Ross' dad worked as an accountant for Lockheed Corporation in Los Angeles and his mother was a surgical nurse. Ross is the third of three boys, the others being Stephen Arthur Harkness and Robert Cole Harkness. Both of Ross' brothers along with his mother are alive today. None of the siblings still live with their mother which is an enormous relief to her.
Ross spent the first year or so of his life in Grenada Hills California with his family before his father was transferred to Seattle Washington. From ages 2 to 6 Ross spent a happy life on Mercer Island Washington, but in 1971 his father was again transferred, this time to Northern California. So the familiy packed up and moved from the Seattle area to the warm climes of Cupertino California. This would be the first of many moves where after the Harkness clan left a place it would become exceedingly richer in value. This is no slam against the familiy just a commentary on how Ross' father was always one step behind the times.
Ross spent 5 years in Cupertino and then, during 7th grade, the parents decided they had to move again. Obstensively the reason was his mother's health, she had been diagnosed with Multiple Scelerosis (a disease that she battles successfully to this day). The true reason was his fathers drinking had led to financial difficulties. Shorty after moving to smaller house in Saratoga Ross' mother and father separated. The three son's all endorsed this move heartily.
During that year in Saratoga Ross still went to school in Cupertino riding his bike four miles there and four miles back each day. (Uphill! Both ways!) This had Ross in the best shape of his life. A shape he does not resemble today. In fact, if your were to use a word to describe Ross' shape today the word would be "pear". At the end of the year the family decided to move back to Cupertino and Ross' mom found a nice little four bedroom house for her and the kids. If you can call three high school aged teenagers "kids".
Ross graduated from Monta Vista High School in Cupertino in 1982 with a whopping 200 credits and a staggering 2.5 gradepoint average. As you would guess, the world took little notice. After a year and a half at Junior College studying history, art history, philosophy and theatre, Ross decided to quit school and get a full time job. This led Ross to the exciting world of Professional Security! Not to be confused with Professional Wrestling, which is less dangerous and pays better. In truth, Ross found himself to be well suited to Security Management and it remains his day job even today.
The next 15 years or so are not very exciting, not that the previous years were barn burners either! Ross moved from job to job always bettering himself which each move. In 1996 Ross went back to school and received a Bachelor of Arts in Management from the University of Phoenix. In 1997, with his evenings free, Ross was apporached by a friend's mother to audition for a show she was directing. Having nothing to lose Ross did. The show was "The Second Time Around" and was produced by the Santa Clara Players (SCP). Ross got the part of Mike Curtis and his love of theatre was rekindled.
Ross soon joined the Board of the Santa Clara Players and served two terms, one term as Secretary, before resigning in 1999. Ross felt his tour of duty on the Board was sort of like a trip to the dentist, painful but necessary. He also was involved both behind the scenes and on stage in two other SCP shows. While sitting on the board Ross served two stints on the play selection committee. However, when he left the board Ross swore he would never be part of a theatre administration again unless he was in a position to call the shots.
In 1998 and 1999, Ross went back to school and received a Masters of Arts in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix.. In 1998 Ross worked his first show at Foothill Studio Theatre as Properties Master for the show "Museum". In 1999 Ross was cast as Porter Milgrom in "Deathtrap" at Broadway West Theatre Company in Fremont which started an association that continues today. Ross became a Company Member at Broadway West in 2001 which Ross has regularly compared to being "made" a member of the Mob..
Also in the year 2001 Ross met Jeremy Koerner when they appeared together in "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" at Broadway West. This introduction led him to become a company member for Koerner's Hit and Run Productions in 2002, who under the guise of "Mysteries for Hire" provide improvisation murder mysteries for private and corporate events. For some strange reason Ross is almost always the murder victim and he is beginning to develop a complex about it.
In the past few years Ross has expanded his horizons beyond acting. In 2001 he was asked by Broadway West partner Mary Galde to write a short play to be inserted in the Scene Between Variety Show "Happy Hour at Joes Place" . The result of this request was the play "His Three Son's" which draws heavily on Ross' past life and was his first show to be produced. The next year he wrote "Comprehensive Coverage" and the one-act "Regrets". "Coverage" was produced as part of Broadway Wests 2002 Scene Betweens and "Regrets" had its world premier in San Francisco as part of a one act festival put on by the California Travel Troup in January of 2003. This success led Ross to join the Dramatist Guild of America Inc. in 2003. His royalties for all his shows exceed $30! But hey, they were produced!
2002 also marked Ross first foray in to directing when he helmed "The Wisdom of Eve" for Broadway West. He later went on the win Best Director honors for his debut. For the year 2003, Ross finally one an award for his acting after multiple nominations. It was "Best Actor" for his role as George in Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virgina Woolf".
In 2004 and 2005 Ross was very busy working on a variety of acting and directing projects. After appearing as Polonius in Shady Shakespear's production of "Hamlet" (a dream role for Ross) and as Van Helsing in Broadway West's production of "Dracula", Ross decided he needed a break from the stage. After Directing "Blithe Spirit" for Broadway West, Ross went on a full sabattical. Ross returned to the stage in December of 2005 playing "Scrooge" in Dicken's "A Christmas Carol", a role he reprised again in 2006.
For now Ross continues to work regulalry across the Bay Area and is branching out into film work. Wherever he may go he hopes to see you there!