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