Joe Spinell
Acting
Born: October 28, 1936 · Manhattan, New York
Died: January 13, 1989 (aged 52)
Highest Rated
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.
Known for
The Godfather
1972
The Godfather Part II
1974
Taxi Driver
1976
Rocky
1976
Rocky II
1979
Maniac
2012
Sorcerer
1977
Cruising
1980
Brubaker
1980
Maniac
1980
Nighthawks
1981
Married to the Mob
1988
Photos (3)
Movies (65)
The Godfather
Willi Cicci (uncredited)
The Godfather Part II
William 'Willie' Cicci
Taxi Driver
Personnel Officer
Rocky
Tony Gazzo
Rocky II
Tony Gazzo
Sorcerer
Spider
Nighthawks
Lt. Munafo
Cruising
Patrolman DiSimone
Farewell, My Lovely
Nick
Brubaker
Birdwell
The Ninth Configuration
Lt. Spinell
The Last Fight
Angelo
Married to the Mob
Leonard 'Tiptoes' Mazzilli
Losin' It
Border Patrolman
The Seven-Ups
Toredano
The Pick-up Artist
Eddie
Paradise Alley
Burp
Night Shift
Manetti
The First Deadly Sin
Charles Lipsky
Vigilante
Eisenberg
Big Wednesday
Psychologist
Maniac
Frank Zito
Stay Hungry
Jabo
Last Embrace
Man in Cantina
Eureka
Pete
Starcrash
Count Zartharn
Winter Kills
Arthur Fletcher
Next Stop, Greenwich Village
Cop
National Lampoon's Movie Madness
Agent / M.C. ("Success Wanters")
The Godfather: The Complete Epic 1901–1959
William "Willie" Cicci
Melvin and Howard
Go-Go Club Owner #2 (uncredited)
Forbidden Zone
Drunken Sailor
The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980
Will Cicci
The Whoopee Boys
Guido Antonucci
Monsignor
Bride's Father
The Last Horror Film
Vinny Durand
Cops and Robbers
Marty
Walking the Edge
Brusstar
Strike Force
Sol Terranova
FantastiCozzi
Count Zarth Arn (archive footage)
Rancho Deluxe
Mr. Colson
Portrait of a Teenage Shoplifter
Door Guard
The Children of Times Square
Street Vendor
Thriller Zone
Vinny Durand (segment "Fanatical Extremes") (archive footage)
Deadly Illusion
Crazy Man in Gun Bureau
A Question of Honor
Masked witness (uncredited)
The Big Score
Mayfield
92 in the Shade
Ollie Slatt
Vampire
Capt. Desher
Nightside
Michael Vincent
Out of the Darkness
Jim Halsey
The Messenger
Rico
Rapid Fire
Hansen
The Little Dragons
Yancey
The One Man Jury
Mike Abatino
The Joe Spinell Story
(archive footage)
The Undertaker
Uncle Roscoe
Hollywood Harry
Max Caldwell
One Down, Two to Go
Joe Spangler
Nunzio
Angelo
Maniac II: Mr. Robbie
Mr. Robbie
Blood Ties
Joey, New York Goon #1
The Ransom of Red Chief
Bill
Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer
Escobar
Operation Warzone
Brig. Gen. George Delevane
