Alex Rocco | |
|---|---|
 Rocco in 1990 | |
| Born | Alessandro Federico Petricone Jr. (1936-02-29)February 29, 1936 Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | July 18, 2015(2015-07-18) (aged 79) Studio City, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Alexander F. Petricone |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1965–2015 |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 4 |
Alex Rocco (bornAlessandro Federico Petricone Jr.; February 29, 1936 – July 18, 2015) was an American actor. Known for his distinctive, gravelly voice, he was often cast as villains, includingMoe Greene inThe Godfather (1972) and hisPrimetime Emmy Award–winning role inThe Famous Teddy Z. Rocco did a significant amount ofvoice-over work later in his career.[1]
Rocco was born as Alessandro Federico Petricone Jr.,[2] inCambridge, Massachusetts, in 1936, and raised in nearbySomerville, the son of an Italian immigrant,[3] Mary (née DiBiase; 1909–1978) and Alessandro Sam Petricone (1896–1949),[4] a native ofGaeta,Italy.[5][6] Rocco served in theNational Guard during theKorean War.[7]
In January 1960, Rocco -- then known as Alexander F. Petricone -- was one of 28 persons indicted by a Middlesex County grand jury in a gambling case,[8] and in September 1961, he was arrested along withJames McLean and others on charges related to an assault on the owner of a diner in Somerville, and the wrecking of his establishment, the previous August.[9][10]
According toorganized crime turncoatVincent Teresa, Petricone was a hanger-on with theWinter Hill Gang of theBoston area. An unwanted advance toward Petricone's girlfriend onLabor Day 1961, touched off theBoston Irish Gang War of the 1960s. Georgie McLaughlin, who made the advance, was beaten by Winter Hill Gang members.[11]
Petricone was arrested inCharlestown on October 31, 1961, along with McLean on suspicion of murder following the death ofBernie McLaughlin of theCharlestown Mob, the first murder of the war. He was working as a bartender.[12]
A witness claimed that Petricone was the driver of the getaway car, and he and McLean were formally charged in the slaying on November 1, 1961.[10] Petricone and McLean were released after a grand jury found a lack of evidence,[13] but both served a prison term for the diner wrecking. In 1962, while in prison, his wife's car was bombed. Police believed the bomb was intended forHowie Winter, head of the Winter Hill Gang, who had driven the car to her earlier.[14]
After completing his prison term for the diner assault, Petricone and his wife divorced and he moved toCalifornia. He later recounted, "I had to get out of Boston, so I flipped a coin and said 'Heads, Miami, tails, California'." He began taking acting lessons from actorLeonard Nimoy, a fellow Boston native. Nimoy worked with him to eliminate his heavyBoston accent and had him take speech lessons. Rocco followed through with Nimoy's instructions, and started working in the film industry, adopting the name "Alex Rocco" after seeing the "Rocco" on abakery truck.[15]
His first film role was inRuss Meyer'sMotorpsycho! in 1965.[15]
In 1972, Rocco played the part of Moe Greene, aLas Vegascasino owner, inCoppola'sThe Godfather. Greene's character represented the top Jewish mobster in Las Vegas; although he sought an Italian role, directorFrancis Ford Coppola remarked "I got my Jew!" on seeing Rocco.[1] The same year, Rocco returned to the Boston area to play a bank robber in the filmThe Friends of Eddie Coyle. He set up a meeting betweenRobert Mitchum and localIrish-American gangsters to help Mitchum research his part as Eddie Coyle, a low-level Irish-American criminal. Rocco introduced Mitchum toHowie Winter, leader of the Winter Hill Gang.[16] Another Winter Hill Gang member who met with Mitchum wasJohnny Martorano, who had murdered Billy O'Brien, a low-level gangster.[17]
In the fall of 1975, Rocco starred as Pete Karras inThree for the Road.[18] In the long-running, 1980sTV seriesThe Facts of Life, Rocco played Charlie Polniaczek,Jo's father. In 1989, he played Gus Keller in theCorey Feldman andCorey Haim movieDream a Little Dream. In the period 1989–90, Rocco was a regular on the television comedy seriesThe Famous Teddy Z as Al Floss, a Hollywood talent agent. He received anEmmy Award asBest Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for this role in 1990. In 1995, Rocco appeared as Jimmy Capp, a Miami mob boss, in the John Travolta mob comedy,Get Shorty. In 1997, he appeared, along withRodney Dangerfield and others, in the annualThanksgiving episode of theABC sitcomHome Improvement.[19]
In the 1996 filmThat Thing You Do!, Rocco had acameo part as Sol Siler, the founder ofPlaytone Records, a performance that was rated byThe Observer's critic as his "favorite [part] in the movie."[20] Rocco appeared as Salvatore in the 2001 filmThe Wedding Planner, and (uncredited) in theaction thrillerSmokin' Aces.
