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