Mario Roccuzzo's illustrious 50-year acting career has been marked by an incredible versatility, with a vast array of roles in both television and film. From his early days working with Hollywood legends such as Fred Astaire to his collaborations with emerging talent like Alexander Smith, director of Bottleworld (2009),Mario has consistently demonstrated his ability to adapt to diverse roles and projects.
Born in Boston, Mario was exposed to the world of acting from a young age, watching his parents perform with an Italian repertory company. However, it was his father's untimely death when Mario was just ten years old that led his mother to relocate to California, where Mario would eventually pursue his dream of becoming an actor.
Determined to make a name for himself in the competitive world of Hollywood, Mario spent countless hours studying with acting coaches Jeff Corey and Corey Allen. His perseverance paid off when he managed to infiltrate Columbia Studios and secure an audition with director John Frankenheimer, landing the role of Diavolo in The Young Savages (1961).
Mario's early success was followed by a string of "bad guy" roles on popular television shows such as The Untouchables, The F.B.I., Stoney Burke, and Surfside 6. However, his chameleon-like ability to adapt to diverse roles and the rise of the "anti-hero" in the 1970s opened the door to a wide range of characters, including his portrayal of Harold Wagner opposite William Holden in The Blue Knight (1973).
Throughout the 1980s, Mario worked on numerous cop shows, including Baretta, Barnaby Jones, Barney Miller, Police Story, The Streets of San Francisco, and Hill Street Blues. He also continued to appear in feature films, charming audiences with his performances in The Majestic (2001) and Bottleworld (2009).
Despite his impressive credit list, Mario remains humble and passionate about his craft, stating that he loves acting just as much as he did when he first started out.
