Legendary actor and Primetime Emmy winner Alex Rocco has died at the age of 79. His daughter Jennifer Rocco confirmed his passing online on Saturday, July 18, after he lost his battle with cancer.
Rocco was perhaps most well known for playing the role of Moe Green in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 classic, The Godfather.
His career stretched all the way back to 1965 with his first role being the Russ Meyer-directed film Motorpsycho! Rocco went on to have featured roles in “Batman,” “Mission: Impossible,” “Simon & Simon,” “The Love Boat,” “The Golden Girls,” and “The Famous Teddy Z,” for which he was awarded an Emmy. Recently Rocco has appeared in “Episodes,” “Maron,” and “Magic City,” and previously had a brief role on “The Simpsons” as the head of Itchy & Scratchy Studios, Roger Myers, Jr.
In film, Rocco continued to play gangster roles after starring in The Godfather, including appearances in Get Shorty and Smokin’ Aces. He also lent his voice to Pixar’s A Bug’s Life, as well as the video game Fallout: New Vegas, and the animated Batman: Year One.
Alex is survived by his wife, actress Shannon Wilcox, sons Lucien and Sean, daughters Jennifer and Kelli, four grandchildren and a sister.
