The Aaron Ironwood School of Success (12 Sep 1975) - Pizza Dan Photos

Actor Joe Santos best known as the Rockford Files Lt. Dennis Becker Dead at age 84 on Mar 18, 2016

Joe Santos

Actor

Joe Santos was an American film and television actor. Born in Brooklyn on June 9, 1931, the same day his father died. His mother, the former Rose Sarno, sold olive oil and eventually became a nightclub owner and singer in New York and Havana. She later married Puerto Rican-born Daniel Santos, and Joe took his name.

Wikipedia

• Lived: Jun 09, 1931 - Mar 18, 2016 (age 84)
• Height: 5' 9" (1.75 m)
• Spouse: Mary Montero (m. 1958 - 1988)
• Children: Perry Santos (Son)
• Parents: Rose Minieri · Joseph Minieri
• Education: Fordham University                               

Date of Birth	9 June 1931, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Date of Death	18 March 2016, Santa Monica, California, USA  (heart attack)
Birth Name	Joseph Minieri
Height	5' 9" (1.75 m)

Mini Bio (1)

Brooklyn-born actor of Italian descent, Joe Santos started out a football jock at Fordham University and turned semi-pro before finding a new avenue in acting. Success was long in coming, and he paid his dues for years in a number of blue-collar jobs including railroad worker, tree trimmer, cabbie and barkeep while taking acting classes.

A soap opera job and work in his cousin Joseph W. Sarno's cheap jack film exploitations (Flesh and Lace (1965), Moonlighting Wives (1966) and My Body Hungers (1967)) in the '60s seemed to lead nowhere. His first real break came with the searing film downer The Panic in Needle Park (1971), getting a part at the urging of his friend and star of the film, the up-and-coming Al Pacino, who had played some softball with Santos.

A prime role as a sympathetic sergeant in the acclaimed TV mini-series The Blue Knight (1973) led Santos in the direction of "good cop" parts, with a long-running role as James Garner's long-suffering friend Lt. Becker on the series The Rockford Files (1974) (1974-80). Other series roles in Me and Maxx (1980), a.k.a. Pablo (1984)--as Paul Rodriguez's dad--and Lt. Harper in the 1985-86 season of Hardcastle and McCormick (1983) kept him busy.

Missing out on the one big role that might have put him on the map, the beefy and balding Santos remains a durable and reliable supporting player, getting some deserved notice in 2004 with his recurring role of "Consigliere Angelo Garepe" in the hit hit man series The Sopranos (1999). He has also dabbled in playwriting, having penned "Sunset Normandie", in which he also starred.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net

Spouse (1)

Mary Montero

(31 March 1958 - 18 March 2016) (his death) (2 children)

Trivia (2)

Cousin of director Joseph W. Sarno.

Father of producer/director/writer Perry Santos.

"The Rockford Files" The Hawaiian Headache (1979) - The Royal Surf Hotel Honolulu, Hawaiian Village Hotel, Banyan Gardens Restaurant & Lounge - Ken Swofford, Walter Kirk Stratton Jr., Stuart Margolin, Luis Delgado, Joe Santos, Elissa Dulce Hoopai, Jimmy Borges, Christopher Cary, James Murtaugh, Jack Garner, Julie Blissett, Danny Kamekona

ABOVE PHOTO: First question, WHO SOLD THAT WOMAN THAT OUTFIT??? And being the year 1979 doesn't mitigate the veracity of this question.
In the above photo James & Joseph Rockford are seen in the Honolulu Hawaii Airport after arriving on the island.
BLOOPER: Rocky tells his son Jim this is the first time he was been to Hawaii. But in a previous episode of the Rockford Files - "Dirty Money, Black Light" 1977 - Rocky won a trip to Hawaii and went there only to be subsequently grabbed by the FBI and brought back to Los Angeles California due to a case his son Jim Rockford was working on.

ABOVE PHOTO: Ken Swofford played Col. John 'Howling Mad' Smith who served with Jim Rockford in the Korean War. This was the 5th episode of the Rockford Files that Ken Swofford had a major role in. Ken Swofford was born in Illinois in 1933 and is still with us in 2012. He publicly fought a battle with alcohol abuse in the middle of his career and appears to have beaten it.

