Jo's TV father.

[80s Dude]

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-ne...nter-hill-gang

[Wawwie]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

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.

[TV Guy]

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.

[Wawwie]

Originally Posted by TV Guy

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.

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by TV Guy

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.

['80sSitcoms]

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

Originally Posted by Wawwie

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"?

Originally Posted by TV Guy

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

That's interesting.

[RetroGuy2000]

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.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

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.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

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

Seems legit. F.A.C.T. is established. Mr. Gideon would be proud.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Seems legit. F.A.C.T. is established. Mr. Gideon would be proud.

[Smartboy]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

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?

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by Smartboy

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.

[80s Dude]

Lots of sources about Alex Rocco gangland past. https://gangsterreport.com/the-bosto...ass-bloodshed/