Carmen Russo Biography: Age, Parents, Husband, Children, Net Worth, Height, Family, Wikipedia

Biography

Carmen Russo, born Carmela Carolina Fernanda Russo on October 3, 1959, in Genoa, Italy, is a prominent Italian showgirl, actress, dancer, singer, television personality, and former model.

She began her career in the mid-1970s as a model and dancer, later gaining fame in the 1980s through roles in Italian sex comedies (commedia erotica all’italiana) such as Mia moglie torna a scuola, Giovani, belle… probabilmente ricche, and Paulo Roberto Cotechiño centravanti di sfondamento.

She became a household name on television with popular variety shows like Drive In, Risatissima, and Grand Hotel.

Russo has continued working in entertainment for decades, appearing in films, TV programs, and reality shows. She has been married to dancer and choreographer Enzo Paolo Turchi since 1987.

Italian showgirl, actress, dancer, singer, television personality, and former model
Carmen Russo
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Carmela Carolina Fernanda Russo
Stage Name:	Carmen Russo
Born:	3 October 1959 (age 66 years old)
Place of Birth:	Genoa, Italy
Nationality:	Italian
Education:	Istituto Tecnico per il Turismo
Height:	169 cm
Parents:	Giovanni Russo, Giuseppina Gherardini
Siblings:	N/A
Spouse:	Enzo Paolo Turchi (m. 1987)
Boyfriend • Partner:	Not Dating
Children:	Maria Turchi
Occupation:	Actress • Media Personality
Net Worth:	$3 million-$5 million (USD)

Early Life & Education

Carmela Carolina Fernanda Russo, known professionally as Carmen Russo, was born on October 3, 1959, in Genoa (Genova), Liguria, Italy. She grew up in a modest working-class family.

Her father, Giovanni Russo, was a Sicilian policeman, while her mother, Giuseppina Gherardini (from Emilia-Romagna, often described as Emilian), worked as a cashier at the “Olimpia” cinema in Genoa. The family temporarily relocated to Pavullo nel Frignano in the province of Modena during her childhood before returning to Genoa in 1969. No public information mentions any siblings.

From a very young age, Russo showed a strong passion for classical dance, which shaped her early years and future career. Upon returning to Genoa, she enrolled in a prestigious local dance academy run by Wanda Nardi.

She completed middle school in 1973 and briefly attended the Istituto Tecnico per il Turismo (a technical institute for tourism) in Genoa—her parents chose this path partly to steer her away from an exclusive focus on dance.

However, her dedication to dance prevailed, leading her to begin modeling as a teenager (including appearing on a poster for the Coin department store) and to participate in beauty contests. Russo is Italian, with regional roots reflecting Sicily through her father and Emilia-Romagna through her mother. She identifies as Roman Catholic.

Career

Carmen Russo has worked in entertainment for over fifty years. She is one of Italy’s most recognized showgirls, actresses, dancers, and TV personalities, especially in the 1980s. She began her career as a teenager in the mid-1970s.

Russo drew on her background in classical dance and her strong stage presence. After winning Miss Liguria in 1974, though she was too young for Miss Italia, she moved into modeling and beauty contests. She also secured early roles in night shows and commercials.

By the late 1970s, she relocated to Rome and began acting in films. Russo often appeared in horror, Italian crime thrillers (poliziotteschi), and soft-core comedies, sometimes under the name Carmen Bizet. Some of her early roles were in La città delle donne (1980, uncredited, directed by Federico Fellini), Patrick Still Lives (1980), The Porno Killers (1980), and Mia moglie torna a scuola (1981).

She worked with comedians like Alvaro Vitali and Lino Banfi. She also performed on stage, including with Walter Chiari in shows like Hai mai provato nell’acqua calda?

Russo’s big break came in the early 1980s when she became a sex symbol in Italian commedia erotica all’italiana. Movies like Giovani, belle… probabilmente ricche (1982) and Paulo Roberto Cotechiño centravanti di sfondamento (1983) helped make her a star in the playful, risqué films of that time.

Her fame grew even more in 1983 and 1984 with the popular TV variety show Drive In on Italia 1. Her dancing, comedy, and glamorous style made her a household name. She went on to star in other major variety shows, such as Risatissima (1985, hosted by Lino Banfi), Grand Hotel, and Un fantastico tragico venerdì (1987, co-hosted with Paolo Villaggio).

Russo also tried her hand at music, releasing singles like “Notte Senza Luna” (1981). She also released albums, including Stars on Donna (1983) and Le canzoni di ‘Drive In…’ (1984). Music was always a smaller part of her career.

During the 1990s and 2000s, Russo focused more on TV hosting, guest appearances, and reality shows. She appeared on L’isola dei famosi (in 2003 and 2012), Grande Fratello VIP (in 2017 and 2021–2022), and won the Spanish version of Survivor, Supervivientes, in 2013. She also took on occasional film and TV roles, including Sono solo fantasmi (2019).

