Joe Spinell

Joe Spinell

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.

Place of Birth: Not available

Birthday: October 28, 1936

Deathday: January 13, 1989

Popularity:

6.899

Known For

Rocky
Rocky

1976-11-20

Rocky II
Rocky II

1979-06-15

Farewell, My Lovely
Farewell, My Lovely

1975-08-08

Stay Hungry
Stay Hungry

1976-04-23

Starcrash
Starcrash

1978-12-21

Nighthawks
Nighthawks

1981-03-17

Exorcising 'Cruising'
Exorcising 'Cruising'

2007-09-18

The History of 'Cruising'
The History of 'Cruising'

2007-09-18

Vigilante
Vigilante

1982-05-18

Next Stop, Greenwich Village
Next Stop, Greenwich Village

1976-02-04

The Seven-Ups
The Seven-Ups

1973-12-14

Melvin and Howard
Melvin and Howard

1980-09-19

Forbidden Zone
Forbidden Zone

1980-03-15

The Godfather 1901–1959: The Complete Epic
The Godfather 1901–1959: The Complete Epic

1981-03-24

Maniac
Maniac

1980-05-10

Cruising
Cruising

1980-02-15

Night Shift
Night Shift

1982-07-30

Sorcerer
Sorcerer

1977-06-24

The Ninth Configuration
The Ninth Configuration

1980-02-29

The American Nightmare
The American Nightmare

2000-09-11

The Last Horror Film
The Last Horror Film

1982-08-12

The Godfather
The Godfather

1972-03-14

Operation Warzone
Operation Warzone

1988-07-01

Nunzio
Nunzio

1978-05-10

The Big Score
The Big Score

1983-03-17

Walking the Edge
Walking the Edge

1985-01-11

The Messenger
The Messenger

1986-12-01

Rapid Fire
Rapid Fire

1989-04-07

Thriller Zone
Thriller Zone

1995-01-01

The One Man Jury
The One Man Jury

1978-09-29

40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic
40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic

2020-06-09

The Little Dragons
The Little Dragons

1980-07-18

Eureka
Eureka

1983-05-01

Married to the Mob
Married to the Mob

1988-08-19

Strike Force
Strike Force

1975-04-12

The Undertaker
The Undertaker

1988-11-01

The Last Fight
The Last Fight

1983-09-07

One Down, Two to Go
One Down, Two to Go

1982-11-19

Maniac II: Mr. Robbie
Maniac II: Mr. Robbie

1986-11-01

The Whoopee Boys
The Whoopee Boys

1986-08-22

Taxi Driver
Taxi Driver

1976-02-09

Big Wednesday
Big Wednesday

1978-05-26

Rancho Deluxe
Rancho Deluxe

1975-03-14

Winter Kills
Winter Kills

1979-05-11

Paradise Alley
Paradise Alley

1978-09-22

Portrait of a Teenage Shoplifter
Portrait of a Teenage Shoplifter

1981-12-01

Nightside
Nightside

1980-06-08

The Godfather Part II
The Godfather Part II

1974-12-20

Vampire
Vampire

1979-10-07

Hollywood Harry
Hollywood Harry

1986-10-03

K.O. Kippers
K.O. Kippers

1988-08-13

Losin' It
Losin' It

1983-04-08

Brubaker
Brubaker

1980-06-20

The Pick-up Artist
The Pick-up Artist

1987-09-18

Monsignor
Monsignor

1982-10-22

FantastiCozzi
FantastiCozzi

2016-05-21

92 in the Shade
92 in the Shade

1975-08-22

Last Embrace
Last Embrace

1979-05-04

The First Deadly Sin
The First Deadly Sin

1980-10-03

Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer
Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer

1983-10-15

The Children of Times Square
The Children of Times Square

1986-03-03

Cops and Robbers
Cops and Robbers

1973-08-15

The Ransom of Red Chief
The Ransom of Red Chief

1975-11-01

The Joe Spinell Story
The Joe Spinell Story

2001-08-21

Blood Ties
Blood Ties

1986-12-14

Out of the Darkness
Out of the Darkness

1985-10-12

A Question of Honor
A Question of Honor

1982-04-28

Deadly Illusion
Deadly Illusion

1987-10-16

National Lampoon's Movie Madness
National Lampoon's Movie Madness

1982-04-23