Joe Viterelli

Biography

Joseph "Joe" Viterelli (March 10, 1937 – January 28, 2004) was an Italian American actor known for his mafioso-orientated character roles. Joe Viterelli was born to Italian immigrants in Bronx, New York. Before Viterelli became an actor, he was a successful businessman in New York City. He had befriended director Leo Penn (actor Sean Penn's father), who initially tried but failed to persuade Viterelli to pursue acting because of his unique and typically Italian looks. Some years later, Sean Penn approached Viterelli and asked him to try out for a part as a favor: Viterelli did and went on to appear in State of Grace and then in over 40 movies. Joe Viterelli became an icon of Mafia-Movies. Viterelli died on January 28, 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada due to a severe stomach hemorrhage, a complication of just-completed heart surgery. He was 66 years old. His last role was as a mobster in a 2004 Super Bowl ad for Staples, Inc. and his last movie role was as Jelly in Harold Ramis’ Analyze That.

Known For

Borelli

State of Grace

Costanza

Black Rose of Harlem

Nick Valenti

Bullets Over Broadway

Tony Two-Toes

Eraser

Jelly

Analyze This

Jelly

Analyze That

Joe

The Crossing Guard

Steve Shanahan

Shallow Hal

Didi Giancano

Heaven's Prisoners

Gino

See Spot Run

Joseph Valachi

Ruby

Gene

American Strays

Self

The Making of a Mobster: 'Mickey Blue Eyes'

Mickey

Out to Sea

Salvatore Greco

Looking For Lola

Jimmy / Howard Sussman

Hitman's Run

Max

Facade

Fat Charlie

Serving Sara

Clamato

Jane Austen's Mafia!

Vinnie D'Agostino

Mickey Blue Eyes

Fat Tony Ragoni

The Cure for Boredom

Santo

Wannabes

Joe Profaci

Mobsters

Joey Morolto (uncredited)

The Firm

Gino Marchese

In the Shadow of a Killer

A Walk in the Park

Fat Tommy Carducci

What She Doesn't Know