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Tom Rosqui

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Tom Rosqui
Born
Thomas Francis Rosqui

(1928-06-12)June 12, 1928
DiedApril 12, 1991(1991-04-12) (aged 62)
OccupationActor
SpouseErica Yohn (August 18, 1963 – April 12, 1991; his death)
Children1 (+2 stepchildren)[1]

Thomas Francis Rosqui[2] (June 12, 1928 – April 12, 1991)[3] was an American character actor known for his versatility at portraying a variety of stage and film roles.[4]

Early life

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Born in Oakland, California, the son of a Portuguese mother, Sally (née Fernandes), a homemaker, and an Italian father, Thomas A. Rosqui, a traffic manager,[2] Rosqui grew up in Sacramento[5] and attended Sacramento Junior College and won a drama scholarship to the College of the Pacific, appearing in college productions and winning the school's F. Melvyn Lawson Award in dramatics.

Career

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Rosqui's career as a professional actor began in 1951, when he appeared in St. John Terrell's Music Circus in Sacramento, appearing in a production of Show Boat.[6][7]

He went on to appear in the national touring company production of The Cocktail Party. While serving in the U.S. Navy he appeared in the Actor's Workshop in San Francisco. After discharge he moved to New York, returning to San Francisco to appear in Gift of Fury, a play by Herbert Blau, who had headed the San Francisco Actors' Workshop with Jules Irving. When Blau and Irving formed the Lincoln Center Repertory Company, he was invited to join it, performing there for two years, appearing in The Condemned of Altona and Danton's Death.[7]

He appeared on Broadway in Sticks and Bones and The Price, among other productions. He also appeared on television, but his most prominent role was as Corleone family bodyguard Rocco Lampone in the first two Godfather movies.[4] By the 1980s, he was appearing largely on stage.[5]

Personal life

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Rosqui was married to actress Erica Yohn until his death at age 62 in 1991, following a long struggle with cancer. He was survived by a son, Yohn Rosqui, and two stepchildren.[1]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1962 Days of Wine and Roses Bettor Uncredited
1966 The Crazy-Quilt Henry
1968 Madigan Man
What's So Bad About Feeling Good? Radio Cop Uncredited
The Thomas Crown Affair Private Detective
1971 The Pursuit of Happiness District Attorney Keller
1972 The Godfather Rocco Lampone Uncredited
1974 The Godfather Part II
1976 The Great Texas Dynamite Chase Jason Morgan
Raid on Entebbe Amos Eran TV movie
1977 Airport '77 Hunter
MacArthur General Sampson
Heroes Patrolman #2
1978 Shame, Shame on the Bixby Boys Doc
Lady of the House Sergeant John Guffy TV movie
1979 California Dreaming George Booke
Little House on the Prairie Matthew Dobbs episode: "The Faith Healer"
1980 The Night the City Screamed Tom Burnham TV movie
1988 Defense Play Chief Gill
1991 Guilty by Suspicion Norman (final film role)

References

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  1. ^ a b "Tom Rosqui". Variety.com. May 6, 1991. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Tom Rosqui Biography". Filmreference.com. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  3. ^ "Tom Rosqui - Broadway Cast & Staff - IBDB". ibdb.com. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Tom Rosqui; Versatile Actor". Los Angeles Times. 1991-04-18. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  5. ^ a b Glackin, William (25 May 1986). "All The World's A Stage--Theaters Prove It". The Sacramento Bee. p. Encore 3. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Nine From Capital Win Plaudits in Show Boat Roles". The Sacramento Bee. 21 June 1951. p. 3. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b MacNeil, William A. (November 16, 1967). "Resident Theater Called Boon to Actors". The Record. p. C-1. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
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