Theo Rossi
John Theodore “Theo” Rossi was born on June 4, 1975. He is an American model, activist, actor and producer best known for his portrayal of Juan Carlos “Juice” Ortiz on the FX series Sons of Anarchy. He currently portrays Herman “Shades” Alvarez in Luke Cage.
Early life
Rossi was born in Staten Island, New York City, New York. Theo is the son of Mary Jane Holway and Vincent Rossi.
He was mostly raised by his mother Mary Jane Tomasino and her husband, Domenick Tomasino. Theo has two sisters, Dani and Christie.
Rossi attended Monsignor Farrell High School and SUNY Albany. Growing up, he loved to ride dirt bikes. Rossi studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in New York where he appeared in several theatre productions in the short time he was there.
Career
He started out in commercial work for beer, fast food, and cars after moving out to Los Angeles in 1999. Theo Rossi is known for his portrayal of Juan Carlos “Juice” Ortiz on the FX series Sons of Anarchy.
His production company, Dos Dudes Pictures, produced its first feature film in 2014, Bad Hurt, in which Rossi also acted alongside Karen Allen and Michael Harney.
He starred alongside Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, in the 2003 film The Challenge.
Rossi has appeared in television shows such as Law and Order: SVU, Hawaii Five-O, Las Vegas, The Unit, Jericho, Bones, Without a Trace, Malcolm in the Middle,
Veronica Mars, NYPD Blue, CSI:Miami, Lie to Me
and Lost. He has had recurring roles on Heist, American Dreams, and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.
His film credits include Cloverfield,
Code Breakers, House of the Dead 2: Dead Aim, Red Sands, The Informers, Kill Theory, Fencewalker, and Meth Head.
Since 2016, Rossi has played Hernan “Shades” Alvarez in Luke Cage.
Personal life
In addition to acting and developing other projects, Rossi gets involved with the men and women of the military, with fellow Sons of Anarchy co-actors Kim Coates, Dayton Callie and Ron Perlman. Since Rossi is an Ambassador to the Boot Campaign, he works with multiple organizations that help raise money for wounded soldiers and those returning with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Throughout the off-season, Rossi often traveled to different bases to visit US military personnel. He has also helped in organizing the yearly Boot Ride event benefiting the Boot Campaign, giving fans a chance to spend a day riding with the Sons of Anarchy cast while raising money for U.S. military veterans.
In addition to supporting charities throughout the country and in his home of New York City, shortly after Hurricane Sandy hitting Staten Island, Rossi, with other friends and family, founded Staten Strong, a program administered by the Boot Campaign. Staten Strong rebuilt three homes for Hurricane Sandy victims on Staten Island.
Rossi also is a supporter of animal welfare. He launched a campaign with The Humane Society of the United States to protect street dogs. He also appeared in a PETA ad promoting pet adoption.
Rossi is married to Meghan McDermott, an associate at Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP.
The couple announced their first pregnancy at the Vanity Fair party during the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival. The couple’s first child, Kane Alexander Rossi, was born on June 8, 2015.
On May 9, 2017, it was announced that Rossi was expecting a second child with his wife. Their second son, Arlo Benjamin Rossi, was born on August 3, 2017.
Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
- 2001 The Myersons Montilli
- 2003 The Challenge Anthony
- 2004 Buds for Life Teddy
- 2008 Cloverfield Antonio
- Kill Theory Carlos
- 2009 The Informers Spaz
- Red Sands Pfc. Tino Hull
- Space Mike Short film
- 2013 Meth Head Carlos
- 2016 Bad Hurt Todd Also producer; Sunscreen Film Festival West Award for Best Narrative Feature
- When the Bough Breaks Mike Mitchell
- 2017 Lowriders Francisco “Ghost” Alvarez Nominated – Imagen Award for Best Actor – Feature Film
- 2018 Ghosts of War Kirk Post-production
- TBA Body Cam Filming
Television
Year Title Role Notes
- 2001–02 Boston Public Brandon Webber
- 2002 Big Shot: Confessions of a Campus Bookie The Mook Television film
- Malcolm in the Middle Senior Episode: “Humilithon”
- 2004 NYPD Blue Pete Amici Episode: “Chatty Chatty Bang Bang”
- Medical Investigation Joe Vasquez Episode: “Coming Home”
- American Dreams Bobby Santos
- 2005 Blind Justice Eric Fitzgerald Episode: “Rub a Tub Tub”
- Veronica Mars Norris Clayton Episode: “Weapons of Class Destruction”
- House of the Dead 2 Greg Berlin Television film
- Code Breakers Desantis Television film
- 2006 Jane Doe: Yes, I Remember It Well Antonio Ruiz Television film
- Without A Trace Corey Williams Episode: “Odds or Evens”
- Lost Sgt. Buccelli Episode: “One of Them”
- Heist Vinny Momo
- The Unit Mike Episode: “Unannounced”
- Bones Nick Arno Episode: “The Woman in the Sand”
- Jericho Randy Payton
- 2007 Nurses Unsold Pilot
- Shark Danny Vargas Episode: “Here Comes the Judge”
- Las Vegas Jason Scott
- Grey’s Anatomy Stan Giamatti
- 2008–14 Sons of Anarchy Juan Carlos “Juice” Ortiz
- 2009 Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Lieutenant Dietze
- CSI: Miami Jimmy Castigan Episode: “Dissolved”
- 2010 Lie To Me Officer Tressler Episode: “Teacher and Pupils”
- 2012 Hawaii Five-0 Sal Painter Episode: “Mai Ka Wa Kahiko”
- Alcatraz Sonny Burnett
- 2013 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Enrique Rodriguez Epi: “Presumed Guilty”
- 2016–2018 Luke Cage Hernan “Shades” Alvarez
Print Work
Theo has been featured in the following Magazines: Imagista, People, Vilkan, Unleash’d, Bello, Pasadena, Lapalme and Live Happy Magazine.
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