Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Russell Simmons II |
| Also Known As | Russy |
| Date of Birth | August 30, 1997 |
| Age | 28 (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Saddle River, New Jersey, USA |
| Height | 5’6” (167 cm) |
| Weight | 143 lb (65 kg) |
| Occupations | Reality TV personality, aspiring rapper, actor, screenwriter |
| Known For | Run’s House (2005–2009); Rev Run’s Sunday Suppers (2014–2016); Rev Runs Around the World (2015–2016) |
| Parents | Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons; Justine Simmons |
| Siblings | Vanessa, Angela, JoJo, Diggy, Miley (adopted), Victoria Anne (deceased) |
| Years Active | 2005–present (intermittent) |
| Reported Base | New York City |
| Estimated Net Worth | Approximately $5 million (earlier estimates circa 2021–2022) |
From early spotlight to steady craft
Russell Simmons II—Russy to those who watched him grow up on television—first stepped into America’s living rooms in 2005. At just 8 years old, he became part of MTV’s Run’s House, a cultural snapshot of a hip-hop dynasty navigating school runs, studio sessions, and dinner-table debates. Fame arrived early and loudly. But as the show wrapped in 2009, Russy did something rarer: he turned down the volume.
In the decade since, he’s navigated the industry with measured steps. He has explored music, appeared in a handful of family-centered TV series, and directed energy toward writing—particularly screenwriting. Today, he appears in the public eye less like a headliner and more like a craftsman at work behind the curtain, chiseling stories and characters into shape.
Family ties and influences
In the Simmons household, talent is both inheritance and expectation. Russy is the son of Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons, a founding member of Run-DMC and a pop-culture mainstay, and Justine Simmons, a creative force in her own right. The family’s openness about joys and hardships—especially the 2006 loss of Victoria Anne and the adoption of Miley soon after—has long been a pillar of their narrative.
His siblings charted distinct paths: Vanessa and Angela built brands and starred in reality franchises; JoJo developed as a rapper and content personality; Diggy balanced music and acting. For Russy, that constellation of successes created both inspiration and room to experiment. He has moved at his own tempo, guided by family but not defined by comparison.
Career notes and milestones
Television introduced Russy to audiences. Beyond Run’s House (2005–2009), he appeared in Rev Run’s Sunday Suppers (2014–2016) and Rev Runs Around the World (2015–2016), projects that spotlighted family dynamics and travel.
Music became a teenage outlet. From 2012 to 2014, he uploaded covers and a few original tracks, testing tone and range. While those releases didn’t morph into a sustained discography, they captured the exploratory phase of a young artist figuring out what to say and how to say it. By the mid-2010s, his public focus shifted toward writing and on-camera training, signaling a turn from the stage to the page.
Financially, earlier third-party estimates placed his net worth around $5 million, largely linked to television exposure and related ventures. No verified 2025 update has surfaced, and by all appearances, Russy prefers the stability of work to the spotlight of wealth metrics.
Recent activity (2023–2025)
The last few years have been defined by low-key progress rather than headline moments. Mentions across 2024 and 2025 show sporadic social media activity, occasional snapshots in Manhattan, and a bio that foregrounds screenwriting and acting. The posts read like notes from a writer’s room: steady, curious, focused.
Just as meaningful is what’s absent—no tabloid arcs, no solo TV vehicle, no sudden pivot into viral trends. Russy’s recent presence suggests a creative in incubation, honing voice and craft until the work itself is ready to speak.
Creative focus: screenwriting and acting
Screenwriting is both discipline and puzzle-solving. For someone who grew up within a famous family narrative, crafting stories for others allows distance and discovery. Russy’s turn toward writing is a smart evolution—one that swaps applause for authorship.
Acting complements that shift. Training for the camera invites him to inhabit characters, while writing lets him build the worlds they live in. Together they form a practical toolkit: dialogue that sounds like people actually talk, scenes that move, and arcs that land. If his early TV years were the prologue, this is the architect’s phase.
The Simmons family snapshot
- Parents: Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons and Justine Simmons
- Siblings: Vanessa, Angela, and JoJo (half-siblings); Diggy (full brother); Miley (adopted sister); Victoria Anne (deceased)
- Extended family: Notable industry ties across music, fashion, and television
- Shared themes: Entrepreneurship, creativity, family-first decision-making
The Simmons tradition is one of plural paths—business ventures, recording booths, sets, and studios. Russy’s lane, increasingly, looks like film pages and drafting notebooks.
Timeline at a glance
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1997 | Born on August 30 in Saddle River, New Jersey. |
| 2005 | TV debut on Run’s House at age 8. |
| 2006 | Family endures the loss of sister Victoria Anne; later adopts Miley. |
| 2009 | Run’s House ends after six seasons. |
| 2012–2014 | Releases music covers and tracks online; explores vocal performance. |
| 2014–2016 | Appears on Rev Run’s Sunday Suppers. |
| 2015–2016 | Features in Rev Runs Around the World. |
| 2021–2022 | Earlier reports estimate net worth around $5 million. |
| 2023–2025 | Focus on screenwriting and acting; limited public appearances. |
What sets Russy apart
- Measured visibility: Rather than chase every opportunity, he curates them.
- Multidisciplinary appetite: Music, acting, and screenwriting form a cohesive creative triangle.
- Family-centered compass: Collaborations and appearances often orbit family projects, underscoring trust and continuity.
- Growth mindset: Recent messaging emphasizes learning, practice, and craft—a long game mentality.
The human side: resilience and recalibration
Growing up on camera can blur the line between self and storyline. Russy’s adulthood reads like a recalibration. He trades stage lights for desk lamps, trading noise for nuance. The move is not retreat; it’s a recalculated path—like a chess player sliding a quiet piece that changes the whole board two moves later.
He’s 28 now, an age that often crystallizes identity. The raw materials are there: a storied upbringing, a taste of performance, and a steady turn toward authorship. What emerges next will likely be measured and intentional.
FAQ
Who are Russell Simmons Ii’s parents?
Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons and Justine Simmons are his parents.
How old is Russell Simmons Ii?
He is 28 years old as of 2025, born on August 30, 1997.
What is Russell Simmons Ii best known for?
He is best known for appearing on MTV’s Run’s House and subsequent family-centered TV projects.
Is Russell Simmons Ii still making music?
He shared covers and tracks in the early 2010s, but recent focus appears to be on screenwriting and acting.
Where does Russell Simmons Ii live?
He is reportedly based in New York City, according to recent social media activity.
What is Russell Simmons Ii’s height?
He stands at 5’6” (167 cm).
Does Russell Simmons Ii have children or a public partner?
There are no public reports of a partner or children.
What is his estimated net worth?
Earlier estimates placed it around $5 million, with no confirmed 2025 update.
Which shows has he appeared in?
Run’s House (2005–2009), Rev Run’s Sunday Suppers (2014–2016), and Rev Runs Around the World (2015–2016).
What is he focusing on now?
Current indications point to screenwriting and acting, with a preference for developing projects out of the spotlight.
