Biography
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.
Directed 25
1970s
- 1977
Silent No More
Director
- 1976
We Were There
Director
- 1975
Drifter
Director
- 1973
ONE Adventure
Director
Get That Sailor
Director
- 1972
A Dream of Body
Director
A Deep Compassion
Director
- 1971
A Breath of Love
Director
Come of Age
Director
- 1970
Changes
Director
Sex and the Single Gay
Director
Meat Market Arrest
Director
Mondo Rocco
Director
Sign of Protest
Director
1960s
- 1969
Pat Rocco Dares
Director
Marco of Rio
Director
Breath of Love
Director
Ron and Chuck in Disneyland Discovery
Director
Let There Be Boys
Director
- 1968
A Pat Rocco Happening!
Director
Autumn Nocturne
Director
Strip Strip
Director
Someone
Director
Love Is Blue
Director
Sunny Boys
Director
Wrote 9
1970s
- 1977
Silent No More
Writer
- 1972
A Dream of Body
Writer
A Deep Compassion
Writer
- 1971
A Breath of Love
Writer
Come of Age
Writer
- 1970
Sex and the Single Gay
Writer
1960s
- 1969
Pat Rocco Dares
Writer
Marco of Rio
Writer
- 1968
A Pat Rocco Happening!
Writer
Camera 7
1970s
- 1973
The Light from the Second Story Window
Director of Photography
ONE Adventure
Director of Photography
- 1972
A Dream of Body
Director of Photography
- 1971
Come of Age
Director of Photography
1960s
- 1969
Pat Rocco Dares
Director of Photography
- 1968
A Pat Rocco Happening!
Director of Photography
Someone
Director of Photography
Edited 6
1970s
- 1977
Silent No More
Editor
- 1975
Drifter
Editor
- 1970
Sex and the Single Gay
Editor
1960s
- 1969
Pat Rocco Dares
Editor
Marco of Rio
Editor
- 1968
Someone
Editor
Acted in 3
1970s
- 1970
Meat Market Arrest
Movie
Mondo Rocco
Movie
1960s
- 1969
Let There Be Boys
Movie
Produced 3
1970s
- 1975
Drifter
Producer
1960s
- 1969
Marco of Rio
Producer
- 1968
Someone
Producer
Other crew 3
1970s
- 1977
Silent No More
Cinematography
- 1975
Drifter
Cinematography
- 1970
Sex and the Single Gay
Cinematography
Sound 1
1970s
- 1973
ONE Adventure
Music Score Producer
Appearances3
1970s
- 1976
We Were There
Narrator
- 1973
ONE Adventure
Himself