Mario Roccuzzo (November 9, 1940 – October 9, 2021)[1] was an American actor, most commonly known for his episodic roles on television police dramas, although he played various parts on significant sitcoms and in films.
In addition, in 1958, Roccuzzo wrote the famous Eddie Cochran rock song, "Nervous Breakdown".
[3] Roccuzzo's parents were both actors working in an East Coast Italian repertory, inspiring him to take the acting career path at an early age.
[citation needed] In 1960, at the age of 20, he appeared, uninvited, in the office of director John Frankenheimer of Columbia Studios, asking for a chance to audition for whatever film he was making next.
This led to his first big break, playing Diavolo in the film The Young Savages.