Pat Rocco

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…

Directed

1. A Deep Compassion (1972) — Director
2. We Were There (1976) — Director
3. Sex and the Single Gay (1970) — Director
4. Come of Age (1971) — Director
5. Ron and Chuck in Disneyland Discovery (1969) — Director
6. Mondo Rocco (1970) — Director
7. ONE Adventure (1973) — Director
8. Someone (1968) — Director
9. Drifter (1975) — Director
10. Marco of Rio (1969) — Director
11. Autumn Nocturne (1968) — Director
12. A Dream of Body (1972) — Director
13. Changes (1970) — Director
14. A Breath of Love (1971) — Director
15. Get That Sailor (1973) — Director
16. Let There Be Boys (1969) — Director
17. Breath of Love (1969) — Director
18. Love Is Blue (1968) — Director
19. Meat Market Arrest (1970) — Director
20. A Matter of Life (1968) — Director
21. Sunny Boys (1968) — Director
22. Strip Strip (1968) — Director
23. Pat Rocco Dares (1969) — Director
24. A Pat Rocco Happening! (1968) — Director
25. Sign of Protest (1970) — Director
26. Silent No More (1977) — Director
27. S.P.R.E.E. on a Spree (1970) — Director
28. A Very Special Friend — Director
29. The Anatomy of Tom — Director
30. Fanny's Hill (1968) — Director

Also appeared in

1. We Were There (1976) — Narrator
2. Mondo Rocco (1970)
3. ONE Adventure (1973) — Himself
4. Pat Rocco Dared (2021) — Self (archive footage)
5. Let There Be Boys (1969)
6. Meat Market Arrest (1970)