Actor Alex Rocco has died at the age of 79. Rocco’s daughter, Jennifer, announced the news of his passing on Saturday (18th July). His cause of death and other details surrounding his passing have yet to be released by his family. 

Alex Rocco aka Alessandro Federico Petricone, Jr. passed away just hours ago on July 18, 2015. February 29, 1936 - July 18, 2015 RIP Dad, be with Mom and Marc....I will see you but not for a while....

Posted by Jennifer Rocco on Saturday, 18 July 2015

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‘Alex Rocco aka Alessandro Federico Petricone, Jr. passed away just hours ago on July 18, 2015,’ Jennifer Rocco wrote on Facebook. ‘February 29, 1936 - July 18, 2015 RIP Dad, be with Mom and Marc....I will see you but not for a while....’

Boston-born Rocco was best known for playing the Las Vegas casino owner Moe Green in the 1972 classic film, The Godfather. He was well known for playing gangsters in various films throughout his fifty year career.  

He started his career in California in the 1960s and worked on honed his acting abilities under the tutelage of Star Trek star Leonard Nimoy, as E! reports. 

His work largely centred on television roles and he had parts in such series as the original Batman series in the 60s, Love Boat and Murder, She Wrote. He starred as Charlie Polniaczek in CBS’ Facts of Life and won an Emmy Award in 1990 for his role in The Famous Teddy Z

With his distinctive voice, he also voiced a number of characters in animated films. He played Thorny in the 1998 film, A Bug’s Life, and had small roles on The Simpsons and Family Guy

Rocco is survived by his wife Shannon, his two daughters, Jennifer Rocco and Shannon Wilcox, his son Lucien and his grandson. 

Contactmusic send their condolences to Alex Rocco’s family at this sad time. 

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