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.
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.
External links
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/nm0818874
Wikipedia: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q960676
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Filmography (Movies)
40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:09/06/2020
FantastiCozzi
Character:Count Zarth Arn (archive footage)
Release Date:21/05/2016
Exorcising 'Cruising'
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:18/09/2007
The History of 'Cruising'
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:18/09/2007
The History of 'Cruising'
Character:
Release Date:18/09/2007
The Joe Spinell Story
Character:(archive footage)
Release Date:21/08/2001
The American Nightmare
Character:Self
Release Date:11/09/2000
Thriller Zone
Character:Vinny Durand (segment "Fanatical Extremes") (archive footage)
Release Date:01/01/1995
Rapid Fire
Character:Hansen
Release Date:07/04/1989
The Undertaker
Character:Uncle Roscoe
Release Date:01/11/1988
Married to the Mob
Character:Leonard 'Tiptoes' Mazzilli
Release Date:19/08/1988
K.O. Kippers
Character:Tony Larosa
Release Date:13/08/1988
Operation Warzone
Character:Brig. Gen. George Delevane
Release Date:01/07/1988
Deadly Illusion
Character:Crazy Man in Gun Bureau
Release Date:16/10/1987
The Pick-up Artist
Character:Eddie
Release Date:18/09/1987
Blood Ties
Character:Joey, New York Goon #1
Release Date:14/12/1986
The Messenger
Character:Rico
Release Date:01/12/1986
Maniac II: Mr. Robbie
Character:Mr. Robbie
Release Date:01/11/1986
Hollywood Harry
Character:Max Caldwell
Release Date:03/10/1986
The Whoopee Boys
Character:Guido Antonucci
Release Date:22/08/1986
The Children of Times Square
Character:Street Vendor
Release Date:03/03/1986
Out of the Darkness
Character:Jim Halsey
Release Date:12/10/1985
Walking the Edge
Character:Brusstar
Release Date:11/01/1985
Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer
Character:Escobar
Release Date:15/10/1983
The Last Fight
Character:Angelo
Release Date:07/09/1983
Eureka
Character:Pete
Release Date:01/05/1983
Losin' It
Character:Border Patrolman
Release Date:08/04/1983
The Big Score
Character:Mayfield
Release Date:17/03/1983
Vigilante
Character:Eisenberg
Release Date:04/01/1983
One Down, Two to Go
Character:Joe Spangler
Release Date:19/11/1982
Monsignor
Character:Bride's Father
Release Date:22/10/1982
The Last Horror Film
Character:Vinny Durand
Release Date:12/08/1982
Night Shift
Character:Manetti
Release Date:30/07/1982
A Question of Honor
Character:Masked witness (uncredited)
Release Date:28/04/1982
National Lampoon's Movie Madness
Character:Agent / M.C. ("Success Wanters")
Release Date:23/04/1982
Portrait of a Teenage Shoplifter
Character:Door Guard
Release Date:01/12/1981
The Godfather: The Complete Epic 1901–1959
Character:William "Willie" Cicci
Release Date:24/03/1981
Nighthawks
Character:Lt. Munafo
Release Date:17/03/1981
The First Deadly Sin
Character:Charles Lipsky
Release Date:03/10/1980
Melvin and Howard
Character:Go-Go Club Owner #2 (uncredited)
Release Date:19/09/1980
The Little Dragons
Character:Yancey
Release Date:18/07/1980
Brubaker
Character:Floyd Birdwell
Release Date:20/06/1980
Nightside
Character:Michael Vincent
Release Date:08/06/1980
Maniac
Character:Frank Zito
Release Date:10/05/1980
Forbidden Zone
Character:Drunken Sailor
Release Date:15/03/1980
The Ninth Configuration
Character:Lt. Spinell
Release Date:29/02/1980
Cruising
Character:Patrolman DiSimone
Release Date:15/02/1980
Vampire
Character:Capt. Desher
Release Date:07/10/1979
Rocky II
Character:Tony Gazzo
Release Date:15/06/1979
Winter Kills
Character:Arthur Fletcher
Release Date:11/05/1979
Last Embrace
Character:Man in Cantina
Release Date:04/05/1979
Starcrash
Character:Count Zartharn
Release Date:21/12/1978
The One Man Jury
Character:Mike Abatino
Release Date:29/09/1978
Paradise Alley
Character:Burp
Release Date:22/09/1978
Big Wednesday
Character:Psychologist
Release Date:26/05/1978
Nunzio
Character:Angelo
Release Date:10/05/1978
Sorcerer
Character:Spider
Release Date:24/06/1977
Rocky
Character:Tony Gazzo
Release Date:20/11/1976
Stay Hungry
Character:Jabo
Release Date:23/04/1976
Taxi Driver
Character:Personnel Officer
Release Date:09/02/1976
Next Stop, Greenwich Village
Character:Cop
Release Date:04/02/1976
The Ransom of Red Chief
Character:Bill
Release Date:01/11/1975
92 in the Shade
Character:Ollie Slatt
Release Date:22/08/1975
Farewell, My Lovely
Character:Nick
Release Date:08/08/1975
Strike Force
Character:Sol Terranova
Release Date:12/04/1975
Rancho Deluxe
Character:Mr. Colson
Release Date:14/03/1975
The Godfather Part II
Character:William 'Willie' Cicci
Release Date:20/12/1974
The Seven-Ups
Character:Toredano
Release Date:14/12/1973
Cops and Robbers
Character:Marty
Release Date:15/08/1973
The Godfather
Character:Willi Cicci (uncredited)
Release Date:14/03/1972
Television Appearances
Images
