Joe Spinell
Joe Spinell
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.
Acted Movies
Director: David Winters
Writers: David Winters,
Cast: Caroline Munro, David Winters, Devin Goldenberg, Filomena Spagnuolo, Glenn Jacobson, J'Len Winters, Joe Spinell, Judd Hamilton, Sharon Hughes, Susanne Benton,
Director: William Lustig
Writers: Richard Vetere,
Cast: Carol Lynley, Don Blakely, Fred Williamson, Joe Spinell, Joseph Carberry, Richard Bright, Robert Forster, Rutanya Alda, Willie Colón, Woody Strode,
Director: Gary Nelson
Writers: David Shaber,
Cast: Billy Dee Williams, E. Brian Dean, Hilarie Thompson, Joe Spinell, Lindsay Wagner, Nigel Davenport, Persis Khambatta, Rutger Hauer, Sylvester Stallone, Walter Mathews,
Director: William Lustig
Writers: C.A. Rosenberg,
Cast: Abigail Clayton, Billy Spagnuolo, Caroline Munro, Denise Spagnuolo, Hyla Marrow, Joe Spinell, Kelly Piper, Nelia Bacmeister, Rita Montone, Sharon Mitchell,
Director: William Peter Blatty
Writers: William Peter Blatty,
Cast: Alejandro Rey, Ed Flanders, George DiCenzo, Jason Miller, Joe Spinell, Moses Gunn, Neville Brand, Robert Loggia, Scott Wilson, Stacy Keach,
Director: William Friedkin
Writers: William Friedkin,
Cast: Al Pacino, Barton Heyman, Don Scardino, Gene Davis, Jay Acovone, Joe Spinell, Karen Allen, Paul Sorvino, Randy Jurgensen, Richard Cox,
Director: Sylvester Stallone
Writers: Sylvester Stallone,
Cast: Burgess Meredith, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Frank McRae, Joe Spinell, Leonard Gaines, Sylvester Stallone, Sylvia Meals, Talia Shire, Tony Burton,
Director: John Milius
Writers: John Milius,
Cast: Gary Busey, Hank Worden, Jan-Michael Vincent, Joe Spinell, Lee Purcell, Patti D'Arbanville, Reb Brown, Robert Englund, Sam Melville, William Katt,
Director: William Friedkin
Writers: William Friedkin,
Cast: Amidou, Bruno Cremer, Chico Martínez, Francisco Rabal, Friedrich von Ledebur, Joe Spinell, Karl John, Peter Capell, Ramon Bieri, Roy Scheider,
Director: John G. Avildsen
Writers: Sylvester Stallone,
Cast: Al Silvani, Bill Baldwin, Burgess Meredith, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Jimmy Gambina, Joe Spinell, Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Thayer David,
Director: Philip D'Antoni
Writers: Alexander Jacobs,
Cast: Bill Hickman, Jerry Leon, Joe Spinell, Ken Kercheval, Larry Haines, Lou Polan, Richard Lynch, Roy Scheider, Tony Lo Bianco, Victor Arnold,