David O. Russell

Russell in 2014, photo by Prphotos.com

Birth Name: David Owen Russell

Place of Birth: New York City, New York, U.S.

Date of Birth: August 20, 1958

Ethnicity:
*Ashkenazi Jewish (father)
*Italian (mother)

David O. Russell is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He has directed the films Spanking the Monkey, Flirting with Disaster, Three Kings, I Heart Huckabees, The Fighter (2010), Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, Accidental Love, Joy, and Amsterdam. He also wrote all of his films, except for I Heart Huckabees, American Hustle, and Accidental Love, all of which he co-wrote, and The Fighter. He has also been billed as Stephen Greene.

David is the son of Maria (Muzio) and Bernard Russell, originally Markovski. His father was a vice-president of sales at Simon & Schuster; and his mother was a secretary there. His father was of Russian Jewish descent. His mother was of Italian (Catholic) ancestry, the daughter of parents from Matera, Basilicata.

David has one child with his former wife, producer Janet Grillo; and one child, who is adopted, with his partner, costume designer Holly Davis.

David’s paternal grandfather was a butcher from the Upper West Side of Manhattan. He lost many of his relatives in concentration camps.

David’s maternal grandfather was named Frank Muzio. Frank was born in Craco.

David’s maternal grandmother was named Philomena Brancata. Philomena was born in Ferrandina.