Rocco Parente Jr. is an Italian American born actor best known for his menacing on-screen presence and charisma. Ironically after working diligently to tone down his thick Bronx accent he landed his first movie role in the feature-film “A Bronx Tale.” He was quickly thrown into the fire under Robert DeNiro’s direction and Chazz Palminteri’s encouragement while loving every minute of it. We spoke with him about his career and what is next in 2021.
FMM: What have you learned over the years as an Actor?
I have learned many things over the years but most importantly I learned that life passes you by so fast so you just can’t wait for someone to give you your break. You have to try to create your own opportunities by networking, and surrounding yourself with like minded positive people. I’ve also learned not to be afraid to take on a mentor. Allow zero down time while always keeping sharp so when the ball comes to you you’re ready for it. Acting is a process that takes practice even if you think “you got the look” it’s just not enough. I also learned how tough it is to be an actor. The great ones make it look very easy. Yes , Acting is an Art if handled with finesse and care. I must say that I always get enraged when someone says that an Actor is terrible and doesn’t belong on TV. I ask them “can you walk and chew gum at the same time”. I then challenge them to memorize five or ten items for a grocery list and go do exactly what I tell you on the way. Simply just go down a couple of numbered isles and let’s see if you were able to even do that, let alone memorize a page or a third of dialogue. They usually fail, then clam up after my rant.
It’s very competitive out there with lots of Actors just like you, same type, all going out for the same roles. I have also learned that there are no shortcuts in this business meaning that if you’re not ready for the next level, the Casting Directors and Directors will see it written all over your face. That’s their job, they see things that other people don’t. That’s why some great actors never make it past community theater. In the beginning, I was looking for the path of least resistance and it didn’t work. I got by for a while playing under fives and pigeon holed as the go to solid set up man.You need to be disciplined and have your acting career come first if that’s at all possible otherwise you will not make it to the next level. When I first started out I landed my first few jobs which is very rare. I became a must join after 30 days on a TV set and joined the Aftra Union from being casted on the soap opera One Life To Live. Shortly after that hit my dream of obtaining my SAG card from landing a role in a Bronx Tale. I was ready. I thought I was on my way. I had the eye of the tiger, then life happened. I had to take on two jobs to help support my family and was not able to give 100%. Thankfully now I seem to be back on track in 2021, after a horrific 2020 for all of us.
FMM: You are known for your menacing on-screen presence and charisma. What role has challenged you?
Well, thank you for the compliment. It’s really nice to know that I’m known for something! In all seriousness, I actually come from a comedic background. I started off with improvisation joining the worlds sexiest improv, a spinoff of the improvables. I was also the class clown which ironically helped. To be honest playing a menacing tough guy was a little bit challenging for me actually. Back when I first moved from the Bronx to Rockland County in second grade I had to really back up my name …Rocco. Kids back then had never heard that name before and you know how cruel kids could be.Long story short.I let some kid break his hand on my face. Guess I won technically I won ,lol . Win rocky win! Believe it or not that was one of only a few fights that had taken place in my life. Sorry Jules …did I answer your question yet? The Short answer is any role not menacing is a challenge Okay, enough joking around ! I would say the role that has challenged me was actually playing Humphrey Bogart on stage in a theater production of play it again Sam. Produced by Gino Cafarelli and Carmine Famiglietti. Joe Summa played a great Woody Allen. When you look up the meaning of charisma in the dictionary ,charismatic Bogey’s face comes up smokin a stogey. So it was a challenge to play someone that powerful with all his sneers and idiosyncrasies.The man exuded machismo from head to toe. Anyway the producer, as well as the cast , enjoyed my performance. I think that was the start of me taking on more challenging roles. As far as Charisma goes , let me try and break it down. I believe that charisma is something that is inborn.You either have it or you don’t. If you do have it and you’re lucky enough to bring it to your the stage or on screen performances then you are golden. So I am very happy that I received some reviews stating just that.
Bo Dietl, who plays Thomas Luchese and Rocco Parente Jr. who plays the acting Profaci Boss.
FMM: Tell us about the “A Bronx Tale.” What did you enjoy the most?
