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Joe Spinell

Popularity

1.0

  • 1936 - 1989

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.

Birthday: 1936-10-28

Born At: Manhattan, New York

Casted In:

Taxi Driver
103
The Godfather
238
The Godfather: Part II
240
Rocky
1366
Rocky II
1367
Brubaker
1623
Farewell, My Lovely
1835
Married to the Mob
2321
Stay Hungry
5228
Night Shift
14742
The Whoopee Boys
15029
Forbidden Zone
16127
The Pick-up Artist
17258
Big Wednesday
18387
The Ninth Configuration
18910
Nighthawks
21610
Starcrash
22049
Vigilante
23587
Paradise Alley
23916
Maniac
27346
Cruising
27958
Next Stop, Greenwich Village
31913
The Seven-Ups
32080
Eureka
37943
Sorcerer
38985
Winter Kills
42178
Rancho Deluxe
42261
The Last Horror Film
57901
Cops and Robbers
88359
The Joe Spinell Story
91760
One Down, Two to Go
96448
Operation Warzone
105970
The Big Score
107007
Walking the Edge
109953
Nunzio
121575
Monsignor
124963
Strike Force
131966
Rapid Fire
135563
The Undertaker
138997
Blood Ties
153985
The Messenger
157545
Thriller Zone
161367
The One Man Jury
170626
The Little Dragons
219249
The Children of Times Square
256770
The Last Fight
260056
Vampire
265067
Hollywood Harry
278953
Maniac 2: Mr. Robbie
287456
K.O. Kippers
387375

Crewed In:

Maniac
27346
Maniac 2: Mr. Robbie
287456
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