Alex Rocco, a prolific character actor who is best known for his role in The Godfather, has died. He was 79.
The Boston-born actor’s death was announced on Facebook by his daughter, Jennifer Rocco. She said he died on Friday, but did not give any further details.
Rocco began his career in film and television in the mid 1960s. In 1972, Francis Ford coppola cast him as Las Vegas casino owner Moe Greene in the first Godfather. The following year, he got to put his full Boston accent on display in the underrated crime masterpiece The Friends of Eddie Coyle with Robert Mitchum and Peter Boyle.
Other films include Slither, Hearts of the West, Fire Sale, The Stunt Man, Cannonball Run II, Wired, A Bug’s Life, The Wedding Planner, Smokin’ Aces and Scammerhead.
On television, his voice was heard in The Simpsons as the “Itchy & Scratchy” studio owner Roger Meyers Jr, notes The Hollywood Reporter. He was most recently in Starz’s Magic City.
The only major award Rocco won was a Primetime Emmy in 1990 for his supporting role on CBS’ The Famous Teddy Z, a short-lived series with Jon Cryer.
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