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Joe Spinell

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.

See more:
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40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic

2020

as Self (archive footage)

FantastiCozzi

FantastiCozzi

2016

as Count Zarth Arn (archive footage)

Exorcising 'Cruising'

Exorcising 'Cruising'

2007

as Self (archive footage)

The History of 'Cruising'

The History of 'Cruising'

2007

as Self (archive footage)

The Joe Spinell Story

The Joe Spinell Story

2001

as (archive footage)

The American Nightmare

The American Nightmare

2000

as Self

Thriller Zone

Thriller Zone

1995

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

Rapid Fire

Rapid Fire

1989

as Hansen

The Undertaker

The Undertaker

1988

as Uncle Roscoe

Married to the Mob

Married to the Mob

1988

as Leonard 'Tiptoes' Mazzilli

K.O. Kippers

K.O. Kippers

1988

as Tony Larosa

Operation Warzone

Operation Warzone

1988

as Brig. Gen. George Delevane

Deadly Illusion

Deadly Illusion

1987

as Crazy Man in Gun Bureau

The Pick-up Artist

The Pick-up Artist

1987

as Eddie

Blood Ties

Blood Ties

1986

as Joey, New York Goon #1

The Messenger

The Messenger

1986

as Rico

Maniac II: Mr. Robbie

Maniac II: Mr. Robbie

1986

as Mr. Robbie

Hollywood Harry

Hollywood Harry

1986

as Max Caldwell

The Whoopee Boys

The Whoopee Boys

1986

as Guido Antonucci

The Children of Times Square

The Children of Times Square

1986

as Street Vendor

Out of the Darkness

Out of the Darkness

1985

as Jim Halsey

The Equalizer

The Equalizer

1985

as Mob Boss

Walking the Edge

Walking the Edge

1985

as Brusstar

Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer

Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer

1983

as Escobar

The Last Fight

The Last Fight

1983

as Angelo

Eureka

Eureka

1983

as Pete

Losin' It

Losin' It

1983

as Border Patrolman

The Big Score

The Big Score

1983

as Mayfield

One Down, Two to Go

One Down, Two to Go

1982

as Joe Spangler

Monsignor

Monsignor

1982

as Bride's Father

The Last Horror Film

The Last Horror Film

1982

as Vinny Durand

Night Shift

Night Shift

1982

as Manetti

Vigilante

Vigilante

1982

as Eisenberg

A Question of Honor

A Question of Honor

1982

as Masked witness (uncredited)

National Lampoon's Movie Madness

National Lampoon's Movie Madness

1982

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

Portrait of a Teenage Shoplifter

Portrait of a Teenage Shoplifter

1981

as Door Guard

The Godfather 1901–1959: The Complete Epic

The Godfather 1901–1959: The Complete Epic

1981

as William "Willie" Cicci

Nighthawks

Nighthawks

1981

as Lt. Munafo

The First Deadly Sin

The First Deadly Sin

1980

as Charles Lipsky

Melvin and Howard

Melvin and Howard

1980

as Go-Go Club Owner #2 (uncredited)

The Little Dragons

The Little Dragons

1980

as Yancey

Brubaker

Brubaker

1980

as Floyd Birdwell

Nightside

Nightside

1980

as Michael Vincent

Maniac

Maniac

1980

as Frank Zito

Forbidden Zone

Forbidden Zone

1980

as Drunken Sailor

The Ninth Configuration

The Ninth Configuration

1980

as Lt. Spinell

Cruising

Cruising

1980

as Patrolman DiSimone

Vampire

Vampire

1979

as Capt. Desher

Rocky II

Rocky II

1979

as Tony Gazzo

Winter Kills

Winter Kills

1979

as Arthur Fletcher

Last Embrace

Last Embrace

1979

as Man in Cantina

Starcrash

Starcrash

1978

as Count Zartharn

The One Man Jury

The One Man Jury

1978

as Mike Abatino

Paradise Alley

Paradise Alley

1978

as Burp

Big Wednesday

Big Wednesday

1978

as Psychologist

Nunzio

Nunzio

1978

as Angelo

Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television

Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television

1977

as William "Willie" Cicci

Sorcerer

Sorcerer

1977

as Spider

Rocky

Rocky

1976

as Tony Gazzo

Stay Hungry

Stay Hungry

1976

as Jabo

Taxi Driver

Taxi Driver

1976

as Personnel Officer

Next Stop, Greenwich Village

Next Stop, Greenwich Village

1976

as Cop

The Ransom of Red Chief

The Ransom of Red Chief

1975

as Bill

92 in the Shade

92 in the Shade

1975

as Ollie Slatt

Farewell, My Lovely

Farewell, My Lovely

1975

as Nick

Strike Force

Strike Force

1975

as Sol Terranova

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

1975

as Mr. Colson

The Godfather Part II

The Godfather Part II

1974

as William 'Willie' Cicci

The Seven-Ups

The Seven-Ups

1973

as Toredano

Cops and Robbers

Cops and Robbers

1973

as Marty

The Godfather

The Godfather

1972

as Willi Cicci (uncredited)