Actor Alex Rocco, best known for his role as mobster Moe Greene in The Godfather, died Saturday at age 79.
No other information regarding his death, announced by his daughter Jennifer on Facebook, was immediately available.
Jennifer Rocco wrote on Facebook: DAD…..
Please don’t see just a boy caught up in dreams and fantasies,
See what I see,
A gregarious soul that loved me,
I was with you Dad in all the places you have traveled,
I ran and got your cream in your coffee,
When you were so tired you could not be free,
I held you up every night with those that did not understand you and me….
We laughed and joked until three,
No one else will ever know what was between you and me,
There was no one else like you,
Except Anthony and me….
Fighting the fight and making those laugh all across the land and the sea,
I was your little you,
A little you was me….
I relfected all that you were not through the eyes I would look deep into those browns and see the best of me…
I remembered when you needed me,
I need you more than you could ever think,
And you are gone in a blink….
All I did was just sink….
Woe is me,
If this is reality….
I remember the day you drove on the playground when I was young enough to enjoy your zany insanity,
I stood there 100 yards away standing by my seat,
I watched as you honked your sports’ car by the street,
Then zoomed across in seconds to grab me,
You never cared about the police,
They let you go anyway since you were Moe Greene,
Now I feel you not wanting to see,
The tears streaming down my face so sweet,
You pushed me away when you were sick,
You didn’t think I knew,
Yet I am a little bit of you you see…
I am a little piece of your seed,
What did you think I would not bleed?
I celebrate you now, don’t you see?
All those secrets between us stays with me,
I’m your little confidant no matter what will be,
I always could find you no matter what location you would be,
You’re always my buddy the grave won’t rob you of me,
Your spirit is always alive in my heart and the littler piece of you and me called Anthony….
I remember the time you waliked into Albertson’s in your pajamas,
Your slippers,
Your sweatshirt,
And that under tee,
With no care in the world except for me….
I will never every forget all things things you taught me…
Forever your fruit of the poisonous tree as you called little ole me…
Ha little did you know I would end up using that line in court to defend the defenseless you were so proud of me….
Dad I will love you forever no matter your physical location,
You are with me,
Can’t rid your voice in my head as it will forever sing to me,
I still have the birthday song you sang to me last year,
I just wish you could have stayed until next month,
I knew two weeks ago you were going to leave,
I know you were in pain brutally,
I know you had to be,
So I pray and say it’s okay to be away,
I will see you soon my love,
But not just yet…
That litlte bit of you still needs me to raise your greatest joy, Anthony….
He is the spitting image of you and me….
I will forever remind him of those crazy times we had,
Oh so funny,
And he will know how you were just between you him and me…..
See you soon,
Until then I will find you,
In the butterflies,
The wind and the sea,
The rain that hit today was your storm of passing,
This I know as the rain stopped when you took your leave,
Smile forever now and I will be fine and free….
Because you taught me to survive even if it’s just me….
Just you wait and see….
love,
your daughter,
Jenny
From Variety:
He appeared in several episodes of 1980s TV show “The Facts of Life” as Charlie Polniaczek, and had recurring roles on other shows including “Starsky and Hutch” and “The Famous Teddy Z.” He did voices for animated shows including “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy.”
His film career included roles in “Freebie and the Bean,” “Get Shorty,” “Gotcha!,” “The Stunt Man” and “That Thing You Do.” His son, Marc Rocco, who died in 2009, directed him in “Dream a Little Dream” and “Scenes From the Goldmine.”
He was born Alexander Federico Petricone Jr. in Boston, and studied acting with Leonard Nimoy, making his TV debut on “Batman.”
He is survived by his wife, actress Shannon Wilcox, daughter Jennifer, son Lucien and a grandson.
Photo source: PETER KRAMER/GETTY
