Movie Credits
Waist Deep	(2006)
[ Tyrese Gibson ][ Larenz Tate ]
The History Makers	(2005)
The Industry	(2004)
Are You Hip-Hop's Biggest Fan?	(2000)
How to Be a Player	(1997)
[ Bill Bellamy ][ Gilbert Gottfried ]
Gridlock'd	(1997)
[ Bokeem Woodbine ][ Tim Roth ][ James Pickens Jr. ][ Richmond Arquette ][ Charles Fleischer ]
The Funeral	(1996)
[ Patrick McGaw ][ Christopher Walken ][ Benicio Del Toro ][ Chris Penn ][ David Patrick Kelly ]
The Nutty Professor	(1996)
[ Eddie Murphy ][ Dave Chappelle ][ Larry Miller ][ Steve Oedekerk ]
The Addiction	(1995)
[ Christopher Walken ][ Michael Imperioli ]
Def Comedy Jam: Primetime	(1994)
Tougher Than Leather	(1988)
[ Joseph Simmons ]
Krush Groove	(1985)
[ Blair Underwood ]

Def Jam Records co-founder Russell Simmons first branched out into movies when he acted and co-produced in the 1985 rap movie Krush Groove. Essentially a glorified biography of his own life, with Blair Underwood assuming the role of Simmons, the movie didn't score well with critics but was a box-office success. Another hip-hop based movie followed, 1988's Tougher Than Leather, before Simmons assumed full control of Def Jam when co-founder Rick Rubin left. Almost immediately he set up Rush Communications, dipping his hand in nearly everything from a clothing line, to television comedy, to magazine production. At this time Simmons also began producing movies. Pictures he's backed creatively and/or financially include The Addiction, The Nutty Professor and Gridlock'd.