Yes, A Bronx Tale, going back in time. The 90’s was so long ago but that movie was and will still be a classic for a very long time. Chazz Palminteri stuck with his dream. He created his own opportunity. He held out from taking millions not to star and hand over his baby. He stuck to his guns, no pun intended. That paid off when De Niro stepped in. He played his dream role just like what Sylvester Stallone accomplished with Rocky and what Spike Lee did with so many of his films. I am rambling again. Back to me… Funny I’m probably one of the only actors that hates talking about themselves. Do you have time for this? I have a couple tales of my own Jules. So for me at the time I had just started my acting career. I had only been in a couple things. One was a music video, and I had a role on the soap opera One Life to Live for a few months. My manager at the time told me I needed to lose my New York accent. I took some classes and ended up in a Meisner technique class with William Alderson so that I could practice my American standard accent. Sure enough everyone in my class including two teachers were buzzing about this new movie audition for A Bronx Tale. The entire class was trying to get into the audition. All the Midwesterners and London people were putting on this terrible accent, which sounded like a hillbilly Mickey Blue Eyes. I had tried to get an audition after tutoring everyone how to speak with a Bronx accent. My manager at the time said that they had hired Robert De Niro and casting was closed. They were now only using real people that were non-actors that resided in the Bronx. I decided to take a Polaroid that I had taken in Italy when I was drinking some espresso with my pinky out, and wrote a note in the back of the Polaroid that said ” Hey, how ya doin? I’m Rocco from the Bronx and I wanna be in your movie. Call me anytime “ I used my uncle’s address who resided in the Bronx with his home phone number then two days later my Uncle Charlie called me… “De Niro called for you Roc” and said come down to Tribeca. My Uncle is an award winning ball buster so I really didn’t believe him. I drove to Tribeca and when I got there I told the Casting Director that I got a message to come down. Sure enough they had my Polaroid picture with the note I wrote. I read a couple of lines of dialogue with the casting director. Afterward she made a phone call to someone called Bobby. Then instructed me to go upstairs. I had no idea that Bobby was the actual Robert De Niro. Once upstairs with him he makes me feel at home and tells me a joke to lighten things up. I think it was a joke about a stage actor that had the line “Hark I hear the canons roar ” his only line in the play. He practiced the line for a week. Opening day its his big moment. The canon booms … He goes “what the F was that ?” Then we got down to business. We did some improvisation which was pretty awesome. Then we hit the script. A few weeks later I got the call back.Then two more. Although I didn’t get the bigger part, I got this part as the driver which was still very memorable and very cool.
What I enjoyed the most on set besides being directed by Robert De Niro and watching Chazz work his magic on in front of the camera, was being back to the 1960’s. The costumes, the cars, the hairspray, the wardrobe. I also really liked how they changed Astoria, Queens into a duplicate Arthur Avenue in the Bronx which was amazing to me because you couldn’t tell the difference.The only differences were that the streets were a lot wider and the Italians were Greek.
FMM: Share your philosophy to your craft.
Well, I’m no philosopher but here goes nuttin. I come from an improvisation and a comedy background which is very helpful for me most of the time. It also works well with some Directors. For me it actually gets my engine started so to speak. I take pride in my memorization skills. It helps me tremendously to settle in and actually do the character work that I need to do. Meaning once you have your lines in the bank you are able to delve into the character, hit your marks, do your camera work, and be able to work off your partner rather than reaching for your dialogue. Sometimes you only have limited time to memorize your lines. If you are lucky you’ll get a week. For an audition it can be only one to three days to study.When I was training at Stella Adler Studios my teacher Deborah Kym who studied directly under Stella Adler, and was also Mark Rufalo’s scene partner ,would do these drills with everyone in the class. We would have two monologues to do, one was classical and the other one was a contemporary monologue. While performing them she would stop us at random times in the scene and tell us to speak of what our inner thoughts are before delivering the next line. Sounds easy but not many people can do it well. I was known to memorize my lines backwards and forward. Some of my teachers were amazed that I made it look so easy. My classmates commented as well. I think that’s when I knew it. If I can hone all the other skills that I needed then I can go pretty far in the industry. So my philosophy is don’t let them see you act. Act moment to moment and trust your instincts. Take off the training wheels once you are on set. I’ve studied many techniques and read a lot of acting books. You choose whatever works for you. Have your bag of tricks ready at all times. You have to put in the work, practice, repetition just like a swimmer, ballroom dancer and baseball player. If you think you’re great there’s always somebody that is better out there and wants it more than you do. So I always say you that you need a little luck and I believe that luck is the result of preparation meeting opportunity. So on that note, I need to be prepared for the fast passed word perfect TV audition from Meredith Tucker or Cindy Tolan as well as the director Quentin Tarantino. As well as the Martin Scorsese family style improve rehearsal.