ABOVE PHOTO: Walter Kirk Stratton Jr. (W.K. Stratton) played Federal Agent Dwight "Whip" Whipple. In past episodes of the Rockford Files he played LAPD Sergeant Frank Dusenberg (Lt. Dennis Becker's partner). In this episode  Federal Agent Dwight "Whip" Whipple ends up very dead in a hot vehicle trunk.

ABOVE PHOTO: Stuart Margolin who played Jim Rockford's best friend Angel managed to be in this episode...A way to get a free Hawaiian vacation and we all know Angel loves anything that is FREE!

ABOVE PHOTO: Luis Delgado who plays Officer Billings and Joe Santos who plays Lt. Dennis Becker managed to be included in this episode being filmed in Hawaii.
The above hotel room was located in the Hawaiian Village Hotel - This is confirmed by the name of the hotel being printed on the room phone in the below photo.

ABOVE PHOTO: The phone reads: Hawaiian Village Hotel

ABOVE PHOTO: The ROYAL SURF HOTEL was the hotel that James & Joseph Rockford were booked at to stay while in Hawaii. As of this date I am unable to confirmed if this hotel is a real location or not in Honolulu Hawaii.

UPDATE 04/17/2016: I received the following e-mail in regards to this hotel -


Hello there!  Thanks for the great website!  Here's something to add for you:

Regarding Rockford Files " The Hawaiian Holiday" episode --   The "Royal Surf" hotel depicted in the show was fictional and hotel signage added by the studio for effect;  but the location itself really did exist as an actual Waikiki hotel . . . . it was (and still is) The Halekulani (next door to the Hawaiian Village).

Compare your webpage screenshot of the "Royal Surf" with this old photo of the Halekulani - note the details etc.  This photo is from the 'legacy' section of the current Halekulani website -  http://www.halekulani.com/hotel/waikiki-legacy  -  so I'm guessing that portion of the property used for Rockford was torn down during a subsequent remodel.  The area looks very revamped on google Earth.  But the Halekulani has been there since before the Rockford shoot.

Anyhow, thought I'd pass along the info.
Chris
Thank you Chris for the above e-mail and the below photo!

BELOW FIVE PHOTOS - Banyan Gardens Restaurant - Honolulu Hawaii

 ABOVE PHOTO: Sexy Cocktail Waitress played by the beautiful Elissa Dulce Hoopai

 ABOVE PHOTO: Jimmy Borges plays the restaurant manager Marshal Mingus at the Banyan Gardens Restaurant.

ABOVE PHOTO: Jim Rockford gets attacked behind the Banyan Gardens Restaurant & Lounge

In the above photo you can see the restaurant's name on the sign hanging off the top of the building and in the below photo you can see a  part of the name "Gardens" along with the same tree logo on the wall behind Jim Rockford.

ABOVE PHOTO: Jimmy Borges plays the restaurant manager Marshal Mingus at the Banyan Gardens Restaurant.

ABOVE PHOTO: Christopher Cary played the slick player Dutch Ingram.

Born: Christopher Bay Carysfort - June 16, 1930 in Surrey, England, UK & died in 2000

ABOVE PHOTO: Good old Chicagoan James Murtaugh makes his 4th appearance on the Rockford Files TV Series playing Gordon Lyle

ABOVE PHOTO: Actor Jack Garner, James Garner's older brother played LAPD Capt. McEnroe. Poor Jack was left behind in Los Angeles as most of the crew were in Hawaii.

Jack Garner passed away in 2011.

ABOVE PHOTO: The very sexy and beautiful Julie Blissett played Mrs. Ingram. You have to hand it to the 1970's for some of the hottest womens clothing ever.

ABOVE PHOTO: What's a Rockford Files TV Episode without Jim Rockford being shot. All is well...Just a flesh wound!

ABOVE PHOTO: I am guessing that these are two real Honolulu police officers from the late 1970's. Any viewers out there who may know these two Honolulu uniformed police officers?

