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