Tom Rosqui Explained

Birth Name:Thomas Francis Rosqui
Birth Date:12 June 1928
Birth Place:Oakland, California, U.S.
Death Place:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation:Actor
Spouse:Erica Yohn (August 18, 1963  - April 12, 1991; his death)
Children:1 (+2 stepchildren)

Thomas Francis Rosqui (June 12, 1928  - April 12, 1991)[1] was an American character actor known for his versatility at portraying a variety of stage and film roles.[2]

Early life

Born in Oakland, California, the son of a Portuguese mother, Sally (née Fernandes), a homemaker, and an Italian father, Thomas A. Rosqui, a traffic manager,[3] Rosqui grew up in Sacramento and attended Sacramento Junior College and won a drama scholarship to the College of the Pacific, appearing in college productions and winning the school's F. Melvyn Lawson Award in dramatics.

Career

Rosqui's career as a professional actor began in 1951, when he appeared in St. John Terrell's Music Circus in Sacramento, appearing in a production of Show Boat.[4] [5]

He went on to appear in the national touring company production of The Cocktail Party. While serving in the U.S. Navy he appeared in the Actor's Workshop in San Francisco. After discharge he moved to New York, returning to San Francisco to appear in Gift of Fury, a play by Herbert Blau, who had headed the San Francisco Actors' Workshop with Jules Irving. When Blau and Irving formed the Lincoln Center Repertory Company, he was invited to join it, performing there for two years, appearing in The Condemned of Altona and Danton's Death.

He appeared on Broadway in Sticks and Bones and The Price, among other productions. He also appeared on television, but his most prominent role was as Corleone family bodyguard Rocco Lampone in the first two Godfather movies. By the 1980s, he was appearing largely on stage.[6]

Personal life

Rosqui was married to actress Erica Yohn until his death at age 62 in 1991, following a long struggle with cancer. He was survived by a son, Yohn Rosqui, and two stepchildren.[7]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1962Days of Wine and RosesBettorUncredited
1966The Crazy-QuiltHenry
1968MadiganMan
What's So Bad About Feeling Good?Radio CopUncredited
The Thomas Crown AffairPrivate Detective
1971The Pursuit of HappinessDistrict Attorney Keller
1972The GodfatherRocco LamponeUncredited
1974The Godfather Part II
1976The Great Texas Dynamite ChaseJason Morgan
Raid on EntebbeAmos EranTV movie
1977Airport '77Hunter
MacArthurGeneral Sampson
HeroesPatrolman #2
1978Shame, Shame on the Bixby BoysDoc
Lady of the HouseSergeant John GuffyTV movie
1979California DreamingGeorge Booke
Little House on the PrairieMatthew Dobbsepisode: "The Faith Healer"
1980The Night the City ScreamedTom BurnhamTV movie
1988Defense PlayChief Gill
1991Guilty by SuspicionNorman(final film role)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tom Rosqui - Broadway Cast & Staff - IBDB . ibdb.com . November 27, 2022 .
  2. Web site: Tom Rosqui; Versatile Actor. 1991-04-18. Los Angeles Times. en-US. 2020-04-24.
  3. Web site: Tom Rosqui Biography. Filmreference.com. October 15, 2017.
  4. News: Nine From Capital Win Plaudits in Show Boat Roles . September 1, 2023 . The Sacramento Bee . 21 June 1951 . 3. Newspapers.com.
  5. News: MacNeil . William A. . Resident Theater Called Boon to Actors . 1 September 2023 . The Record . November 16, 1967 . C-1. Newspapers.com.
  6. News: Glackin . William . All The World's A Stage--Theaters Prove It . September 1, 2023 . The Sacramento Bee . 25 May 1986 . Encore 3. Newspapers.com.
  7. Web site: Tom Rosqui. May 6, 1991. Variety.com. August 28, 2023.