Please let us know in the comment section or

RockfordLocations@live.com

ABOVE PHOTO: The Queen's Medical Center Honolulu Hawaii

1301 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI

ABOVE PHOTO: Danny Kamekona (1935-1996) played Honolulu Police Sgt. Oknemoto

ABOVE PHOTO: Lt. Dennis Becker and Officer Billings walk past some bikini chicks. It appears they are staring at these two women as much as we are now.

"The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) A ride down Hollywood Blvd in the 1970's - "Scientology - Los Angeles Test Center" - Hollywood Wax Museum 6767 Hollywood Blvd - Snow White Cafe 6769 Hollywood Blvd - National Bank 6777 Hollywood Blvd - Fox Movie Theatre 6506 Hollywood Blvd - Hollywood Pharmacy 6510 Hollywood Blvd - Le Continental Restaurant 6504 Hollywood Blvd which is now the Numero Uno Restaurant - Marty's II Bar & Pizza Hut on Hollywood Blvd - Hamburger Hamlet 6914 Hollywood Blvd across the street from the World Famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre 6925 Hollywood Blvd - KFI-AM 64 Radio / Los Angeles Billboard - Westfield Promenade Shopping Mall 1970's - 6600 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Canoga Park, CA - Holly View Apartments 1737 N Orange Dr Los Angeles, CA - Palisades Playhouse Theatre - Playhouse Theatre - Angels Theatre - The Cast Theatre - Circle Theatre - Instant Theatre - Zephyr Theatre - One Los Feliz Theatre 1816 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA - Paul's Fench Cusine 3801 Riverside Drive - Mr. Chow's 3805 Riverside Drive - Vaughans 3811 Riverside Drive - Jim Rockford's father Rocky's house 3654 Lankershim Blvd - Lovejoy's Antiques 3809 Riverside Drive Los Angeles CA

From Our E-Mail:

Hi,

Just wanted to let you know a few things that might help identify some of the locations.

I was the manager on duty the day they shot the "Dear Lick Falls" episode of the Rockford Files at the Chinese Theater in 1977/78. 

I spent the morning with all of the actors and crew. I was talking to them all morning about all kinds of things.

The Chinese Theater forecourt was just that.

The apartment building on Orange was shot the same day just steps away from the Theater.

The west side of the Chinese Theater doubled as the stage door entrance to the Palisades Playhouse.

I remember they were hanging clothes on the rail and had dressed inside the theater on the other side of the exit door with some clothes racks in case the camera picked up anything inside. 

So the Chinese Theater front, forecourt, west side and the apartment building on the other side of Orange were all done the same day. 

I found out later that James Garner wanted to save money and not have to do too many location moves in one day. This is probably the period he got upset at Universal and bought his own production trucks and moved really quick. 

As I remember they got there around 7 and were gone by around 1.

Also: RE: The Rockford Files - EPISODE: White on White and Nearly Perfect (1978)  In another section you mention a strip club on Sunset. They may have used the exterior front of the club on sunset but that red "cat" cage was behind the Pink Pussycat strip club at 7969 Santa Monica Blvd for years looking just like that. The car exiting the parking lot picture looks like it's leaving the lot on the east side of the Pussy Cat property because the USA gas station (now a 76 station) is on the other side of Santa Monica.

Hope that helps a bit.

Regards,

Ron H         (Thank You Ron H!!!!!)

ABOVE PHOTO: Priscilla Barnes as Lauren Ingeborg in "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977)

 ABOVE PHOTO: Priscilla Barnes as Lauren Ingeborg in "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) Also seen is James Garner as Jim Rockford and Joe Santos as Dennis Becker

 ABOVE PHOTO: Priscilla Barnes as Lauren Ingeborg in "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977)

ABOVE PHOTO: Priscilla Barnes as Lauren Ingeborg in "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) Also seen in this image is James Garner as Jim Rockford, Stuart Margolin as Angel Martin and Noah Beery Jr. as Joseph "Rocky" Rockford

ABOVE PHOTO: From left to right: James Garner as James Rockford, Edward Binns as Everet Alton Benson , Richard O'Brien as Arthur Kelso, Jerry Hardin as Knute Jacobs, who was born in 1929 and still active in acting, Charles Aidman as Noah Deitweiler (1925-1993) in  "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977)

