Joe Spinell
Personal Info
Known For Actor
Gender Male
Birthday 1936-10-28
Deathday 1989-01-13 (52 years old)
Place of Birth Manhattan, New York
Also Known As Joseph J. Spagnuolo, Joseph Spagnuolo
Joe Spinell
Biography
Joe Spinell was born Joseph J. Spagnuolo in Manhattan, New York of Italian immigrant parents, and the last of six children. His father, Pelegrino Spagnuolo (b. 1892, d. 1950), died from liver and kidney disease. His mother Filomena Spagnuolo (b. 1903, d. 1987) was a bit-part actress who acted in a few movies, some of them alongside her son. Spinell stood 5 foot and 11 inches. He was born at his family's apartment in Manhattan's Little Italy on 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. A few years after the death of his father, he moved with his mother and older siblings to Woodside, Queens, New York where he lived off-and-on for the remainder of his life. Spinell suffered most of his life from hemophilia as well as chronic asthma. Because of his large, heavyset frame and imposing looks, Spinell was often cast as criminals, thugs, or corrupt police officers. His most notable roles were as mafioso Willi Cicci in The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, and as loan shark Tony Gazzo in Rocky and Rocky II. Although primarily known as a character actor, Spinell co-wrote and starred as a serial killer in the 1980 film, Maniac. Joe Spinell died in his apartment on January 13, 1989 at the age of 52. The cause of his untimely death is arguable to this day. Some say that his death was caused by sudden heart attack due to heavy drug use, drinking and emotional distress in light of his mother passing away two years earlier. It is also speculated that he may have died from asthma complications, or bled to death from hemophilia related causes. He was planning a sequel to Maniac before his death. He was buried in Calvary Cemetery, Queens near his home. He is the distant cousin of the American football team St. Louis Ram's Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo. Spinell was married to adult film star Jean Jennings from February 1977 to July 1979. Together they had one daughter, but they eventually divorced.
Known For
Actor
as Self (archive footage)
as Count Zarth Arn (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
as (archive footage)
as Self
as Vinny Durand (segment "Fanatical Extremes") (archive footage)
as Hansen
as Uncle Roscoe
as Leonard 'Tiptoes' Mazzilli
as Tony Larosa
as Brig. Gen. George Delevane
as Crazy Man in Gun Bureau
as Eddie
as Joey, New York Goon #1
as Rico
as Mr. Robbie
as Max Caldwell
as Guido Antonucci
as Street Vendor
as Jim Halsey
as Brusstar
as Mob Boss
as Escobar
as Angelo
as Pete
as Border Patrolman
as Mayfield
as Joe Spangler
as Bride's Father
as Vinny Durand
as Manetti
as Eisenberg
as Masked witness (uncredited)
as Agent / M.C. ("Success Wanters")
as Door Guard
as William "Willie" Cicci
as Lt. Munafo
as Charles Lipsky
as Go-Go Club Owner #2 (uncredited)
as Yancey
as Floyd Birdwell
as Michael Vincent
as Frank Zito
as Drunken Sailor
as Lt. Spinell
as Patrolman DiSimone
as Capt. Desher
as Tony Gazzo
as Arthur Fletcher
as Man in Cantina
as Count Zartharn
as Mike Abatino
as Burp
as Psychologist
as Angelo
as Spider
as William "Willie" Cicci
as Tony Gazzo
as Jabo
as Personnel Officer
as Cop
as Bill
as Ollie Slatt
as Nick
as Sol Terranova
as Mr. Colson
as William 'Willie' Cicci
as Toredano
as Marty
as Willi Cicci (uncredited)
Writer
as Original Film Writer
as Story
as Screenplay
as Story
Producer
as Producer
as Executive Producer