Joseph John Santos (née Minieri Jr.; June 9, 1931 – March 18, 2016) was an American actor. He was best known for his role as Police Sgt. (later Lt.) Dennis Becker on the NBC television series The Rockford Files (1974–80), which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.

Early life and education Santos was born Joseph Minieri Jr. to Italian American parents in Brooklyn on June 9, 1931. He was born the same day his father died. His mother Rose (née Sarno), sold olive oil and eventually became a nightclub owner and singer in New York City and Havana. She later married Puerto Rican singer Daniel Santos, and Joe took his name. Santos' cousin was sexploitation filmmaker Joseph W. Sarno, who would go on to give him some of his earliest film roles.

During the Korean War, Santos served in the United States Army. He was a football player at Fordham University, and even turned semi-pro, before finding a new avenue in acting. He struggled in show business, and worked blue-collar jobs until his friend Al Pacino helped him get a role in the 1971 movie The Panic in Needle Park.

Career

Film Santos had roles in a number of notable films of the early 1970s, including The Panic in Needle Park (1971), The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971), as the leader of a slave-catching posse in the western The Legend of Nigger Charley (1972), Shaft's Big Score! (1972), as a policeman in Shamus (1973), The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973), The Don Is Dead (1973), Blade (1973) and Zandy's Bride (1974).

More than two decades later he appeared in the big budget Kevin Costner flop, The Postman (1997).

Television From 1974 to 1980, Santos played LAPD Sergeant (later Lieutenant) Dennis Becker, the friend of the easy-going private investigator Jim Rockford (played by James Garner) in The Rockford Files. The role earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1979. He reprised the Dennis Becker role in eight The Rockford Files television movies (1994-1999).

He portrayed Lt. Frank Harper in the TV series Hardcastle and McCormick (1985–86).

Santos appeared in various television movies during the 1970s and 1980s, including Nightside (1973), The Blue Knight (1973), The Girl on the Late, Late Show (1974), A Matter of Wife... and Death (1975), Power (1980), The Hustler of Muscle Beach (1980), The Selling of Vince D'Angelo (1983), and The Ratings Game (1984). His character was often a police detective or lieutenant. He portrayed Marty Sinatra, Frank's father, in the four-part 1992 television miniseries Sinatra.

In 1980, Santos played Norman Davis in the short-lived (10 episodes) NBC comedy Me and Maxx. In 1984, he portrayed Domingo Rivera on the ABC comedy a.k.a. Pablo, which was cancelled after six episodes.

Santos made guest appearances on television shows throughout his acting career, including Room 222, Toma, Barnaby Jones, The Streets of San Francisco, Kung Fu, Baretta, Lou Grant, Police Story (in 8 episodes), Black Sheep Squadron, Trapper John, M.D. , The Greatest American Hero, Hill Street Blues (in 3 episodes), The A-Team, Remington Steele, T. J. Hooker, Hardcastle and McCormick (in 10 episodes), MacGyver (in 2 episodes), Magnum P.I. (in 5 episodes), Murder, She Wrote (in 2 episodes), Miami Vice, Quantum Leap, Santa Barbara (in 5 episodes), Hunter (in 2 episodes), and NYPD Blue.

From 1978 to 1980 he appeared on the CBS game show Match Game, always sitting in the top left seat.

Santos also appeared on The Sopranos as Angelo Garepe in seven 2004 episodes.

Personal life In 1958, Santos met and married Maria Montero while he was in Cuba. They were married 30 years until her death in 1988.

Death Santos died in Santa Monica, California on March 18, 2016, two days after suffering a heart attack at the age of 84.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes1964 Warm Nights and Hot Pleasures DickDirected by his cousin, Joe Sarno Flesh and Lace Julian Shop Owner 1966 Moonlighting Wives Det. Hank1967 The Tiger Makes Out Man At Housing Authority Uncredited My Body Hungers Truck DriverAlso directed by Sarno 1968 The Detective Reporter Uncredited1971 The Panic in Needle Park Det. DiBono The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight Ezmo1972 The Legend of Nigger Charley Reverend Shaft's Big Score! Pascal1973 Shamus Lt. Promuto The Friends of Eddie Coyle Artie Van The Don Is Dead Joe Lucci Blade Spinelli1974 Zandy's Bride Frank Gallo 1983 Blue Thunder Montoya 1984 Fear City Frank1986 The Education of Allison Tate Det. Duncan 1989 Beverly Hills Brats 'Spyder'1990 Revenge Ibarra 1991 The Last Boy Scout Lt. Ben Bessalo 1992 Mo' Money Lt. Raymond Walsh1994 Trial by Jury Johnny Verona Art Deco Detective Det. Guy Lean 1997 The Postman Colonel Getty 1998 The Right WayPaulie Rizzo2000 Auggie Rose Emanuel Hammerlock Warden Stan Cromwell2001 Proximity Clive Plummer The Man from Elysian Fields Domenico 2009 Baseline Bashir Abu Ahmed 2010 Dead Genesis Jason 2015 Chronic Isaac Sr.

Television 1972: Room 222 — Season 4 Episode 6 "The Imposter" as Manny Galvez 1973: The Blue Knight — Sgt. Cruz Segovia 1973: Police Story Season 1 Episodes 12 - 13 "Countdown" — Det. Sally Pickel 1974–80: The Rockford Files — Sgt. (later Lt. in Season 5) Becker (recurring), also in 8 subsequent TV-movies (1994–99) 1975: A Matter of Wife... and Death — Lt. Promuto 1978: Black Sheep Squadron  — CPO Miller Timmons (one episode) 1978-80: Match Game — Himself (multiple episodes) 1974: Kung Fu Season 3 Episode 52 "A Lamb to the Slaughter" — Señor Sanjero 1983: The Greatest American Hero — Season 3 Episode 8 "Space Ranger" as Henry Fletchner 1984: a.k.a. Pablo — Domingo Rivera (6 Episodes) 1984: Remington Steele — Alf Nussman 1984 Hunter - Season 1 Episode 3 "The Hot Grounder" as Det. Ortega 1985–86: Hardcastle and McCormick — Lt. Frank Harper 1986–87: MacGyver — Jimmy 'The Eraser' Kendall (two episodes) 1987: Murder She Wrote—Episode "The Bottom Line Is Murder"—Joe Rinaldi 1986–88: Magnum, P.I. — Police Lt. Nolan (five episodes) 1988: Miami Vice — Oscar Carrere (one episode) 1989: Quantum Leap  — Tony La Palma (one episode) 1990: Sinatra — Marty Sinatra 1990: Hunter — Season 7 Episode 10 "La Familia" as Ernesto/Grandpa 1990: The Old Man and the Sea — Lopez 1993: NYPD Blue — Angelo Marino (2 episodes) 2004: The Sopranos — Consigliere Angelo Garepe (seven episodes)

Awards and nominations +CeremonyCategoryWorkResult31st Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama SeriesThe Rockford Files

References

External links