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
Tony Gazzo
Rocky
Tony Gazzo
Rocky II
Nick
Farewell, My Lovely
Jabo
Stay Hungry
Count Zartharn
Starcrash
Lt. Munafo
Nighthawks
Self (archive footage)
Exorcising 'Cruising'
Self (archive footage)
The History of 'Cruising'
Eisenberg
Vigilante
Cop
Next Stop, Greenwich Village
Toredano
The Seven-Ups
Go-Go Club Owner #2 (uncredited)
Melvin and Howard
Drunken Sailor
Forbidden Zone
William "Willie" Cicci
The Godfather 1901–1959: The Complete Epic
Frank Zito
Maniac
Patrolman DiSimone
Cruising
Manetti
Night Shift
Spider
Sorcerer
Lt. Spinell
The Ninth Configuration
Self
The American Nightmare
Vinny Durand
The Last Horror Film
Willi Cicci (uncredited)
The Godfather
Brig. Gen. George Delevane
Operation Warzone
Angelo
Nunzio
Mayfield
The Big Score
Brusstar
Walking the Edge
Rico
The Messenger
Hansen
Rapid Fire
Vinny Durand (segment "Fanatical Extremes") (archive footage)
Thriller Zone
Mike Abatino
The One Man Jury
Self (archive footage)
40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic
Yancey
The Little Dragons
Pete
Eureka
Leonard 'Tiptoes' Mazzilli
Married to the Mob
Sol Terranova
Strike Force
Uncle Roscoe
The Undertaker
Angelo
The Last Fight
Joe Spangler
One Down, Two to Go
Mr. Robbie
Maniac II: Mr. Robbie
Guido Antonucci
The Whoopee Boys
Personnel Officer
Taxi Driver
Psychologist
Big Wednesday
Mr. Colson
Rancho Deluxe
Arthur Fletcher
Winter Kills
Burp
Paradise Alley
Door Guard
Portrait of a Teenage Shoplifter
Michael Vincent
Nightside
William 'Willie' Cicci
The Godfather Part II
Capt. Desher
Vampire
Max Caldwell
Hollywood Harry
Tony Larosa
K.O. Kippers
Border Patrolman
Losin' It
Floyd Birdwell
Brubaker
Eddie
The Pick-up Artist
Bride's Father
Monsignor
Count Zarth Arn (archive footage)
FantastiCozzi
Ollie Slatt
92 in the Shade
Man in Cantina
Last Embrace
Charles Lipsky
The First Deadly Sin
Escobar
Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer
Street Vendor
The Children of Times Square
Marty
Cops and Robbers
Bill
The Ransom of Red Chief
(archive footage)
The Joe Spinell Story
Joey, New York Goon #1
Il cugino americano
Jim Halsey
Out of the Darkness
Masked witness (uncredited)
A Question of Honor
Crazy Man in Gun Bureau
Deadly Illusion
Agent / M.C. ("Success Wanters")
National Lampoon's Movie Madness
The History of 'Cruising'
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
70
Gender
Male
Birthday
1936-10-28
Place of Birth
Manhattan, New York
Also Known As
Joseph J. Spagnuolo