Pat Rocco

Known for DirectingBorn 1934-02-09Died 2018-11-10

Pat Rocco was born Pasquale Vincent Serrapica in 1934 to an Italian-American family in Brooklyn, New York. Moved to California at 11, and "came out" at 13. Had his own radio show, in which he featured as a singer, at 16, and recorded an album at 19. As a charismatic, openly gay youth, Rocco pursued a career in entertainment in Southern California, singing and appearing on televised talent shows. Appeared in some early TV shows in the late 40s and early 50s, and created the part of Mack the Knife in the West Coast premiere of "The Threepenny Opera". A job as a photographer of male nude studies turned into a successful mail-order business of his own 8mm and 16mm films. Shown publicly for the first time in 1968 in L.A.’s Park Theatre, Rocco’s films were widely embraced by the gay community and favorably reviewed by mainstream press. The films were ecstatic affirmations of gay love and identity, groundbreaking at a time when homosexual activity remained illegal. “They were the first really overt gay films with nudity in a public theater […] they had something to say that was positive,” said Rocco in a 1983 interview. The significance of the films was deeply felt: “I’ve had a number of people tell me that ‘I came out because of your films.’ I can’t tell you, the letters, the phone calls, the things like that. ‘They made me feel like I was not alone.’ ‘They gave me a real positive feeling about myself because I could relate to the people on the screen.’” What was once a clandestine, black-market activity became a celebratory event.Read more

Movies & web series

Let There Be Boys

The Light from the Second Story Window

A Deep Compassion

Come of Age

Sex and the Single Gay

A Dream of Body

Get That Sailor

We Were There

Drifter

Mondo Rocco

Someone

ONE Adventure

Marco of Rio

Ron and Chuck in Disneyland Discovery

Autumn Nocturne

Pat Rocco Dared

A Breath of Love

Changes

Silent No More

Meat Market Arrest

Sign of Protest

S.P.R.E.E. on a Spree

Breath of Love

Pat Rocco Dares

Love Is Blue

A Matter of Life

Sunny Boys

Strip Strip

A Pat Rocco Happening!

Fanny's Hill

A Very Special Friend

The Anatomy of Tom