Russo is passionate about dance, and together with her husband Enzo Paolo Turchi, whom she married in 1987, she opened dance schools in Naples and Palermo and co-founded EnergyDance.

Even in her 60s, she remains active in Italian entertainment, attending events and premieres and making media appearances. She is still celebrated as a symbol of 1980s Italian pop culture.

Social Media

• Wikipedia: Carmen Russo
• Instagram: Carmen Russo (@carmenrussoreal)
• Facebook: Carmen Russo
• IMDb: Carmen Russo

Personal Life

Carmen Russo is 66 years old. Born on October 3, 1959, in Genoa, Italy.

Her height is commonly reported as approximately 169 cm (5 ft 6.5 in).

Russo has been in a long-term marriage to dancer and choreographer Enzo Paolo Turchi, whom she wed on June 26, 1987, after a four-year engagement that began in the early 1980s.

The couple reportedly renewed their vows in 2015. Despite occasional public discussions of challenges—including a reported marital crisis around 2024—they have reconciled and remain together, frequently collaborating on professional projects, such as dance schools.

This is her only known marriage, with no records of prior unions. The couple has one child: a daughter named Maria Turchi, born on February 14, 2013, when Russo was 53. The pregnancy was achieved through assisted reproduction after several years of attempts.

Net Worth

Carmen Russo‘s net worth is estimated at $3 million to $5 million USD, based on her long career in Italian entertainment, including earnings from films, television variety shows, reality TV appearances, music, and dance academies co-owned with her husband.

These figures remain unofficial and speculative, with no officially confirmed amount available. Recent public comments from Russo (around 2025) about receiving a modest monthly pension of approximately €720 highlight a more grounded financial reality in retirement.

Carmen Russo

Filmography

Movies

Her film roles often featured in commedia sexy all’italiana and genre films:

• 1975: Di che segno sei? (uncredited); Mark il poliziotto spara per primo (uncredited)
• 1976: Genova a mano armata
• 1977: Nerone; Ecco noi per esempio… (uncredited)
• 1979: Liquirizia; I viaggiatori della sera (uncredited); Un’ombra nell’ombra; L’infermiera nella corsia dei militari; Riavanti… Marsch!
• 1980: La città delle donne (uncredited); Le porno killers; Patrick vive ancora; La settimana bianca
• 1981: La maestra di sci; Mia moglie torna a scuola; Buona come il pane
• 1982: Ciao nemico; Quella peste di Pierina; Giovani, belle… probabilmente ricche; Il tifoso, l’arbitro e il calciatore
• 1983: Paulo Roberto Cotechiño centravanti di sfondamento; Cuando calienta el sol… vamos alla playa
• 1988: Rimini Rimini – Un anno dopo
• 2014: Un fidanzato modello (short)
• 2019: Sono solo fantasmi
• 2025: Il bar del cult (docufilm)

TV Shows

Russo gained massive fame through variety shows and later reality TV:

• 1978: La bustarella; Portobello; Sam & Sally (episode)
• 1983–1984: Drive In (regular performer); Colosseum
• 1985: Risatissima
• 1986: Grand Hotel; Un fantastico tragico venerdì
• 1989: Io Jane, tu Tarzan (miniseries)
• 1990: Domenica in
• 1991–1993: Various Spanish TV (Vip Noche, La batalla de las estrellas)
• 1996: Hostal Royal Manzanares (episode)
• 2003 & 2012: L’isola dei famosi (reality contestant)
• 2006: Supervivientes (Spanish reality)
• 2013: Supervivientes (winner, Spanish edition)
• 2014: Chiringuito de Pepe (3 episodes)
• 2017 & 2021–2022: Grande Fratello VIP (reality contestant)
• Various guest spots on Buona domenica, etc.

Theater

• 1978–1979: Hai mai provato nell’acqua calda? (supporting Walter Chiari)
• 2023–2024: Rumore – Raffaella Carrà Dance Tribute
• 2024: Flashdance – Il musical

Discography

Albums

• 1983: Stars on Donna
• 1984: Le canzoni di “Drive In…”
• 1992: Una notte italiana
• 1995: Ay, Ay, Mamà (or similar mini-album variants)

Singles

• 1981: “Notte senza luna”
• 1983–1984: “Stars on Donna” parts; “Mi scusi signorina”
• 1985: “Sì”; “Mai Mai Mai”; “Nuda”
• 1986: “Camomillati venerdì”
• 1987: “Bravi Settepiù”
• 1989: “Io Jane tu Tarzan”
• 1993: “Ciù ciù dance”
• 1996: “Macho Mambo”
• 2017: “Muevete”
• 2022: “Tuca tuca Remix”

Her work also includes modeling, dance instruction (co-founding academies), and occasional hosting.

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