Did they ever say what Jo's TV father went to prison for on the show?

The guy that played him, Alex Rocco, always gave off a mobster vibe to me. Just learned a few weeks ago that he really was a mobster and actually did some time in prison. Turned out he was a member of the Winter Hill Gang, the so called Irish Mafia in Boston that would eventually be led by the infamous Whitey Bulger.
https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2015/07/21/late-godfather-actor-had-ties-to-winter-hill-gang

Did they ever say what Jo's TV father went to prison for on the show?

Yes, he went to jail for stealing typewriters from an office building.

I didn’t realize that he was associated with the Winter Hill gang. He was also in The Godfather.

I always thought he was a mediocre actor at best, and I’m being kind.

I didn’t realize that he was associated with the Winter Hill gang. He was also in The Godfather.

I always thought he was a mediocre actor at best, and I’m being kind.

He was also in an episode of Golden Girls where he played a married man having an affair with Dorothy.

I didn’t realize that he was associated with the Winter Hill gang. He was also in The Godfather.

I always thought he was a mediocre actor at best, and I’m being kind.

Nancy McKeon liked him so much was that she had him play her father in several movies and shows outside of Facts of Life.

He discusses it in his first appearance, "The Secret", where Mrs. Garrett takes Jo to see him in prison.


Yes, he went to jail for stealing typewriters from an office building.

I thought it was from a warehouse?

But yeah, really...typewriters? He thought those were "hot stuff"? :lol:


I always thought he was a mediocre actor at best, and I’m being kind.

That's interesting.

I always thought he was great in that role. I'm not at all surprised Nancy asked him to continue to be her TV dad. I never knew about his troubled past.

I never knew about his troubled past.

It would be interesting to see sources of that. Just to make sure it's not another "Lauri Hendler" case. :)

It would be interesting to see sources of that. Just to make sure it's not another "Lauri Hendler" case. :)

Seems legit. (https://www.wcvb.com/article/alex-rocco-moe-greene-in-the-godfather-had-real-criminal-record/8224681) F.A.C.T. is established. Mr. Gideon would be proud. :lol:

Seems legit. (https://www.wcvb.com/article/alex-rocco-moe-greene-in-the-godfather-had-real-criminal-record/8224681) F.A.C.T. is established. Mr. Gideon would be proud. :lol:

:lol:

It would be interesting to see sources of that. Just to make sure it's not another "Lauri Hendler" case. :)

What does his troubled past have to do with Lauri Hendler?

What does his troubled past have to do with Lauri Hendler?

Some people thought Lauri Hendler was an extra on the Girls School pilot. She denied ever being on Different Strokes and Facts of Life.

Lots of sources about Alex Rocco gangland past. https://gangsterreport.com/the-boston-irish-mob-wars-murder-timeline-godfather-actor-had-gangster-past-his-actions-spurred-mass-bloodshed/