Known for movies
Miami Undercover (1961)
as Rocky
The Martha Raye Show (1954-1956)
as Himself
Country Music Holiday (1958)
as Himself
Mister Rock and Roll (1957)
as Himself
Short Info
| Date Of Birth | January 1, 1919 |
| Died | May 22, 1990, New York City, New York, United States |
| Spouse | Norma Unger |
| Mark | His left hook |
| Fact | Reversed 6 of his 10 career defeats. |
Rocky Graziano was born on January 1, 1922, in New York City. His parents, Nicola and Pasquale Graziano, were both immigrants from Italy. Rocky had four brothers and sisters. He dropped out of school in the eighth grade and began working odd jobs to help support his family.
Rocky’s career in boxing began when he was arrested for robbery and sent to reform school. It was there that he learned to box. When he was released, he turned professional and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming one of the most popular boxers in the world.
Graziano’s biggest achievement came in 1947, when he won the world middleweight championship. He held the title for less than a year, but his reign was marked by some of the most memorable fights in boxing history, including his three bouts with Sugar Ray Robinson.
After retiring from boxing, Graziano worked as a commentator and actor. He also wrote an autobiography, Somebody Up There Likes Me, which was made into a successful film starring Paul Newman.
Graziano died on May 22, 1990, at the age of 68. His legacy as one of the greatest boxers of all time is secure.
Net worth: $5 million
Salary: $100,000 per year (during his boxing career)
Significant earnings: $1 million (from his 1947 fight with Sugar Ray Robinson)
General Info
| Full Name | Rocky Graziano |
| Date Of Birth | January 1, 1919 |
| Died | May 22, 1990, New York City, New York, United States |
| Place Of Birth | Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States |
| Height | 1.7 m |
| Weight | 72 kg |
| Profession | Actor, Professional Boxer |
Family
| Spouse | Norma Unger |
| Children | Audrey Graziano, Roxie Graziano |
| Parents | Nicola Barbella, Ida Scinto |
| Siblings | Joe |
Accomplishments
| Movies | Teenage Millionaire, Country Music Holiday, Mister Rock and Roll, Somebody Up There Likes Me, The Doctor and the Playgirl, Night Run |
| TV Shows | Miami Undercover, Make Me Laugh (original), The Martha Raye Show, The Henny and Rocky Show |
Social profile links
Marks
| # | Marks / Signs |
|---|---|
| 1 | Powerful right cross |
| 2 | His left hook |
Quotes
| # | Quote |
|---|---|
| 1 | When I was a kid I stole everything that began with the letter A. A car, a jacket, a.... |
| 2 | Somebody up there likes me. |
Facts
| # | Fact |
|---|---|
| 1 | Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume Two, 1986-1990, pages 348-350. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1999. |
| 2 | During the 1960s and early 1970s had a restaurant in North Miami, Florida on Biscayne Blvd. called "Rocky Graziano's". |
| 3 | Lost his last fight by 10 round decision to Chuck Davey on national t.v. |
| 4 | Refused to throw a fight to Cowboy Shank and was suspended by the New York Boxing Commission for failure to report a bribe. |
| 5 | His 3 fight series with Tony Zale are considered among the greatest fights in Boxing History. |
| 6 | Was AWOL from the US Army during World War II and served a one year prison term. |
| 7 | Scored an upset knockout win over highly-favored Billy Arnold to break into the world ratings. |
| 8 | His father was a professional boxer who fought under the nickname, Fighting Nick Bob. |
| 9 | Defeated world champions Freddie"Red"Cochrane(twice by knockout), Tony Zale(KO 6), and Marty Servo(KO 2). |
| 10 | Won 52 fights by knockout, 11 in the first round. |
| 11 | Good friends with Martha Raye and Frank Sinatra. |
| 12 | Reversed 6 of his 10 career defeats. |
| 13 | Knocked down Sugar Ray Robinson in their 1952 Middleweight Title fight before being knocked out himself in 3 rounds. |
| 14 | Pro Record: 67-10-6 (52 KOs) |
| 15 | His autobiography "Somebody Up There Likes Me" was turned into a successful biopic in 1956 starring Paul Newman. |
