Gay Son of Dennis Becker from 'Rockford Files' Is Handsome like Him at 65: His Sexuality Didn't Scare Dad

• Late Joe Santos, known as Lt. Dennis Becker from "The Rockford Files," raised two sons, Perry and Joe, with a Cuban wife of 30 years yet became a widower.
• When one of his sons told him about his sexuality at 18, he wasn't afraid of it.
• The actor's gay son is handsome in his 60s and enjoys life with a longtime partner.

American actor, Joe Santos, was best known for his role as Lt. Dennis Becker in "The Rockford Files," but he had many other titles to his name. He also starred in "The Last Boy Scout," "The Postman," and "The Sopranos."

Unfortunately, he passed away six years ago, but he has left a lasting legacy on his fans and his family, especially his children. Santos was the father of two boys and a girl with his late wife, and he loved them wholeheartedly.

In 2016, Santos had a heart attack in his LA home and was rushed to the hospital, where he was placed on life support. The heart attack happened on a Wednesday in March 2016, and by the Friday, Santos had passed on. It was his son, Perry, that shared the news.

Santos, who starred alongside James Garner in "The Rockford Files," and his wife were parents to two sons and a daughter. Their children are Santos' namesake, Joe, a producer and director, Perry, and their little-known daughter, Lili, who is a widow.

What Was Santos' Life with His Cuban Wife and Their Gay and Straight Sons?

Santos and his wife, Maria, met in her home country of Cuba when Santos was transporting used cars from New York to Havana. They then married and welcomed their three children and enjoyed spending their time at home.

The family lived in a four-bedroom home above the sunset strip, which was a hub of activity for them. They gathered there to eat meals together, watch TV, listen to music, and talk over barbecues.

Mary enjoyed cooking for her family and all the friends that came with her children. As far as her husband was concerned, she was the best chef ever. Their family home was a safe space for the entire family.

Their son, Joe, was one child who felt exceptionally safe in his parents' company, especially since he had been harboring a secret, which his parents welcomed with open arms when he finally told them.

In 2020, Joe shared a photo of the family a long time ago on Instagram. The family huddled together in the pool to pose for the image. Joe used the image to wish Santos a Happy Father's Day and mentioned the photo was taken at their Wetherley Drive home. He then gushed:

"We were a happy and close-knit family. We were blessed."

He then said that he was thankful to his parents for that and so much more. In 2021, he again took to Instagram to share a throwback photo of himself when he was just 18 years old.

The black and white photo showed a young Joe smiling at the camera, and he mentioned that he was posting it for national Coming Out Day because that's how old he was when he told his parents he was gay.

He said he sat his parents down and shared with them his sexuality, and their response to him was: "Whew! You had us scared for a moment. We thought you were going to tell us something awful."

Followers told Joe he was an attractive young man and remained attractive into his 60s. Others said how wonderful it was that his parents supported him during a difficult time.

How Does Santos' Gay, Not Famous Son Look and Live at 65?

Recently, Joe shared a photo of himself and his outdoor area on Instagram. In the photo of himself, a topless Joe rests a gloved hand on his head with a bemused expression on his face.

The next couple of photos are of his beautiful outdoor area, complete with seating areas, umbrellas, a bar, a dining area, and privacy screens enclosing the entire space. In the caption, he begged for the rain to stop as he had just finished rebuilding his deck.

Followers flooded the comments with adoring words for Santos' son. Some said how wonderful he looked, others thanked him for the outdoor area inspiration, and some asked when they could visit for cocktails.

On Thanksgiving last year, Joe shared a photo of himself and his partner on Instagram. Joe looks into the camera and grins as his partner stands behind him, wrapping his arms around Joe's shoulders. He captioned the post: "Home.”

Joe's followers wished them a Happy Thanksgiving and said they looked terrific in the picture. One follower even described them as "angelic" and "handsome."

Joe is now a celebrity chef, a columnist for Eden Magazine, and the co-host of "The Two Guys From Hollywood" podcast. This information can be found in Joe's Instagram bio, where he confirms that he is a busy man.

Aside from the time he spends being a chef, columnist, and podcast host, Joe finds time to wind down and spend time in his home with his friends. He has shared some of these moments on social media.

Last month, Joe shared a video of him playing the piano and singing along to some of the words for the song he was playing. He mentioned it had been a lovely Friday night spent with friends.

Followers said he played piano beautifully, and they could watch the video repeatedly just to hear him play. Others said it was another talent for this multi-faceted man, and another simply commented: "Love."

Some of Joe's followers also said they missed him. One fan said there was nothing better than soirees with friends on a Friday night. Joe liked each of the comments left on the post.

While he enjoys sharing photos that are updates of his life, he often dedicates posts to his family. Many special occasions pertaining to his mother or father are marked with Instagram posts.

On Santos' birthday last year, Joe shared a photo of the poster for "The Rockford Show" on the front of a TV guide. In the caption, Joe simply wished his father a "Happy Heavenly Birthday.”

Followers told Joe that "The Rockford Show" was one of their favorites, while others simply joined Joe in wishing Santos a happy birthday. One follower called Santos "a sweet and wonderful man."

Joe made a similar post for his mother on her birthday on September 23, 2021. Joe shared photos of his mother and father in the 1950s, 1970s, and 1980s. He mentioned that both his parents were in heaven.

He then said he missed his parents and wished his mother a happy birthday. Followers again wished his mother a happy birthday and said how stunning Santos and Maria were when they were alive.

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