Mo Rocca

Rocca in 2015, photo by kathclick/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Maurice Alberto Rocca

Place of Birth: Washington, D.C., U.S.

Date of Birth: January 28, 1969

Ethnicity:
*Italian (father)
*Colombian (mother)

Mo Rocca is an American humorist, journalist, and actor. He has appeared on CBS Sunday Morning, My Grandmother’s Ravioli, National Geographic Bee, Mobituaries with Mo Rocca, The Daily Show, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Mo’s father, Jack Rocca, an entrepreneur, was born in New Jersey, and was raised in Massachusetts. He was of Italian descent. Mo’s mother was born in Bogotá, Colombia, and moved to the U.S. in 1956.

Mo’s paternal grandfather was Renaldo M. “Rene” Rocca (the son of Francesco “Frank” Rocca and Giuseppina “Josephine” Folgarelli). Renaldo was born in Rhône-Alpes, France, to parents from Italy. Francesco was born in Lazio.

Mo’s paternal grandmother was Mary Elizabeth Lanza (the daughter of Giovanni “John” Lanza and Giulia “Julia” Serafini). Mary Elizabeth was born in Massachusetts, to Italian parents.

Mo’s maternal grandfather was Carlos José Villar Vale (the son of Luis Eduardo Villar Arana and Luz Mary Vale Sánchez). Carlos was born in Colombia. Luis was the son of Zoilo Villar Gomez Romano and Ana Joaquina Arana y Fernández de Soto. Luz was the daughter of Marcelino Vale and Corina Sánchez.

Mo’s maternal grandmother was Julia Borda Roldán (the daughter of Alberto Borda Tanco and Úrsula Roldán Franco). Julia was born in Bogota, Colombia. Alberto was the son of Leopoldo Borda Romero and Marie/María de la Concepción Tanco Armero. Ursula was the daughter of Antonio Roldán Reyes and María Luísa Franco Izquierdo.

Sources: http://www.advocate.com

Obituary of Mo’s father – https://www.washingtonpost.com

Genealogy of Mo Rocca (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com

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