Joe Santos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joe Santos
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Santos (right) in 2009
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| Born |
Joseph John Minieri Jr.
June 9, 1931 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
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| Died | March 18, 2016 (aged 84) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1963–2010 |
| Spouse(s) |
Maria Montero
(m. 1958; |
| Partner(s) | Nancy Hobson |
| Children | 3, including Perry Santos |
Joe Santos (born Joseph John Minieri Jr.) was an American actor. He was born on June 9, 1931, and passed away on March 18, 2016. Joe Santos was most famous for playing Sgt. Dennis Becker. This character was a good friend of James Garner's character in the TV show The Rockford Files. He played a police officer in many of his roles.
Contents
Growing Up and Early Life
Joe Santos was born in Brooklyn, New York, on June 9, 1931. Sadly, his father died on the very same day he was born. His mother, Rose, sold olive oil. She later became a nightclub owner and singer in New York City and Havana. His mother then married Daniel Santos, who was from Puerto Rico. Joe took his stepfather's last name, Santos.
Before becoming an actor, Joe was a talented football player. He played at Fordham University. He even played football semi-professionally for a while.
Joe Santos also served his country. He was a soldier in the United States Army during the Korean War.
Becoming an Actor
It was not easy for Joe Santos to start his acting career. He worked in many different jobs before he became famous. His friend, the well-known actor Al Pacino, helped him get his first role. This was in the 1971 movie The Panic in Needle Park.
Famous Roles in Movies
Joe Santos appeared in many movies in the early 1970s. These included The Panic in Needle Park (1971) and The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971). He also acted in Shaft's Big Score! (1972) and The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973). In 1997, he was in a bigger movie called The Postman.
Television Career Highlights
Joe Santos is best known for his role as Sergeant Dennis Becker. He played this character from 1974 to 1980 in The Rockford Files. His character was a police officer in the LAPD. He was a good friend to Jim Rockford, who was a private investigator. Joe Santos played Dennis Becker again in eight The Rockford Files TV movies from 1994 to 1999.
He also played Lt. Frank Harper in the TV show Hardcastle and McCormick from 1985 to 1986. In 1992, he played Marty Sinatra, who was Frank Sinatra's father, in a TV miniseries called Sinatra.
Joe Santos made many guest appearances on popular TV shows. Some of these include:
- Room 222
- Barnaby Jones
- The Streets of San Francisco
- Kung Fu
- Baretta
- Lou Grant
- Police Story (in 8 episodes)
- The A-Team
- MacGyver (in 2 episodes)
- Magnum P.I. (in 5 episodes)
- Murder, She Wrote (in 2 episodes)
- Miami Vice
- Quantum Leap
- NYPD Blue
From 1978 to 1980, he was a regular guest on the game show Match Game. He often made people laugh with his jokes.
Later in his career, Joe Santos appeared in The Sopranos. He played the character Angelo Garepe in seven episodes in 2004.
Personal Life
In 1958, Joe Santos met Maria Montero in Cuba. They got married and were together for 30 years. Maria passed away in 1988.
Passing Away
Joe Santos died on March 18, 2016. He was 84 years old. He had a heart attack two days before he passed away.
Images for kids
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Santos (right) in 2009
See also
In Spanish: Joe Santos para niños
