生于纽约新罗歇尔一个黑人家庭。在伊利诺大学就读时，曾参与校戏剧活动。但中途辍学，做过守门人、服装推销员等到工作。1970年首登银幕，次年主演动作片《谢夫特》（又译《龙潭虎穴黑金钢》），广泛受到好评，一举成为黑人明星。之后仍以谢夫特为主角，拍摄了《谢夫特大获全胜》、《谢夫特在...
rooklyn-born actor of Italian descent, Joe Santos started out a football jock at Fordham University and turned semi-pro before finding a new avenue in acting. Success was long in coming, and he paid his dues for years in a number of blue-collar jobs including railroad worker, tree trimmer, cabbie and barkeep while taking acting classes.
