1936-10-28 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.
![]() |
40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic | Self (archive footage) | 2020-06-09 |
![]() |
FantastiCozzi | Count Zarth Arn (archive footage) | 2016-05-21 |
![]() |
Exorcising 'Cruising' | Self (archive footage) | 2007-09-18 |
![]() |
The History of 'Cruising' | Self (archive footage) | 2007-09-18 |
![]() |
The Joe Spinell Story | (archive footage) | 2001-08-21 |
![]() |
The American Nightmare | Self | 2000-09-11 |
![]() |
Thriller Zone | Vinny Durand (segment "Fanatical Extremes") (archive footage) | 1995-01-01 |
![]() |
Rapid Fire | Hansen | 1989-04-07 |
![]() |
Married to the Mob | Leonard 'Tiptoes' Mazzilli | 1988-08-19 |
![]() |
The Undertaker | Uncle Roscoe | 1988-11-01 |
![]() |
K.O. Kippers | Tony Larosa | 1988-08-13 |
![]() |
Operation Warzone | Brig. Gen. George Delevane | 1988-07-01 |
![]() |
Deadly Illusion | Crazy Man in Gun Bureau | 1987-10-16 |
![]() |
The Pick-up Artist | Eddie | 1987-09-18 |
![]() |
Hollywood Harry | Max Caldwell | 1986-10-03 |
![]() |
The Whoopee Boys | Guido Antonucci | 1986-08-22 |
![]() |
The Messenger | Rico | 1986-12-01 |
![]() |
Il cugino americano | Joey, New York Goon #1 | 1986-12-14 |
![]() |
The Children of Times Square | Street Vendor | 1986-03-03 |
![]() |
Maniac II: Mr. Robbie | Mr. Robbie | 1986-11-01 |
![]() |
Out of the Darkness | Jim Halsey | 1985-10-12 |
![]() |
Walking the Edge | Brusstar | 1985-01-11 |
![]() |
Losin' It | Border Patrolman | 1983-04-08 |
![]() |
Eureka | Pete | 1983-05-01 |
![]() |
Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer | Escobar | 1983-10-15 |
![]() |
The Last Fight | Angelo | 1983-09-07 |
![]() |
The Big Score | Mayfield | 1983-03-17 |
![]() |
Vigilante | Eisenberg | 1982-05-18 |
![]() |
One Down, Two to Go | Joe Spangler | 1982-11-19 |
![]() |
Night Shift | Manetti | 1982-07-30 |
![]() |
The Last Horror Film | Vinny Durand | 1982-08-12 |
![]() |
Monsignor | Bride's Father | 1982-10-22 |
![]() |
National Lampoon's Movie Madness | Agent / M.C. ("Success Wanters") | 1982-04-23 |
![]() |
A Question of Honor | Masked witness (uncredited) | 1982-04-28 |
![]() |
Portrait of a Teenage Shoplifter | Door Guard | 1981-12-01 |
![]() |
The Godfather 1901–1959: The Complete Epic | William "Willie" Cicci | 1981-03-24 |
![]() |
Nighthawks | Lt. Munafo | 1981-03-17 |
![]() |
Nightside | Michael Vincent | 1980-06-08 |
![]() |
Brubaker | Floyd Birdwell | 1980-06-20 |
![]() |
The First Deadly Sin | Charles Lipsky | 1980-10-03 |
![]() |
Cruising | Patrolman DiSimone | 1980-02-15 |
![]() |
Maniac | Frank Zito | 1980-05-10 |
![]() |
Forbidden Zone | Drunken Sailor | 1980-03-15 |
![]() |
Melvin and Howard | Go-Go Club Owner #2 (uncredited) | 1980-09-19 |
![]() |
The Little Dragons | Yancey | 1980-07-18 |
![]() |
The Ninth Configuration | Lt. Spinell | 1980-02-29 |
![]() |
Last Embrace | Man in Cantina | 1979-05-04 |
![]() |
Rocky II | Tony Gazzo | 1979-06-15 |
![]() |
Winter Kills | Arthur Fletcher | 1979-05-11 |
![]() |
Vampire | Capt. Desher | 1979-10-07 |
![]() |
The One Man Jury | Mike Abatino | 1978-09-29 |
![]() |
Starcrash | Count Zartharn | 1978-12-21 |
![]() |
Nunzio | Angelo | 1978-05-10 |
![]() |
Big Wednesday | Psychologist | 1978-05-26 |
![]() |
Paradise Alley | Burp | 1978-09-22 |
![]() |
Sorcerer | Spider | 1977-06-24 |
![]() |
Stay Hungry | Jabo | 1976-04-23 |
![]() |
Rocky | Tony Gazzo | 1976-11-20 |
![]() |
Taxi Driver | Personnel Officer | 1976-02-09 |
![]() |
Next Stop, Greenwich Village | Cop | 1976-02-04 |
![]() |
The Ransom of Red Chief | Bill | 1975-11-01 |
![]() |
Strike Force | Sol Terranova | 1975-04-12 |
![]() |
Farewell, My Lovely | Nick | 1975-08-08 |
![]() |
Rancho Deluxe | Mr. Colson | 1975-03-14 |
![]() |
92 in the Shade | Ollie Slatt | 1975-08-22 |
![]() |
The Godfather Part II | William 'Willie' Cicci | 1974-12-20 |
![]() |
The Seven-Ups | Toredano | 1973-12-14 |
![]() |
Cops and Robbers | Marty | 1973-08-15 |
![]() |
The Godfather | Willi Cicci (uncredited) | 1972-03-14 |