Vito Russo (b. 1946, New York City - November 7, 1990, New York City) was an American gay activist, film historian and author who is best remembered as the author of the book The Celluloid Closet (1981, revised edition 1987). In 1983, Russo wrote, produced, and co-hosted a series focusing on the gay community called Our Time for WNYC-TV. This series featured the nation's first GLBT hard news and documentary video segment produced and directed by social behaviorist, D. S. Vanderbilt.