Joe Spinell
| Joe Spinell | |
|---|---|
| Born | Joseph J. Spagnuolo October 28, 1936 Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Died | January 13, 1989 (aged 52) Queens, New York, U.S. |
| Other names | Joe "Maniac" Spinell Joseph Spinell Joe Spinnel Joe Spinnell |
| Occupation | Actor, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1972–89 |
| Spouse | Jean Jennings (February 1977–July 1979) |
Joe Spinell born Joseph J. Spagnuolo (October 28, 1936 – January 13, 1989) was an American character actor, who appeared in numerous films in the 1970s and 1980s.[1]
Contents |
[edit] 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.[2] 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.[3]
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.
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Spinell was married to adult film star Jean Jennings from February 1977 to July 1979. Together they had one daughter, but they eventually divorced.
[edit] Filmography
- The Godfather (1972) as Willi Cicci (uncredited)
- The Seven-Ups (1973) as Toredano
- The Godfather Part II (1974) as Willi Cicci
- Rancho Deluxe (1975) as Mr. Coleson
- Farewell, My Lovely (1975) as Nick
- 92 in the Shade (1975) as Ollie Slatt
- Next Stop, Greenwich Village (1976) as a cop
- Taxi Driver (1976) as the personnel officer
- Stay Hungry (1976) as Jabo
- Rocky (1976) as Tony Gazzo
- Sorcerer (1977) as Spider
- Big Wednesday (1978) as the psychologist
- Paradise Alley (1978) as Burp
- Nunzio (1978) as Angelo
- The One Man Jury (1978) as Mike Abatino
- Starcrash (1979) as Count Zarth Arn
- Last Embrace (1979) as Man in cantina (uncredited)
- Winter Kills (1979) as Arthur Fletcher
- Rocky II (1979) as Tony Gazzo
- Cruising (1980) as Patrolman DiSimone
- The Little Dragons (1980) as Yancy
- Maniac (1980) as Frank Zito
- Forbidden Zone (1980) as Squeezit's Father
- Brubaker (1980) as Floyd Birdwell
- The Ninth Configuration (1980) as Lt. Spinell
- Melvin and Howard (1980) as a Go-Go club owner (uncredited)
- The First Deadly Sin (1980) as Charles Lipsky
- Nighthawks (1981) as Lt. Munafo
- National Lampoon Goes to the Movies (1982) as the Talent Agent/Beauty show M.C. (segment: "Success Wanters")
- Night Shift (1982) as Manetti
- The Last Horror Film (also known as Fanatic) (1982) as Vinny Durand
- Monsignor (1982) as the bride's father
- Losin' It (1983) as a U.S. Customs Policeman
- The Last Fight (1983) as The Boss
- Walking The Edge (1983) as Brusstar
- Vigilante (1983) as Eisenberg
- Eureka (1984) as Pete
- Hollywood Harry (1985) as Max Caldwell
- The Whoopee Boys (1986) as Guido Antonucci
- Maniac 2: Mr. Robbie (1986) as Mr. Robbie (short promo film)
- The Pick-up Artist (1987) as Eddie
- Deadly Illusion (1987) as a hit man
- Married to the Mob (1988) as Leonard 'Tiptoes' Mazzilli (scenes deleted)
- Operation Warzone (1988) as Delevane
- The Undertaker (1988) as Roscoe
- Rapid Fire (1989) as Hanson (final role)
[edit] Made-for-TV movies and other television works
- Strike Force (1975) as Sol Terranova
- The Godfather Saga (1977) as Willie Cicci (edited version of The Godfather and The Godfather Part II)
- Vampire (1979) as Captain Desher
- Nightside (1980) as Michael Vincent
- Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer (1983) as Escobar
- Out of the Darkness (1985) as Jim Halsey
- The Equalizer; as a Mob boss; episode #1.16 'Wash Up' (1986)
- The Children of Times Square (1986) as a street vendor
- Blood Ties (1986) as Joey, 1st New York goon
- Night Heat as various roles; 3 episodes (1986–1987)
[edit] References
- ^ New York Times. "New York Times". New York Times. http://movies.nytimes.com/person/67251/Joe-Spinell. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
- ^ NNDB. "NNDB". NNDB. http://www.nndb.com/people/771/000050621/. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
- ^ Vincent Canby (January 31, 1981). "Maniac". New York Times. http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F0DEFDA113BF932A05752C0A967948260. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
[edit] External links
- Joe Spinell at the Internet Movie Database
- Joe Spinell at AllRovi