Rocco had a recurringvoiceover part in the long-runninganimated seriesThe Simpsons as the head ofItchy and Scratchy Studios,Roger Meyers Jr. In theDVDcommentaries, Rocco expressed true gratitude toThe Simpsons' staff for allowing him his first voiceover role. He did further voice work on two early episodes of theFox hit sitcom,Family Guy and on the 1998Disney/Pixar filmA Bug's Life. He deemed the latter to have been his "greatest prize in life," since he was paid $1 million to record eight lines.[1]
In 2008, Rocco starred in theSuper Bowl commercial for theAudi R8 supercar. The commercial was inspired byThe Godfather. He played a rich man who finds the front fascia of his luxury car in his bed, a nod to the scene from the original movie in which Jack Woltz, a rich movie producer, finds the head of his prized racehorse in his bed.[21] He was also featured on theStarz cable channel's crime-drama series,Magic City.[22] His last role was in the 2010sBBC2 TV seriesEpisodes, playing the "curmudgeonly" father ofMatt LeBlanc's character.[23]
His first marriage was to Grace Petricone, and they had one daughter, Maryann.[citation needed]
After moving to Los Angeles, Rocco became a member of theBaháʼí Faith,[24] and he appeared in a number of productions related to the religion over the years.[25][26][27] He also thankedBaháʼu'lláh, the Prophet Founder of theBaháʼí Faith, in his Emmy Award acceptance speech.[28]
After moving to California, he married Sandra Elaine Rocco (September 1, 1942 – June 12, 2002)[29] on March 24, 1964. He adopted her son, Marc King, who became known asMarc Rocco (June 19, 1962 – May 1, 2009), a film producer, screenwriter, and director.[30] The couple had two children, a daughter Jennifer and a son, Lucien, and one grandson. Sandra Rocco died ofcancer, aged 59.
