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person_profile-Joe Spinell

Joe Spinell Died at age: 52

Actor | Producer

Fullname:

Joe Spinell

Date of Birth:

Oct 28, 1936

Country of birth:

New York

Died:

Jan 13, 1989

Biography of

Joe Spinell

    ​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.

Photos of

Joe Spinell

Photos ( 3 Photos

Filmography of

Joe Spinell

Found 64 Movies in total

FantastiCozzi

Count Zarth Arn (archive footage) ( Actor )

... 2016

... 2007

The Joe Spinell Story

(archive footage) ( Actor )

... 2001

The American Nightmare

Himself ( Actor )

... 2000

Thriller Zone

Vinny Durand (segment "Fanatical Extremes") (archive footage) ( Actor )

... 1995

Rapid Fire

Hansen ( Actor )

... 1989

The Undertaker

Uncle Roscoe ( Actor )

... 1988

Married to the Mob

Leonard 'Tiptoes' Mazzilli ( Actor )

... 1988

Operation Warzone

Brig. Gen. George Delevane ( Actor )

... 1988

Deadly Illusion

Crazy Man in Gun Bureau ( Actor )

... 1987

The Pick-up Artist

Eddie ( Actor )

... 1987

Blood Ties

Joey, New York Goon #1 ( Actor )

... 1986

The Messenger

Rico ( Actor )

... 1986

Hollywood Harry

Max Caldwell ( Actor )

... 1986

The Whoopee Boys

Guido Antonucci ( Actor )

... 1986

The Children of Times Square

Street Vendor ( Actor )

... 1986

Out of the Darkness

Jim Halsey ( Actor )

... 1985

Walking the Edge

Brusstar ( Actor )

... 1985

... 1983

The Last Fight

Angelo ( Actor )

... 1983

Eureka

Pete ( Actor )

... 1983

Losin' It

Border Patrolman ( Actor )

... 1983

The Big Score

Mayfield ( Actor )

... 1983

One Down, Two to Go

Joe Spangler ( Actor )

... 1982

Monsignor

Bride's Father ( Actor )

... 1982

The Last Horror Film

Vinny Durand ( Actor )

... 1982

Night Shift

Manetti ( Actor )

... 1982

Vigilante

Eisenberg ( Actor )

... 1982

A Question of Honor

Masked witness (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1982

National Lampoon's Movie Madness

Agent / M.C. ("Success Wanters") ( Actor )

... 1982

... 1981

The Godfather 1901–1959: The Complete Epic

William "Willie" Cicci ( Actor )

... 1981

Nighthawks

Lt. Munafo ( Actor )

... 1981

The First Deadly Sin

Charles Lipsky ( Actor )

... 1980

Melvin and Howard

Go-Go Club Owner #2 (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1980

The Little Dragons

Yancey ( Actor )

... 1980

Brubaker

Floyd Birdwell ( Actor )

... 1980

Nightside

Michael Vincent ( Actor )

... 1980

Maniac

Frank Zito ( Actor )

Screenplay

... 1980

Forbidden Zone

Drunken Sailor ( Actor )

... 1980

The Ninth Configuration

Lt. Spinell ( Actor )

... 1980

Cruising

Patrolman DiSimone ( Actor )

... 1980

Vampire

Capt. Desher ( Actor )

... 1979

Rocky II

Tony Gazzo ( Actor )

... 1979

Winter Kills

Arthur Fletcher ( Actor )

... 1979

Last Embrace

Man in Cantina ( Actor )

... 1979

Starcrash

Count Zartharn ( Actor )

... 1978

The One Man Jury

Mike Abatino ( Actor )

... 1978

Paradise Alley

Burp ( Actor )

... 1978

Big Wednesday

Psychologist ( Actor )

... 1978

Nunzio

Angelo ( Actor )

... 1978

Sorcerer

Spider ( Actor )

... 1977

Rocky

Tony Gazzo ( Actor )

... 1976

Stay Hungry

Jabo ( Actor )

... 1976

Taxi Driver

Personnel Officer ( Actor )

... 1976

... 1976

92 in the Shade

Ollie Slatt ( Actor )

... 1975

Farewell, My Lovely

Nick ( Actor )

... 1975

Strike Force

Sol Terranova ( Actor )

... 1975

Rancho Deluxe

Mr. Colson ( Actor )

... 1975

The Godfather Part II

William 'Willie' Cicci ( Actor )

... 1974

The Seven-Ups

Toredano ( Actor )

... 1973

Cops and Robbers

Marty ( Actor )

... 1973

The Godfather

Willi Cicci (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1972