John Theodore Rossi is an American actor and producer. He portrayed Juan Carlos "Juice" Ortiz on the FX series Sons of Anarchy (2008–2014) and Hernan "Shades" Alvarez in Luke Cage (2016–2018). In 2024, he portrayed Dr. Julian Rush on the HBO series The Penguin (2024). His film roles include Tino Hull in Red Sands (2009), Todd in Bad Hurt (2015), Francisco "Ghost" Alvarez in Lowriders (2017), Deuce in Vault (2019), and Youcef in Emily the Criminal (2022), the latter of which earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination.
Early life Rossi was born in Richmond, Staten Island, New York City, in the Oakwood neighborhood. He is of Italian, Spanish, Lebanese, and Syrian descent. Growing up, he loved to ride dirt bikes. He has openly admitted to dealing drugs for years before moving to California. He studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in New York, where he appeared in several theatre productions.
Career Rossi played 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, Rossi acting alongside Karen Allen and Michael Harney.
Rossi has appeared in television shows such as The Penguin, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Hawaii Five-O, Las Vegas, The Unit, Jericho, Bones, Without a Trace, 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, Red Sands, The Informers, Kill Theory, Fencewalker and Meth Head.
He played Hernan "Shades" Alvarez in the Marvel Cinematic Universe series Luke Cage from 2016 until 2018.
In 2019, Rossi joined the Advisory Board of the Harlem Film House, which presents the Hip Hop Film Festival, an annual event that focuses on filmmakers from the global culture of hip hop, and promotes financial sustainability for independent filmmakers from marginalized communities.
Philanthropy Rossi gets involved with the men and women of the military, with fellow Sons of Anarchy actors Kim Coates, Dayton Callie and Ron Perlman. An ambassador to the Boot Campaign, Rossi works with multiple organizations that raise money for wounded soldiers and those returning with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Throughout the off-season, Rossi has often traveled to different bases to visit US military personnel. He has helped to organize the yearly Boot Ride event that benefits 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.
Shortly after Hurricane Sandy hit Staten Island, Rossi, with 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.
He supports animal welfare and launched a campaign with the Humane Society of the United States to protect street dogs. He appeared in a PETA ad promoting pet adoption.Leanne Aciz Stanton, "Theo Rossi and His Rescue Dog Benito Team Up With PETA to Encourage Pet Adoption". Us Weekly, 19 September 2018.
Personal life
Rossi resides in Austin, Texas. He consumes a "mostly plant-based diet" and occasionally consumes eggs."An almost vegan food crawl with Theo Rossi, ‘Emily the Criminal’ star and hummus traditionalist". latimes.com. Retrieved 4 December 2023. He is married to Meghan McDermott. The couple's first child was born in 2015, and their second in 2017.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2001 The Myersons Montilli 2003 The Challenge Anthony 2004 Buds for Life Teddy 2005 House of the Dead 2 Greg Berlin 2008 Cloverfield Antonio Kill Theory Carlos The Informers Spaz 2009 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 2019 Vault Deuce American Skin Officer Dominic Reyes Rattlesnake Billy 2020 Ghosts of War Kirk 2021 Army of the Dead Burt Cummings 2022 Emily the Criminal Youcef Nominated – Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Performance Escape the Field TylerVendettaRory FetterDear ZoeNick DeNunzio2023SquealerDanny D.2024BoscoRamos Carry-On The Watcher2025Play DirtyFrank GradyAlso writer and executive producer2025SiteGarrison Vey 2026 The Saviors Amir Come With Me‘The Penguin’ Star Theo Rossi Boards Aaron Harvey’s ‘Come With Me’ As Star & EP Simon Ward Post-production
Television Year Title Role Notes 2001–2002 Boston Public Brandon Webber 2 episodes 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 2 episodes 2005 Blind Justice Eric Fitzgerald Episode: "Rub a Tub Tub" Veronica Mars Norris Clayton Episode: "Weapons of Class Destruction" 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 2 episodes The Unit Mike Episode: "Unannounced" Bones Nick Arno Episode: "The Woman in the Sand" Jericho Randy Payton 2 episodes 2007 Nurses Unsold Pilot Shark Danny Vargas Episode: "Here Comes the Judge" Las Vegas Jason Scott 2 episodes Grey's Anatomy Stan Giamatti 2 episodes 2008–2014 Sons of Anarchy Juan Carlos "Juice" Ortiz Main role; 85 episodes 2009 Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Lieutenant Dietze 2 episodes 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 2 episodes 2013 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Enrique Rodriguez Episode: "Presumed Guilty" 2016–2018 Luke Cage Hernan "Shades" Alvarez Main role; 23 episodes 2021 True Story Gene 6 episodes 2022 Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi Senator Larik (voice) Episode: "Choices" 2024 The Penguin Dr. Julian Rush 6 episodes
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