Joe Santos(born Joseph Minieri June 9, 1931 – died March 18, 2016) guest starred on Quantum Leap as Tony La Palma, father of mafia hitman Frankie La Palma, whom Dr. Samuel Beckett leaps into in the Season 1 episode "Double Identity".
A revered TV/film character actor, Joe was best known for his recurring role as Lt. Dennis Becker in the TV series The Rockford Files (1974–80),[1] and all of its follow-up TV movies. He also appeared as Oscar Carrera, head of the Carrera drug cartel in the episode "Hostile Takeover" of the NBC-TV series Miami Vice.
He also played the part of Lt. Frank Harper in the ABC-TV series Hardcastle and McCormick from 1985–1986. He had brief parts in several lesser-known films, and made a number of guest appearances on television shows throughout his acting career, frequently in the stock character role of a police officer. He also appeared on The Sopranos as Angelo Garepe in seven 2004 episodes.
From 1978-1980 Santos appeared on the CBS game show The Match Game always sitting in the top left seat. He appeared in numerous episodes and was usually comic foil to Brett Somers.
Death[]
Santos suffered a heart attack on March 14, 2016, according to his son, Perry Santos. He died four days later at the age of 84.[2]
Selected Filmography[]
| Year | Credit | Character | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Warm Nights and Hot Pleasures | Julian, the shop owner | First movie appearance |
| Carol for Another Christmas (TV movie) | #32 | First TV appearance, uncredited | |
| 1971 | The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight | Ezmo | Feature film |
| 1973 | Shamus | Lt. Promuto | Crime/Action Feature film |
| The Friends of Eddie Coyle | Artie Doyle | Feature Film | |
| The Blue Knight | Sgt. Cruz Segovia | Crime/Action Feature film | |
| 1974-1980 | The Rockford Files (TV series) | Sergeant (later Lieutenant) Becker | Recurring role, 123 episodes |
| 1976-1979 | Match Game 73 | Himself | Guest Panelist; 3 episodes |
| 1983 | Blue Thunder | Montoya | Action feature film |
| 1984 | Fear City | Frank | Action/Crime film |
| Remington Steele (TV series) | Alf Nussman | in episode "Let's Steele a Plot" | |
| The A-Team (TV series) | Rudy Garcia / Plant Foreman | in episode "Trouble on Wheels" | |
| 1985 | T.J. Hooker (TV series) | Mr. Castle | in episode "The Bribe" |
| 1985-1986 | Hardcastle and McCormick (TV series) | lt. Frank Harper | Recurring role, 9 episodes |
| 1989 | Quantum Leap | Tony La Palma | in episode "Double Identity" |
| 1991 | The Last Boy Scout | Bessalo | starring Damon Wayans, Bruce Willis, with Bruce McGill |
| 1994 | Mo' Money | Lt. Raymond Walsh | starring Damon and Marlon Wayans |
| 1997 | The Postman | Colonel Getty | |
| 2001 | The Man from Elysian Fields | Domenico | |
| 2004 | The Sopranos (TV series) | Angelo Gaerpe | Final TV appearance, 7 episodes |
| 2015 | Chronic | Issac, Sr. | Final movie appearance |
References[]
- ↑ Susan Doukas Brady (July 11, 2012). Tales, Observations and Notes: Bob an Actor's Mentor. Susan Doukas Brady. p. 36. ISBN 978-1-61927-060-2. http://books.google.com/books?id=cVHp1ZSRu3AC&pg=PT36.
- ↑ Weber, Bruce. "Joe Santos, a Mainstay of 'The Rockford Files,' Dies at 84", March 18, 2016, p. A22.
External links[]
- Joe Santos article at Wikipedia
Joe Santos at the Internet Movie Database)
