). "'Tulsa King' Renewed For Season 4 With Terence Winter Back As Head Writer & EP; Dave Erickson Departing".
46. (July 25, 2014). "Me and my #1 son remy_grillo chillin in Cali.". Frank Grillo's Verified Twitter.
47. (May 20, 2002). "Fighting Glad". [[People (magazine).
48. (December 18, 2014). "We spend a day with Frank Grillo, Hollywood's one-two punch".
49. (December 27, 2014). "Liam and Rio discussing why daddy doesn't have a driver for them.". Frank Grillo's Verified Twitter.
50. "Frank Grillo and Actress Wendy Moniz Divorce After 19 Years of Marriage".
51. (June 1, 2021). "Voltage boards sales on Ruby Rose, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Frank Grillo thriller 'The Yacht' (exclusive)".
52. (October 19, 2021). "Lionsgate Boards Juliette Binoche, Frank Grillo & Morgan Freeman Thriller 'Paradise Highway'".
53. (June 22, 2021). "Cannes: Dolph Lundgren, Frank Grillo Set Sail in U-Boat Actioner 'Operation Seawolf' (Exclusive)".
54. (September 22, 2021). "Gabriel Byrne & Mira Sorvino Join Lamborghini Biopic Starring Frank Grillo; Filming Underway In Italy".
55. (January 11, 2022). "Paramount Pictures Acquires Rights To John Swab's Action-Thriller 'Little Dixie' Starring Frank Grillo".
56. (February 22, 2022). "Frank Grillo Sets Horror Thriller 'Man's Son' Inspired By California Desert Occult Activity".
57. (June 29, 2022). "J.K. Simmons, Frank Grillo, Virginia Madsen Board Crime Drama 'One Day as a Lion'".
58. (July 15, 2022). "Frank Grillo Boards Action-Thriller 'Black Lotus' From Director Todor Chapkanov".
59. (April 27, 2023). "'Justice League: Warworld' Cast Unveiled (Exclusive)".
60. (June 10, 2022). "Frank Grillo To Star In Action Movie 'MR-9', Filming To Begin Imminently In U.S. & Bangladesh".
61. (February 16, 2022). "Frank Grillo Joins 'Underworld' Creator Kevin Grevioux's Action-Adventure 'King of Killers'".
62. (January 27, 2022). "Frank Grillo, Mekhi Phifer, Scott Adkins & Dermot Mulroney Set For Action Movie 'Lights Out'".
63. (June 10, 2022). "Untitled Jason Woliner Project Adds Rosanna Arquette, Melinda McGraw and More at Peacock". Yahoo!.
64. "Frank Grillo".
65. (2022-10-24). "Premio Capri Award a Frank Grillo per il film Lamborghini".