Rocco marriedShannon Wilcox, on October 15, 2005.[31]
Alex Rocco died on July 18, 2015, frompancreatic cancer in hisStudio City home, at the age of 79.[1]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Motorpsycho | Cory Maddox | |
| 1967 | The St. Valentine's Day Massacre | Diamond | |
| 1968 | The Boston Strangler | Detective at Apartment of Victim #10 | Uncredited |
| 1970 | Blood Mania | Lawyer | |
| 1971 | Wild Riders | Stick | |
| 1971 | Brute Corps | Wicks | |
| 1972 | The Godfather | Moe Greene | |
| 1972 | Stanley | Richard Thomkins | |
| 1973 | Bonnie's Kids | Eddy | |
| 1973 | The Outside Man | Miller | |
| 1973 | Slither | Man with Ice Cream | |
| 1973 | The Friends of Eddie Coyle | Jimmy Scalise | |
| 1973 | Detroit 9000 | Lieutenant Danny Bassett | |
| 1974 | Three the Hard Way | Lt. Di Nisco | |
| 1974 | Freebie and the Bean | D.A. | |
| 1975 | Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins | Vinnie | |
| 1975 | A Woman for All Men | Lt. Robert Di Biase | |
| 1975 | Hearts of the West | Earl | |
| 1977 | Fire Sale | Al | |
| 1978 | Rabbit Test | Sergeant Danny Bonhoff | |
| 1979 | Voices | Frank Rothman | |
| 1980 | Herbie Goes Bananas | Quinn | |
| 1980 | The Stunt Man | Police Chief Jake | |
| 1981 | Nobody's Perfekt | The Boss | |
| 1982 | The Entity | Jerry Anderson | |
| 1984 | Cannonball Run II | Tony | |
| 1985 | Stick | Firestone | |
| 1985 | Gotcha! | Al | |
| 1985 | Stiffs | Pasquale | |
| 1987 | P.K. and the Kid | Les | |
| 1987 | Return to Horror High | Harry Sleerik | |
| 1987 | Scenes from the Goldmine | Nathan DiAngelo | |
| 1988 | Lady in White | Angelo "Al" Scarlatti | |
| 1989 | Dream a Little Dream | Gus Keller | |
| 1989 | Wired | Arnie Fromson | |
| 1990 | How to Murder a Millionaire | Walter Newman | |
| 1991 | The Pope Must Die | Cardinal Rocco | |
| 1992 | Boris and Natasha: The Movie | Sheldon Kaufman | |
| 1995 | The Flight of the Dove | Bartender | |
| 1995 | Get Shorty | Jimmy Cap | Uncredited |
| 1996 | That Thing You Do! | Sol Siler | |
| 1996 | Dead of Night | Bukowski | |
| 1997 | Just Write | Mr. McMurphy | |
| 1998 | Goodbye Lover | Detective Crowley | |
| 1998 | A Bug's Life | Thorny | Voice |
| 1999 | Dudley Do-Right | Kumquat Chief | |
| 2000 | The Last Producer | Poker Player #6 | |
| 2001 | The Wedding Planner | Salvatore Fiore | |
| 2001 | Face to Face | Phil | |
| 2002 | The Country Bears | Rip Holland | |
| 2003 | The Job | Vernon Cray | |
| 2005 | Crazylove | Uncle Cort | |
| 2006 | Find Me Guilty | Nick Calabrese | |
| 2006 | Jam | Mick | |
| 2006 | Smokin' Aces | Serna | |
| 2009 | Ready or Not | Don Julio | |
| 2010 | Now Here | Mr. Martin | |
| 2011 | Batman: Year One | Carmine Falcone | Voice |
| 2011 | And They're Off | Saul Youngerman | |
| 2012 | The House Across the Street | Mr. Barnes | |
| 2014 | Scammerhead | Ben Sarnus | |
| 2016 | Silver Skies | Frank | Posthumous release |
| 2017 | Don't Sleep | Mr. Marino | Posthumous release; Final film role |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Batman | Block | Episodes: "A Piece of Action" and "Batman's Satisfaction" |
| 1970 | That Girl | Biff | 1 episode |
| 1971 | Mission:Impossible | Tanner | Episode: "Blues" |
| 1972 | The F.B.I. | Matt Wilnor | 1 episode |
| 1972 | Cannon | Hit Man | Episode: "Hear No Evil" |
| 1973 | Cannon | Walter Koether | Episode: "Target in the Mirror" |
| 1973 | Kojak | Tony Crucio | Episode: "Knockover" |
| 1973 | Circle of Fear | Joseph Moretti | 1 episode |
