Joe Santos obit

'Rockford Files' actor Joe Santos dies at 84

He was not on the list.

Joe Santos, who played Lieutenant Dennis Becker on The Rockford Files, has died at 84.

Santos died Friday in Santa Monica, California, after a heart attack earlier in the week, according to his agent Alicia Beekman.

Santos’ career spanned more than four decades, from a guest shot on Naked City in the early 1960s through a recurring role on The Sopranos.

But he was best known as Lieutenant Becker, the pal and grudging helpmate of L.A. private eye Jim Rockford (James Garner) on NBC’s The Rockford Files, which aired from 1974 to 1980 and scored him an Emmy nomination.

The New York-born actor also had guest roles on such series as Magnum, P.I., Miami Vice and Hardcastle & McCormick.

Santos most recently was seen in the 2015 film Chronic.



Filmography

Actor

Year Title Role Notes

1964 Warm Nights and Hot Pleasures Dick

Flesh and Lace Julian shop owner

1966 Moonlighting Wives Detective Hank

1967 The Tiger Makes Out Man at Housing Authority Uncredited

My Body Hungers Truck Driver

1968 The Detective Reporter Uncredited

1971 The Panic in Needle Park Detective DiBono

The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight Ezmo

1972 The Legend of Ngr Charley Reverend

Shaft's Big Score! Pascal

1973 Shamus Lieutenant Promuto

The Friends of Eddie Coyle Artie Van

The Blue Knight Sgt. Cruz Segovia TV movie

The Don Is Dead Joe Lucci

Blade Spinelli

1974 Zandy's Bride Frank Gallo

A Knife for the Ladies Uncredited

1975 A Matter of Wife... and Death Lieutenant Promuto TV movie

1983 Blue Thunder Montoya

1984 Fear City Frank

1986 The Education of Allison Tate Detective Duncan

1989 Beverly Hills Brats Spyder

1990 Revenge Ibarra

Sinatra Marty Sinatra 5 episodes

1991 The Last Boy Scout Bessalo

1992 Mo' Money Lt. Raymond Walsh

1994 Trial by Jury Johnny Verona

Art Deco Detective Detective Guy Lean

1997 The Postman Colonel Getty

1998 The Right Way

2000 Auggie Rose Emanuel

Hammerlock Warden Stan Cromwell

2001 Proximity Clive Plummer

The Man from Elysian Fields Domenico

2009 Baseline Bashir Abu Ahmed

2010 Dead Genesis Jason

2015 Chronic Issac Sr. (final film role)