Joe Santos (born June 9, 1931) is an American film and television actor.

Santos was born Joseph Minieri in Brooklyn, New York to Rose Sarno and Joseph Minieri.

He began his film acting career in the mid-1960s, appearing in films directed by his cousin, Joseph W. Sarno.

Santos is known for his roles as James Garner's friend, Detective Dennis Becker in the 1970s television series The Rockford Files and as Lt. Frank Harper in the 1980s TV series Hardcastle and McCormick In the 1990s, he reprised this role in several made-for-television Rockford Files movies. He also starred opposite Melissa Michaelsen in the short-lived series Me and Maxx (1980) and Paul Rodriguez in a.k.a. Pablo. He had a recurring role in the HBO hit tv series The Sopranos as Angelo Garepe.

Santos has had featured roles in many films; his best known film roles include appearances in Shaft's Big Score! (1972), Blue Thunder (1983), Revenge (1990), and the 1991 action/drama film The Last Boy Scout as Lieutenant Benjamin Bessalo.

Santos has made many guest appearances on TV shows, including Police Story, Barnaby Jones, Hill Street Blues, The A-Team, Magnum PI, Quantum Leap and NYPD Blue.

On the series Bakersfield P.D., Santos played himself, and was the victim of car thieves. However, the officers on duty were so awed by "Jim Rockford's friend," that they were unable to solve the crime and Santos ended up having to find the thieves himself.

Hispanic Brooklyn-born actor Joe Santos started out a football jock at Fordham University and turned semi-pro before finding a new avenue in acting. Success was hard-reaching, paying his dues for years in a number of blue-collar jobs including railroad worker, tree trimmer, cabbie and barkeep while taking acting classes. A soap opera job and work in Joseph W. Sarno's cheap jack film exploitation (Flesh and Lace (1965), Moonlighting Wives (1966) and My Body Hungers (1967)) in the 60s seemed to lead nowhere. His first real break came with the searing film downer Panic in Needle Park, The (1971), getting a part at the urging of up-and-coming friend and star of the film Al Pacino, who had also played some softball with Santos. A prime role as a sergeant in the acclaimed TV mini-movie Blue Knight, The (1973) (TV) led Santos in the direction of 'good cop' parts, with a long-running role as Lt. Becker on the series "Rockford Files, The" (1974) (1974-80). Other series roles in "Me and Maxx" (1980), "a.k.a. Pablo" (1984), as Paul Rodriguez (I)'s dad, and Lt. Harper in the 1985-86 season of "Hardcastle and McCormick" (1983) kept him busy. Missing out on the one big role that might have put him on the map, the beefy and balding Santos remains a durable and consistent support player, most recently getting some deserved notice in 2004 with his recurring role of "Consigliere Angelo Garepe" in the hit hit man series "Sopranos, The" (1999). He has also dabbled in playwriting, having penned "Sunset Normandie" which he also starred in.