"I made my bones when you were going out with cheerleaders!"
July 19, 2015 10:20 AM Subscribe
Prolific actor Alex Rocco, perhaps best known for his performance as Moe Greene in "The Godfather", has passed away at the age of 79.
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posted by Smart Dalek at 10:30 AM on July 19, 2015
posted by Smart Dalek at 10:30 AM on July 19, 2015
Back before Dennis Miller dumbed down his comedy for the Fox News set, I remember one of his best ad libs was referring to a pair of glasses with one lens popped out as "Moe Green eyewear."
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posted by jonp72 at 10:37 AM on July 19, 2015
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posted by jonp72 at 10:37 AM on July 19, 2015
TIL from Alex Rocco's Wikipedia page: (1) He actually was "connected" via Boston's Winter Hill Gang and (2) He later converted to Baha'i.
posted by jonp72 at 10:40 AM on July 19, 2015
posted by jonp72 at 10:40 AM on July 19, 2015
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posted by Meatafoecure at 10:41 AM on July 19, 2015
posted by Meatafoecure at 10:41 AM on July 19, 2015
I hope he's partying at Chasen's with Suzanne Pleshette. :-(
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posted by killy willy at 11:29 AM on July 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
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posted by killy willy at 11:29 AM on July 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
Roger Meyers, Jr.
posted by rhizome at 11:53 AM on July 19, 2015 [10 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 11:53 AM on July 19, 2015 [10 favorites]
"I have to go now. My planet needs me."
RIP.
posted by evilcolonel at 12:08 PM on July 19, 2015 [4 favorites]
RIP.
posted by evilcolonel at 12:08 PM on July 19, 2015 [4 favorites]
He made his bones when you were bangin' cheerleaders.
RIP.
posted by jonmc at 12:49 PM on July 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
RIP.
posted by jonmc at 12:49 PM on July 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
The "Do you know who I am?" scene is so great. I just rewatched it three times. The acting, the writing, the editing ... wow! Everybody was at the top of their game and it's just brilliant.
As great as Rocco was, it was Pacino's line at the end that gives the scene its perfect send-off. Between his death-like stare at Fredo and the quiet threat in his voice, Pacino just NAILS it.
(SLYT) "Fredo. You're my older brother. And I love you. But don't ever take sides with anyone against the Family again. Ever."
p.s. Fredo is an idiot.
posted by zooropa at 1:42 PM on July 19, 2015 [3 favorites]
As great as Rocco was, it was Pacino's line at the end that gives the scene its perfect send-off. Between his death-like stare at Fredo and the quiet threat in his voice, Pacino just NAILS it.
(SLYT) "Fredo. You're my older brother. And I love you. But don't ever take sides with anyone against the Family again. Ever."
p.s. Fredo is an idiot.
posted by zooropa at 1:42 PM on July 19, 2015 [3 favorites]
Yeah, Fredo messed up.
RIP Another person from The Simpsons, which defined my universe
posted by glaucon at 1:48 PM on July 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
RIP Another person from The Simpsons, which defined my universe
posted by glaucon at 1:48 PM on July 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
"I have to go now. My planet needs me."
RIP.
I always confused Joe Mantegna's voice work on the Simpsons with Alex Rocco's, probably because Joe Mantegna was consciously doing Alex Rocco when he voiced Fat Tony.
posted by jonp72 at 2:04 PM on July 19, 2015 [3 favorites]
RIP.
I always confused Joe Mantegna's voice work on the Simpsons with Alex Rocco's, probably because Joe Mantegna was consciously doing Alex Rocco when he voiced Fat Tony.
posted by jonp72 at 2:04 PM on July 19, 2015 [3 favorites]
And I love how they named Harold Ramis's SCTV general manager character as a tribute to Moe Greene.
posted by evilcolonel at 2:09 PM on July 19, 2015
posted by evilcolonel at 2:09 PM on July 19, 2015
Tip one for Rocco.
Top several for John Cazale, the brunt of Moe Greene's ire. He was in only seven movies. Six of them were nominated for Best Picture. Three of them won. A fourth lost only because it was actually pitted against one of Cazale's three winners .