| 16 | Inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame, 1983. |
| 17 | World middleweight boxing champion, 1947-1948. Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, 1991. |
Pictures
Movies
Actor
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tallahassee 7000 | 1961 | TV Series | Rocky |
| Naked City | 1959 | TV Series | Eddie Gibbs / Lou Curtis |
| Studio One in Hollywood | 1956 | TV Series | Pablo |
| The Henny and Rocky Show | 1955 | TV Series | Host |
| All Star Revue | 1952-1953 | TV Series | Martha's Boyfriend / Martha's Boyfriend (Sketch) / Guest Comic Actor |
| Mod Squad | 1971 | TV Series | Doc Russo |
| Cauliflower Cupids | 1970 | The Rocker | |
| Tony Rome | 1967 | Packy | |
| The Doctor and the Playgirl | 1963 | ||
| Car 54, Where Are You? | 1963 | TV Series | Antoinne |
| Miami Undercover | 1961 | TV Series | Rocky |
| Teenage Millionaire | 1961 | Rocky aka Edward |
Writer
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Somebody Up There Likes Me | 1956 | autobiography |
Self
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Sweet Science | 1999 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Night of 100 Stars | 1982 | TV Special | Himself |
| Tomorrow Coast to Coast | 1981 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Mike Douglas Show | 1970-1977 | TV Series | Himself - Pro Boxer / Himself - Ex-Pro Boxer / Himself - Pro Boxing Great / ... |
| The Way It Was | 1977 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Muhammad Ali | 1976 | TV Special | Himself |
| Music Country U.S.A. | 1974 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Dean Martin Show | 1973-1974 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | 1972 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Merv Griffin Show | 1967-1970 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Joey Bishop Show | 1968-1969 | TV Series | Himself |
| Personality | 1969 | TV Series | Game Celebrity / Himself |
| The Kraft Music Hall | 1968 | TV Series | Himself |
| The New Life Style (Just to Be Love) | 1968 | Himself - U.S. inserts | |
| World Heavyweight Championship: Muhammad Ali vs. Zora Folley | 1967 | TV Movie | Himself - Guest |
| The Keefe Brasselle Show | 1963 | TV Series | Himself / Himself - Guest |
| Heavyweight Elimination Contest: Cassius Clay vs. Doug Jones | 1963 | Himself - Guest | |
| The Jack Paar Tonight Show | 1958-1962 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Tonight Show | 1962 | TV Series | Himself - Ex-Boxer |
| Be Our Guest | 1960 | TV Series | Himself |
| I've Got a Secret | 1957-1959 | TV Series | Himself - Celebrity Guest |
| The Ed Sullivan Show | 1958 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Garry Moore Show | 1958 | TV Series | Himself |
| Make Me Laugh | 1958 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Pat Boone-Chevy Showroom | 1958 | TV Series | Himself |
| Country Music Holiday | 1958 | Himself | |
| Night Beat | 1957 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Mister Rock and Roll | 1957 | Himself | |
| The Steve Allen Plymouth Show | 1956-1957 | TV Series | Himself - Boxer / Himself - Guest |
| Atlantic City Holiday | 1956 | TV Movie | Himself |
| The Vic Damone Show | 1956 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Martha Raye Show | 1954-1956 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Name's the Same | 1953-1955 | TV Series | Himself - Contestant / Himself - Celebrity Guest / Himself |
| The Colgate Comedy Hour | 1953 | TV Series | Himself - Boxer |
| The Knockout Parade | 1953 | Himself - Prize Fighter | |
| Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts | 1952 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Steve Allen Show | 1951 | TV Series | Himself |
| What's My Line? | 1950 | TV Series | Himself - Mystery Guest |
Archive Footage
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secrets of New York | 2006 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Bud Greenspan's Reflections | 2004 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| The Sweet Science | 1999 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
Source: IMDb, Wikipedia