| 1974 | The Rookies | Earl Fisher | 1 episode |
| 1975 | Hustling | Swifty | TV film |
| 1975 | Cannon | Paul | Episode: "Search and Destroy" |
| 1975 | Three for the Road | Pete Karras | 14 episodes |
| 1977 | Police Story | Investigator Phil Logan | Episode: "Nightmare on a Sunday Morning" |
| 1977 | Barnaby Jones | Harry Stroop | 1 episode |
| 1977 | The Rockford Files | Sherman Royle | 2 episodes |
| 1977 | Starsky & Hutch | Thomas Callendar | 2 episodes |
| 1977 | The Mary Tyler Moore Show | Ben Selwyn | Episode:Lou's Army Reunion |
| 1978 | The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank | Ralph Corliss | Television film |
| 1981–1988 | The Facts of Life | Charlie Polniaczek | 11 episodes |
| 1980 | CHiPs | Ansgar | Episodes: "The Great 5K Star Race and Boulder Wrap Party": Part 1 and Part 2 |
| 1982 | The First Time | Jay | Television film |
| 1983 | The Best of Times | Gene Falcone | Television pilot |
| 1984 | St. Elsewhere | Roger | Episode: "Breathless" |
| 1984 | Steambath | Tom Devon | Episode: "Madison Avenue Madness" |
| 1985 | Murder, She Wrote | Ernie Santini | Episode: "Tough Guys Don't Die" |
| 1985 | The Golden Girls | Glen O'Brien | Episode: "That Was No Lady" |
| 1985 | The A-Team | Sonny Monroe | Episode: "Champ!" |
| 1985 | Badge of the Assassin | Detective Bill Butler NYPD | Television film |
| 1986 | Murder, She Wrote | Bert Yardley | Episode: "Christopher Bundy – Died on Sunday" |
| 1987 | Rags to Riches | Michael Rapp | 1 episode |
| 1987 | Hotel | Phil Johnson | Episode: "Desperate Moves" |
| 1987 | Hunter | Floyd Benson | Episode: "Hot Prowl" |
| 1989 | Murphy Brown | Al Floss | 1 episode |
| 1989–1990 | The Famous Teddy Z | Al Floss | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor – Comedy Series |
| 1990–1997 | The Simpsons | Roger Meyers Jr. | Voice 3 episodes |
| 1991–1992 | Sibs | Howie Ruscio | 23 episodes |
| 1993 | Love, Honor & Obey: The Last Mafia Marriage | Uncle Frank | TV movie |
| 1994 | The George Carlin Show | Harry Rossetti | 11 episodes |
| 1995 | Can't Hurry Love | Michael O'Donnell | Episode: "Daddy's Girl" |
| 1996 | Pinky and the Brain | Floyd Nesbit | Voice Episode: "Fly" |
| 1996 | Mad About You | Mark Slotkin | Episode: "Outbreak" |
| 1997 | Early Edition | Barney Kadison | Episode: "Home" |
| 1997 | Home Improvement | Irv Schmayman | Episode: "Thanksgiving" |
| 1998 | Michael Hayes | Bernero | 1 episode |
| 1999 | Family Law | Goodman | 1 episode |
| 1999 | Family Guy | Soccer Mom | Voice Episode: "Mind Over Murder" |
| 1999 | Sabrina the Teenage Witch | TV Executive | Episode: "Sabrina's Real World" |
| 1999 | Just Shoot Me! | Charlie Gold | Episode: "Shaking Private Trainer" |
| 2000 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Johnny "Giovanni Rossini" Rose | Episode: "Wedding Bells" |
| 2001 | Family Guy | Bea Arthur | Voice Episode: "Ready, Willing and Disabled" |
| 2001–2004 | The Division | John Exstead Sr. | 14 episodes |
| 2005 | ER | Martin Trudeau | Episode: "Two Ships" |
| 2007 | The Wedding Bells | Larry Herschfield | Episode: "The Fantasy" |
| 2010 | Party Down | Howard Greengold | Episode: "Constance Carmel Wedding" |
| 2012 | Magic City | Arthur Evans | 4 episodes |
| 2012 | Private Practice | Ed | Episode: "Aftershock" |
| 2014–2015 | Episodes | Dick LeBlanc | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Maron | David Rosen | Episode: "Stroke of Luck" |
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