Joe Spinell

Birthday:

10/28/1936

Place of birth:

Manhattan, New York:

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.



Credits

40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic (2020)
Self (archive footage)
FantastiCozzi (2016)
Count Zarth Arn (archive footage)
The History of 'Cruising' (2007)
Self (archive footage)
Exorcising 'Cruising' (2007)
Self (archive footage)
The Joe Spinell Story (2001)
(archive footage)
The American Nightmare (2000)
Self
Thriller Zone (1995)
Vinny Durand (segment "Fanatical Extremes") (archive footage)
Rapid Fire (1989)
Hansen
The Undertaker (1988)
Uncle Roscoe
Married to the Mob (1988)
Leonard 'Tiptoes' Mazzilli
K.O. Kippers (1988)
Tony Larosa
Operation Warzone (1988)
Brig. Gen. George Delevane
Deadly Illusion (1987)
Crazy Man in Gun Bureau
The Pick-up Artist (1987)
Eddie
Blood Ties (1986)
Joey, New York Goon #1
The Messenger (1986)
Rico
Maniac II: Love to Kill (1986)
Mr. Robbie
Hollywood Harry (1986)
Max Caldwell
The Whoopee Boys (1986)
Guido Antonucci
The Children of Times Square (1986)
Street Vendor
Out of the Darkness (1985)
Jim Halsey
Walking the Edge (1985)
Brusstar
Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer (1983)
Escobar
The Last Fight (1983)
Angelo
Eureka (1983)
Pete
The Big Score (1983)
Mayfield
One Down, Two to Go (1982)
Joe Spangler
Monsignor (1982)
Bride's Father
Losin' It (1982)
Border Patrolman
The Last Horror Film (1982)
Vinny Durand
Night Shift (1982)
Manetti
Vigilante (1982)
Eisenberg
A Question of Honor (1982)
Masked witness (uncredited)
National Lampoon's Movie Madness (1982)
Agent / M.C. ("Success Wanters")
Portrait of a Teenage Shoplifter (1981)
Door Guard
The Godfather 1901–1959: The Complete Epic (1981)
William "Willie" Cicci
Nighthawks (1981)
Lt. Munafo
The First Deadly Sin (1980)
Charles Lipsky
Melvin and Howard (1980)
Go-Go Club Owner #2 (uncredited)
The Little Dragons (1980)
Yancey
Brubaker (1980)
Floyd Birdwell
Nightside (1980)
Michael Vincent
Maniac (1980)
Frank Zito
Forbidden Zone (1980)
Drunken Sailor
The Ninth Configuration (1980)
Lt. Spinell
Cruising (1980)
Patrolman DiSimone
Vampire (1979)
Capt. Desher
Rocky II (1979)
Tony Gazzo
Winter Kills (1979)
Arthur Fletcher
Last Embrace (1979)
Man in Cantina
Starcrash (1978)
Count Zartharn
The One Man Jury (1978)
Mike Abatino
Paradise Alley (1978)
Burp
Big Wednesday (1978)
Psychologist
Nunzio (1978)
Angelo
Sorcerer (1977)
Spider
Rocky (1976)
Tony Gazzo
Stay Hungry (1976)
Jabo
Taxi Driver (1976)
Personnel Officer
Next Stop, Greenwich Village (1976)
Cop
The Ransom of Red Chief (1975)
Bill
92 in the Shade (1975)
Ollie Slatt
Farewell, My Lovely (1975)
Nick
Strike Force (1975)
Sol Terranova
Rancho Deluxe (1975)
Mr. Colson
The Godfather Part II (1974)
William 'Willie' Cicci
The Seven-Ups (1973)
Toredano
Cops and Robbers (1973)
Marty
The Godfather (1972)
Willi Cicci (uncredited)
Maniac (2012)
Original Film Writer
Maniac II: Love to Kill (1986)
Story
Maniac II: Love to Kill (1986)
Producer
Maniac (1980)
Screenplay
Maniac (1980)
Executive Producer
Maniac (1980)
Story