Mario Roccuzzo Explained

Mario Roccuzzo
Birth Date:9 November 1940
Birth Place:Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Death Place:West Hollywood, California, U.S.
Occupation:Actor
Yearsactive:1960–2016

Mario Roccuzzo (November 9, 1940 – October 9, 2021)[1] was an American actor, most commonly known for his episodic roles on television police dramas, although he played various parts on significant sitcoms and in films. His appearances include Hill Street Blues, Barney Miller, and NYPD Blue, as well as and The Untouchables.[2] He had over 250 television roles, and a dozen in feature films. In addition, in 1958, Roccuzzo wrote the famous Eddie Cochran rock song, "Nervous Breakdown".[3]

Biography

Roccuzzo's parents were both actors working in an East Coast Italian repertory, inspiring him to take the acting career path at an early age. When Mario was 10, his father died and his mother relocated the family to California, where he began taking night classes for acting, first with Jeff Corey, then Corey Allen. In 1960, at the age of 20, he appeared, uninvited, in the office of director John Frankenheimer of Columbia Studios, asking for a chance to audition for whatever film he was making next. This led to his first big break, playing Diavolo in the film The Young Savages.

Next, he played Nicky on the top television show, The Untouchables. He initially became typecast in "bad guy" roles, but this gradually expanded to general roles in police/crime shows, both drama and comedy.

Filmography

This filmography is very incomplete. For the complete list, check here.

Roles
YearTitleRoleNotes
1960The UntouchablesNicky Bousso
1961The Young SavagesDiavoloUncredited
1962Tony McLaughlinEpisode: The Malignant Hearts
1963The LieutenantPrivate Brian BarducciTwo different episodes
1966The MonkeesKikoS1:E16, Son of a Gypsy
1972All in the FamilyAngeloEpisode: The Locket
1974Wonder WomanWalter
1976SerpicoPasquale SerpicoEpisode: The Deadly Game
1975–77Police StoryMultiple charactersFour different episodes
1975–77BarettaJoey PerinoTwo different episodes
1978B.J. and the Bear"High ranking suit"Episode: The Foundlings
1979KazEpisode: Conspiracy in Blue
1978–82Barney MillerMultiple charactersSix different episodes
1983Hill Street BluesAndrewsEpisode: Goodbye, Mr. Scripps
1982–84AliceMultiple characters3 different episodes
1985Night CourtMario EisenhowerEpisode: Halloween, Too
1985Tales from the DarksideHenry ColanderEpisode: Anniversary Dinner
1985–88Mr. BelvedereVarious characters5 different episodes
1988Arthur MalenconEpisode: Home Soil
1989Murder, She WroteWinoEpisode: Smooth Operators

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mario Roccuzzo Obituary (1940-2021). Los Angeles Times. October 13, 2021. November 8, 2021.
  2. Web site: Mario Roccuzzo Filmography. Fandango. June 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20120506092432/http://www.fandango.com:80/marioroccuzzo/filmography/p126138. May 6, 2012. live. Wayback Machine.
  3. Book: Pollock, Bruce. Rock Song Index: The 7500 Most Important Songs for the Rock and Roll Era. 255. March 18, 2014. Routledge . 9781135462963. Google Books.