FMM: You have worked with some of the greats. Share a few moments on set.
I’ll tell you it’s challenging to work with mega superstars because you do get a little intimidated. Personally, I get along with everybody so that only happens to me once in a while. That said, your opinion of your idols once you meet them can change. Well that holds true in some cases and that’s another interview. What I really enjoy is to look back when I worked with actors that were just starting out and on their way to greatness. That’s nice cause you really get to know the real them. Don’t get me wrong some people are always down to earth no matter how much fame. When you get to hang out with and work with the future greats before crazy star power takes over thats what you keep with you forever. Earlier on when I first started out I worked with Angeline Jolie on the Joe Bolongna Renee Taylor film called Love is All There Is. Angelina had a very good Italian accent! This film also co-starred my friend Nathanial Marston, may he rest in peace. Rest in peace Joe Bologna.He was a sweetheart. Anyway we were just all hanging out having fun enjoying a few cigarettes and a laugh at craft services listening to Paul Sorvino sing opera. Crafty in City Island is no Joke! I tell you it was easier working side-by-side back then without saying ‘oh my God that’s Maleficent, that’s the actress from Girl, Interrupted. Now she would be in her $2 million trailer and we would never get that chance to chat like that. Although Angie is still very cool. I also remember how nice Dick Van Patten was. A megastar asking me if it was okay if he shared the dressing room with me when he needed a break from the sun.
So I was on the set of the daytime drama As The World Turns and I’m playing a thief. I have to steal a woman’s purse then slug her in the face with the bag, run off with all of her money from the garage sale that she had to buy a present for her sister. So we’re at rehearsal in the morning and the girl playing the role seems a little slow… I was totally like I can’t hit this girl. She’s mentally challenged. Maybe we do something different here, I felt so sad. She was hunched over with jett black hair and very simple.The actress was Jennifer Landon. The director says I know, she’s playing twins and one of her twins is a little slow. Jen just takes it to rehearsal staying in character so as to not get confused or confuse the cast. I’m like “oh wow OK what a great actress”. So later on we laughed about it. I told her that she had me fooled and she said “well that’s the point Rocco”, that’s what I was going for ! Jennifer is really killing it now, she’s on season three of Yellowstone and she’s going to be the next huge superstar for sure. Glad we had that moment.
I was working at the TV show called lights out with Holt Mc Callaney. I was playing one of the boxer’s entourage who was scheduled to fight him Holt. The actor was Pedro Pascal. So one day his trainer was not on the call sheet for some reason and they were asking around if anyone has any boxing experience. Of course I said yes. I actually did have some skills. I told the director that I saw Rocky 15 times and that’s what got me the position ,LOL. I got to wipe sweat off of Pedro’s forehead and put in his mouth piece. Back then it was geeze why did I sign up for this. Now it’s super cool because according to my nephews I worked with Din Djarin …yeah I trained OBERYN! I think he’s already one of the greats so keep an eye on him.
Not many people know I was Andy Garcia’s photo double and stand in. I was actually the utility stand in for the entire male cast for the movie city Island. They even used my personal car for some of the scenes. Well for some reason I never received a screen credit. It’s customary to give the utility stand-in a small part in the movie or a nice mention. I did get some great Lobster from the Lobster box so all is forgiven. Hopefully Raymond Di Felitta and Andy can owe me one, lol. Anyways besides the 14 hour days it was a great experience watching Andy perform his monologues.. talk about charisma. I actually have a monologue that I do from one of his scenes from the movie.Can’t duplicate it so I’ll never use it .Maybe I’ll try it for Raymond if he ever auditions me for something. He wrote up a really nice piece. A nice script all around. Check it out it is a very good movie .So some funny moments on that film was actually done by the set’s still photographer, I forget his name, Phil I think… he would play the trumpet through his lips the theme song from the Godfather, he was really good at it. Andy was of course in Godfather part III. I think if they make a part four he’s going to be the guy. It was a fun moment to see Andy’s face. Andy did a mean Brando impression as well! What also was very gratifying for me were the moments on that set when I got a chance to do all the reverse angle shots with many of the stars in the movie. When Andy had to leave the set early to squeeze in another gig or for a family thing , they would yell “get the Bronx boy Rocco”. It was actually me playing in some of the reverse angle scenes speaking with Julianna Margulies and Ezra Miller also and also fine actor Steven Strait. I also did Alan Arkins’ lines with Andy and some of the other cast members, Boy , that was the best training for me. You can’t learn that in a classroom. I remember Ezra Miller would always be yelling at me You are the real deal! Ray said I did a good impression of Andy which helped the cast’s reactions.