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 2:41 PM on July 19, 2015 [3 favorites]
Top several for John Cazale, the brunt of Moe Greene's ire. He was in only seven movies. Six of them were nominated for Best Picture. Three of them won. A fourth lost only because it was actually pitted against one of Cazale's three winners .
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 2:41 PM on July 19, 2015 [3 favorites]
No obit would be complete without a link to Rocco's Random Roles interview for the AV Club.
Poor guy had only had 19 birthdays.
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posted by dannyboybell at 3:40 PM on July 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
Poor guy had only had 19 birthdays.
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posted by dannyboybell at 3:40 PM on July 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
From the AV Club Random Roles interview link:
The Famous Teddy Z (1989-1990)—“Al Floss”
AR: My favorite character. Hugh Wilson created that, the guy behind Frank’s Place and WKRP. I thought that was gonna be on for 10, 12 seasons. Out of all you writers, we got 50 rave reviews. Better than Cheers, better than Coach, better than The John Larroquette Show. And we lasted 12 weeks and went down the toilet. They pulled the plug. And I asked the people from CBS, “Well, what’s that all about?” And they said, [weasel-y voice] “Well, y’know, sometimes a Hollywood show just doesn’t cut it in the Bible Belt.” That kind of thing. I dunno if you ever saw it, but if you ever get a chance to see an episode…
I thought I was the only person alive who remembered that show. I made it a point to see all of the episodes because of Alex Rocco's brilliant performance. And, of course, Al Floss was later on Murphy Brown a few times.
Wonderful actor.
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posted by magstheaxe at 4:53 PM on July 19, 2015 [4 favorites]
The Famous Teddy Z (1989-1990)—“Al Floss”
AR: My favorite character. Hugh Wilson created that, the guy behind Frank’s Place and WKRP. I thought that was gonna be on for 10, 12 seasons. Out of all you writers, we got 50 rave reviews. Better than Cheers, better than Coach, better than The John Larroquette Show. And we lasted 12 weeks and went down the toilet. They pulled the plug. And I asked the people from CBS, “Well, what’s that all about?” And they said, [weasel-y voice] “Well, y’know, sometimes a Hollywood show just doesn’t cut it in the Bible Belt.” That kind of thing. I dunno if you ever saw it, but if you ever get a chance to see an episode…
I thought I was the only person alive who remembered that show. I made it a point to see all of the episodes because of Alex Rocco's brilliant performance. And, of course, Al Floss was later on Murphy Brown a few times.
Wonderful actor.
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posted by magstheaxe at 4:53 PM on July 19, 2015 [4 favorites]
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posted by AugustWest at 10:19 PM on July 19, 2015
posted by AugustWest at 10:19 PM on July 19, 2015
He actually was "connected" via Boston's Winter Hill Gang
I saw this in his Obit, and felt compelled to correct that. It is Somerville's Winter Hill Gang. The one of Whitey Bulger infamy. Whitey's South Boston group infiltrated, with the help of the FBI, both the Winter Hill gang and Boston's North End's chapter of the Mafia. The reason Whitey was able to do so, and ultimately become the last man standing, was the FBI's hard on for the Mafia's demise over any other organized crime group.
posted by Gungho at 7:30 AM on July 20, 2015
I saw this in his Obit, and felt compelled to correct that. It is Somerville's Winter Hill Gang. The one of Whitey Bulger infamy. Whitey's South Boston group infiltrated, with the help of the FBI, both the Winter Hill gang and Boston's North End's chapter of the Mafia. The reason Whitey was able to do so, and ultimately become the last man standing, was the FBI's hard on for the Mafia's demise over any other organized crime group.
posted by Gungho at 7:30 AM on July 20, 2015
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posted by On the Corner at 12:36 AM on July 21, 2015
posted by On the Corner at 12:36 AM on July 21, 2015
Weird.
It was only a few weeks ago that, in the pseudoconscious twilight of random thought we get when falling asleep, I suddenly realized that he'd also played Jo's dad in The Facts of Life.
My brain is odd.
posted by uberchet at 11:42 AM on July 22, 2015
It was only a few weeks ago that, in the pseudoconscious twilight of random thought we get when falling asleep, I suddenly realized that he'd also played Jo's dad in The Facts of Life.
My brain is odd.
posted by uberchet at 11:42 AM on July 22, 2015
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posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:30 AM on July 19, 2015 [14 favorites]