Ricco Ross (born April 16, 1958, in Chicago, Illinois) is an American actor, producer, writer, and industry leader whose career spans more than four decades across film, television, theater, and international modeling. After earning an MFA from UCLA, Ross began his professional acting career with recurring television roles on Hill Street Blues and The Young and the Restless, before earning wider recognition for his breakthrough film role as Private Frost in James Cameron’s sci‑fi action classic Aliens (1986), a character created specifically for him following an impressive audition.

Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, Ross expanded his résumé with numerous feature films including Death Wish 3 (1985), Spies Like Us (1985), Mission: Impossible (1996), Fierce Creatures (1997), and Wishmaster (1997), alongside guest appearances on British and American television series such as Doctor Who, Babylon 5, The Practice, JAG, ER, Highlander and Beverly Hills, 90210. During this period he also starred in the BBC drama Westbeach and toured Great Britain in theatrical productions.

In addition to his onscreen work, Ross won Best Actor at the 2015 Fright Night Film Festival for Batgirl Rises. In the 2010s and 2020s he continued to build a diverse portfolio with roles in films and TV movies such as A Husband for Christmas (2016), Unexpected Christmas (2025), I Left My Heart in Colombia (2024), and The Legend of Catclaws Mountain (2024).

Ross’s television presence remains robust, including notable recurring work as Pastor Gilfield on P‑Valley, Jon on Bosch: Legacy, and most prominently as Horace Bellaire in Tyler Perry’s Netflix drama Beauty in Black (2024–2025), for which he has been a central cast member through multiple seasons and has garnered renewed attention and fan acclaim. Beyond acting, Ross is the founder and CEO of the production company Can You Dig It and serves as a two‑term board member of SAG‑AFTRA, actively contributing to industry advocacy and contract negotiations.

Known for his versatility, longevity, and dedication to craft and community, Ricco Ross continues to work steadily in both established franchises and new original projects, balancing creative performance with leadership roles in entertainment.