I was actually from the neighborhood and they all loved hearing my New York accent. Glad my manager told me to lose it. Strunz ! Sorry when I get annoyed my Italian comes out.
So on the set of boardwalk empire the director Tim Van Patten was actually someone I recognized. I grew up watching him on the hit TV show The White shadow. He was known as Mario Salami Pettrino. Salami! I had to do an intense shootout scene with Jack Huston and mostly the stunt cast. His character Richard Harro seeks revenge on everyone so he goes on an insane shooting rampage.I’m at the top of the stairs and salami says you think you can do this in one take ? One clean shot in the skull so I’m like yeah no problem .I wanted to impress him. Basically all it was shot in a mansion with a marble staircase no padding no nothing and I had to basically flip back directly on my back .Hence I did it in one. But it left a mark alright, still feeling it today.
I have a lot more maybe on the next interview but I’ll give you the last one is with Chazz Palmieri. First day day of shooting we all gather around the set and I have no idea who this big guy is. What a great mug this man had. In a good way! Like where the hell have you been? The kind of presence that you make cartoons characters out of. One of which rivals Edward G. Robinson. So we get to talking and I’m complaining about some things on set. I say they changed my role and my lines and I only have a couple of things to say and blah blah blah. I say, `’Who are you “? Who do you play in the movie? He said I am Chazz and I wrote this movie kid …( with three fingers he yelled “you got one of the funniest scenes in the whole movie you should be happy. I said oh boy…This guy just scared the bejesus out of me. I said to myself this movie is going to be great! He is a good man. He gave me a Bronx tale jacket that I still have today. He now also has great restaurants in Manhattan and parts of New York.
All right, alright one more… I’m working on men in black three directed by Barry Sonnenfeld directed and we’re doing a flashback scene for the 69 Mets World Series against the Baltimore Orioles. I was playing the catcher for the New York Mets Jerry Grote. Back then the masks were skimpy and the gloves weren’t so padded. I had to catch Jerry Koosman .The actor playing him was AAA major leaguer because he was throwing in the high 90s. I haven’t played catcher since I was 10 years old and basically that’s the only position I really didn’t play. I pulled it off . The director told him to keep airing it out even though we were behind the green screen so my hand was on fire after like the10th pitch. So we did about 20 takes. Finally the 1st Ad comes over and he says how are you doing , you do look like you’re in a little pain. I’m good . I’m good, meanwhile my fingers are blue.I kept on going. Besides feeling weird in a Met uniform being a diehard Yankee fan It still was a really memorable moment .We were actually at Rockland community college in my home neighborhood. They replicated that stadium into the old Shea Stadium. The miracle Mets won 5-3 and took the series.
FMM: You have been an Advocate for Children’s International since 2014. Tell us about your work.
Yes I have. I do have to say that when you have your own child it really changes the way you think about things, life. My daughter is my everything. I also have seven nieces and nephews and two Godsons and a step daughter that I adore. Fortunately for me they are all provided for. Only the thought of any one of them not being able to have a meal or clean water or anything like that highly disturbs me. No toys or hobbies? I grew up poor but at least I had Atari and a baseball glove.Thinking of this just didn’t sit well with me when I put it into perspective. I decided to sponsor one child. It always starts with one.I have to say it was so gratifying to me knowing that another human being appreciated what I did.When sponsored they will send you notes along with pictures of them as well as updates on what you afforded them to do for themselves.They tell you about their activities and their dreams. Hey you never know if you sponsor a child that becomes a major league baseball player or superstar and they’ll send you some tickets down the line. That’s why one of the kids that I have chosen is a young man from the Domincan Republic ! There is a method to some of my madness, lol. I later decided to find some children and young adults that had the same birthday as me.As you get older your birthdays aren’t so special anymore. So I sponsored a couple kids that shared the same day and birth month September 1st. Just before our birthdays we would exchange notes and letters and wish each other well. So my day became a little more special to me ever since. This gave me the idea to challenge some of my friends. I said do me a favor, what do you gamble a week? What do you lose every week ? Gamblers really never win… right? Do you want to feel good about yourself try this out. Unlike gambling this is a sure thing!
