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Joe Spinell

Joe Spinell

Birthday: 1936-10-28 | Place of Birth: Manhattan, New York

​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.

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Known For

Acting

Year
Title

Role

1989
Rapid Fire

as    Hansen

1988
The Undertaker

as    Uncle Roscoe

1986
The Whoopee Boys

as    Guido Antonucci

1986
Hollywood Harry

as    Max Caldwell

1986
The Children of Times Square

as    Street Vendor

1985
Walking the Edge

as    Brusstar

1985
Out of the Darkness

as    Jim Halsey

1983
Vigilante

as    Eisenberg

1983
The Big Score

as    Mayfield

1982
One Down, Two to Go

as    Joe Spangler

1982
The Last Horror Film

as    Vinny Durand

1981
Maniac

as    Frank Zito

1981
Nighthawks

as    Lt. Munafo

1980
The First Deadly Sin

as    Charles Lipsky

1980
The Ninth Configuration

as    Lt. Spinell

1979
Vampire

as    Capt. Desher

1979
Starcrash

as    Count Zartharn

1979
Rocky II

as    Tony Gazzo

1978
Paradise Alley

as    Burp

1978
Big Wednesday

as    Psychologist

1977
Sorcerer

as    Spider

1976
Rocky

as    Tony Gazzo

1975
Farewell, My Lovely

as    Nick

1975
Strike Force

as    Sol Terranova

1973
Cops and Robbers

as    Marty

1973
The Seven-Ups

as    Toredano