Life and Career
Santos was born Joseph Minieri in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Rose (née Sarno) and Joseph Minieri. He began his film acting career in the mid-1960s, appearing in films directed by his cousin, Joseph W. Sarno.
Santos is known for his roles as James Garner's friend, LAPD Sergeant (later Lieutenant) Dennis Becker in the 1970s television series The Rockford Files and as Lt. Frank Harper in the 1980s TV series Hardcastle and McCormick In the 1990s, he reprised this role in several made-for-television Rockford Files movies. He also starred opposite Melissa Michaelsen in the short-lived series Me and Maxx (1980) and Paul Rodriguez in a.k.a. Pablo. He had a recurring role in the HBO series The Sopranos as Angelo Garepe.
Santos has had featured roles in many films; his best known film roles include appearances in Shaft's Big Score! (1972), The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973), The Blue Knight (1973) as Sgt Cruz Segovia, Blue Thunder (1983), Revenge (1990), and the 1991 action/drama film The Last Boy Scout as Lieutenant Benjamin Bessalo.
Santos has made many guest appearances on TV shows, including Police Story, Barnaby Jones, Hill Street Blues, The A-Team, Magnum, P.I., Quantum Leap, Macgyver and NYPD Blue.
On the series Bakersfield P.D., Santos played himself, and was the victim of car thieves. However, the officers on duty were so awed by "Jim Rockford's friend," that they were unable to solve the crime and Santos ended up having to find the thieves himself.
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