Go to the children international website click on a location and find a child that shares your b- day. Hey $34 goes a long way pal so come on go for it. It really all starts with word-of-mouth.One person becomes two than ten.Before you know it you’ve done some good in the world.That’s how I advocate right now. When I get to the next level GOD willing I’ll be able to do a lot more. That is my big pictcha scenerio. I will see how far I can take it but for now I go to sleep,put my head on my pillow and part of me feels good.
I know times are really tough now for everyone all over the world so I don’t push and I’ll never put someone on the spot. But I know that I am addicted to shopping on Amazon like most everyone I know. AmazonSmile it is called. Just an extention of your amazon account. The only difference is the smile logo. It keeps all of your same info, orders etc.
They have this added benefit to help a charitable organizations of your choice by donating 0.5 percent of your eligible purchases. I choose feeding the children. They are always expanding their network. All that you simply do is just sign in through Amazon smile app then tap settings and shazaam , just turn it on.Now immediately a percentage of your spending helps people in need.So at the very least if you can’t sponsor a child right now on https://www.children.org This Amazon Smile would be a no brainer.
Thanks and God Bless.
FMM: What’s next for you?
Death, taxes, rejection, the vaccine (don’t even get me started on that). I have to tell you, in this business we never know what’s in store for us. One day you wake up and your entire life can change, for better or worse. Bet one for worse, two for better. Now that 2020 is behind us, I pray that 2021 and moving forward is a better time for all of us. For me so far the year has been pretty good. I’m up for a roll in a feature film, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I landed a role on Godfather of Harlem season 2 with the amazing Forest Whitaker producing, while reuniting with Chazz Palmenteri and Katherine Narducci from a Bronx Tale. Watching up close the chameleon actor playing Vincent “the chin” Gigante, Mr Vincent D’Onofrio, was a thrill for me to see up-close and personal as well. I’ve also had some time during the pandemic to revisit some old writing projects on my desk. I’ve decided to move forward with one of them. I’m in the process of assembling my team of producers and a formidable, not so star studded, cast. I love catching lightning in a bottle as casting director Susan Shopmaker and director Darius Marder did with the Oscar nominated movie Sound of Metal when they took a chance with Riz Ahmed and Paul Raci. Both now Golden Globe, Sag, and Oscar nominees. Paul Raci is my inspiration now. Please see his story. It will touch your soul.My writing partner Renee L. Logan and I have a series of projects in the works. I will be accepting a starring role in her new project called UNEARTHED as well, but first, we’ll be focusing on my passion project. It is about a legendary character actor prolific in the 1950s. I needed a little help bringing him to life from that era, and as luck would have it, Renee’s award winning script writing has afforded her some experience writing for that time period. The rest is history.
The idea has been noodling around in my brain for almost 30 years. He’s an icon, with a huge body of work, who, despite his many fans, never really got the recognition he deserved. I’ve been told by many that I resemble the actor, from my grandmother and uncles who loved his work, through to actors that worked with him. I had one actor who felt the resemblance was so strong that he even asked if I was related. I don’t really see it, but I believe in the idea which is all that matters. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you anymore right now as we still need to clear the project with his family members. So… stay tuned for that one.I’m also discussing a possible project with lifelong friend George Vincent. He is currently promoting his film Heavenly Deposit word wide as well as appearing in some Guest starring roles out in LA. We have the outline all set up for development and hopefully soon our schedules will permit us to move forward.
To contact Rocco for producing or acting projects please email his manager Brandon Cohen. bc@bactalent.com or Agent Taher Abunati from EAA Engage Artists Agency taher@engageartists.com
FMM: Share your social media links.
roccoparentejr.com
www.imdb.me/roccoparentejr