ABOVE PHOTO: "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) A ride down the 1970's Hollywood Blvd - The yellow arrow points to a sign that reads "Scientology - Los Angeles Test Center" located on the 6400 Block of Hollywood Blvd

ABOVE PHOTO: "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) A ride down the 1970's Hollywood Blvd - Hollywood Wax Museum 6767 Hollywood Blvd - Snow White Cafe 6769 Hollywood Blvd - National Bank 6777 Hollywood Blvd

 ABOVE PHOTO: "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) A ride down the 1970's Hollywood Blvd - PickWick Book Store 6743 Hollywood Blvd

CLICK HERE TO READ THE NEWSPAPER NEWS ARTICLE ABOUT THE CLOSING OF THIS BOOK STORE IN 1995

ABOVE PHOTO: "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) A ride down the 1970's Hollywood Blvd - Fox Movie Theatre  6506 Hollywood Blvd - Hollywood Pharmacy 6510 Hollywood Blvd - Le Continental Restaurant 6504 Hollywood Blvd which is now the Numero Uno Restaurant

ABOVE PHOTO: "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) A ride down the 1970's Hollywood Blvd - Marty's II Bar & Pizza Hut on Hollywood Blvd

ABOVE PHOTO: "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) A ride down the 1970's Hollywood Blvd - Hamburger Hamlet 6914 Hollywood Blvd across the street from the World Famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre 6925 Hollywood Blvd

ABOVE PHOTO: "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) A ride down the 1970's Hollywood Blvd - KFI-AM 64 Radio / Los Angeles Billboard

ABOVE PHOTO: "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) - Westfield Promenade Shopping Mall 1970's - 6600 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Canoga Park, CA 

ABOVE PHOTO: "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) - Westfield Promenade Shopping Mall 1970's - 6600 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Canoga Park, CA

 ABOVE PHOTO: "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) - Westfield Promenade Shopping Mall 1970's - 6600 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Canoga Park, CA  

 ABOVE PHOTO: "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) - Westfield Promenade Shopping Mall 1970's - 6600 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Canoga Park, CA  

ABOVE PHOTO: "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) - Westfield Promenade Shopping Mall 1970's - 6600 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Canoga Park, CA 

ABOVE PHOTO: "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) - Holly View Apartments 1737 N Orange Dr  Los Angeles, CA 90028

 ABOVE PHOTO: "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) - Palisades Playhouse Theatre

 ABOVE PHOTO: "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) - Palisades Playhouse Theatre

 ABOVE PHOTO: "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) - Playhouse Theatre

ABOVE PHOTO: "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) - Angels Theatre

ABOVE PHOTO: "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) - The Cast Theatre - Circle Theatre

ABOVE PHOTO: "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) - The Cast Theatre - Circle Theatre

 ABOVE PHOTO: "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) -  Instant Theatre

 ABOVE PHOTO: "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) - Zephyr Theatre

ABOVE PHOTO: "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) - One Los Feliz Theatre  1816 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA

ABOVE PHOTO: "The Rockford Files" The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) - Paul's French Cusine 3801 Riverside Drive - Mr. Chow's 3805 Riverside Drive - Vaughans 3811 Riverside Drive, Lovejoy's Antiques 3809 Riverside Drive 

ABOVE PHOTO: Unknown restaurant at Kenwood & Riverside Drive in the 1970's 

ABOVE PHOTO: Jim Rockford's father Rocky's house 3654 Lankershim Blvd.

Vineland Ave & Lankershim Blvd Los Angeles, CA 91604

This home was used many times in numerous episodes of The Rockford Files as the residence of Jim Rockford's dad, Joseph "Rocky" Rockford

ABOVE PHOTO: Late Great Actress Fritzi Burr a regular on the Rockford Files played Ms. Orneck

ABOVE PHOTO: Another great actor no longer with us - Clark Howat (1918 - 2009) 

ABOVE PHOTO: He became famous as WKRP's newsman Les Nessman - Richard Sanders was born in 1940 and is still acting today