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Joe Spinell

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Joe Spinell
Spinell on the set of The Godfather
Born
Joseph Spagnuolo

(1936-10-28)October 28, 1936
Manhattan, New York, U.S.
DiedJanuary 13, 1989(1989-01-13) (aged 52)
Queens, New York, U.S.
Resting placeCalvary Cemetery
Occupation(s)Actor, screenwriter
Years active1972–1989
Spouse
Jean Jennings
​
​
(m. 1977; div. 1979)​
Children1
RelativesSteve Spagnuolo (cousin)

Joe Spinell (born Joseph Spagnuolo; October 28, 1936 – January 13, 1989) was an American character actor who appeared in films in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as various stage productions on and off Broadway.[1] He played supporting roles in film including The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather Part II (1974), Rocky (1976), Rocky II (1979), Taxi Driver (1976), Sorcerer (1977) and Cruising (1980).

Until Spinell's death in 1989, his career ranged from bit to major supporting roles. Spinell played lead roles in horror films, sharing the screen with actress Caroline Munro in the first two: the psychological slasher film Maniac (1980), the horror comedy The Last Horror Film (1982), and the slasher film The Undertaker (1988) released posthumously.

Early life

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Spinell was born Joseph Spagnuolo (Italian pronunciation: [spaɲˈɲwɔːlo]) in Manhattan, New York, the second-to-youngest of six children of Italian immigrant parents. His father, Pellegrino Spagnuolo (1892–1950), died from liver and kidney disease. His mother, Filomena Spagnuolo (1903–1987), was an actress who played bit parts in several movies, some of them alongside her son.[2] Spinell was born at his family's apartment on Second Avenue in Kips Bay, Manhattan, an area then home to 10,000 Italian Americans.[3] 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. In the mid and late 1970s when living in California, he lived in an apartment in the Oakwood Apartments complex near Toluca Lake located on Barham Boulevard. He was known to heavily abuse drugs and alcohol intermittently throughout his career, especially during periods of unemployment. Spinell was born with hemophilia and had chronic asthma for most of his life.

Career

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Early 1970s to 1982: Rise to prominence

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Because of his large, heavyset frame and imposing looks, Spinell was often cast as criminals, thugs, or corrupt police officers. As a teenager and young adult, Spinell starred in various stage plays, both on and off Broadway.[4]

In 1971, he landed his first film role in a small part as the mafioso hitman Willi Cicci working for the Corleone crime family in the crime film The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola.[1] It was the highest-grossing film of 1972[5] and was for a time the highest-grossing film ever made.[6] It won the Oscars for Best Picture, Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay, as well as other nominations. Spinell was so liked by Coppola that he asked Spinell to sit in on much more of the film's shooting than was required, for which he was paid the daily actor rate even if not appearing in the day's scenes.

In 1973, he acted in Aram Avakian's Cops and Robbers, and Philip D'Antoni's The Seven-Ups.

In 1974, Spinell reprised his role as Willi Cicci in The Godfather Part II, where Cicci is still working for the Corleone crime family, but having been promoted from "soldier" (aka: 'button man') to being the personal bodyguard to Frank Pentangeli (Michael V. Gazzo). The film was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, and became the first sequel to win for Best Picture. It was Paramount Pictures' highest-grossing film of 1974 and was the fifth-highest-grossing picture in North America that year. Spinell was set to reprise his role as Willi Cicci in The Godfather Part III (1990) but he died before filming began.

In 1975, he acted in Frank Perry's Rancho Deluxe,[7] Barry Shear's Strike Force, Dick Richards's Farewell, My Lovely,[8] and Thomas McGuane's 92 in the Shade.[9]

In 1976, he acted in Paul Mazursky's Next Stop, Greenwich Village, Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver,[10] and Bob Rafelson's Stay Hungry. That year, Spinell played the role of Gazzo, a loan shark in John G. Avildsen's Rocky. It earned $225 million in global box office receipts, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1976, went on to win three Oscars, including Best Picture, and turned lead actor Sylvester Stallone into a major star.[11]

In 1977, he acted in Sorcerer, a thriller adaptation of The Wages of Fear directed by William Friedkin.

In 1978, he acted in Paul Williams's Nunzio, John Milius's Big Wednesday, Sylvester Stallone's Paradise Alley, and The One Man Jury. He also played the main antagonist in Luigi Cozzi's Italian-produced space opera Starcrash,[12] starring Caroline Munro and Marjoe Gortner.[13][14][15]

In 1979, he acted in Jonathan Demme's Last Embrace,[16] and William Richert's Winter Kills. Spinell reprised his role as Gazzo in Rocky II this time directed by Sylvester Stallone. Rocky II finished in the top three highest-grossing films of 1979, in both the North American market and worldwide. The film grossed $6,390,537 during its opening weekend, $85,182,160 at the U.S. box office, and $200,182,160 overall.[17]

1980 to 1982: leading man in horror films and subsequent films

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Although primarily known as a character actor, Spinell co-wrote, co-produced, and starred in his first lead role as a serial killer in the 1980 film Maniac, the psychological slasher film directed by William Lustig.[18]

Also in 1980, he acted in Curtis Hanson's The Little Dragons, William Friedkin's Cruising, William Peter Blatty'sThe Ninth Configuration, Bernard L. Kowalski's Nightside,[19] Stuart Rosenberg's Brubaker, Brian G. Hutton's The First Deadly Sin, and Jonathan Demme's Melvin and Howard''.[20]

In 1981, Spinell had a supporting role in the Sylvester Stallone action film Nighthawks,[21] and Richard Elfman's Forbidden Zone.

In 1982, he acted in National Lampoon's Movie Madness, Night Shift, Monsignor, and One Down, Two to Go.[citation needed]

That year he starred in David Winters's horror comedy The Last Horror Film, co-starring Caroline Munro.[22] It played in film festivals,[23] at the Saturn Awards it received nominations,[24] and at the Sitges Film Festival it was part of their official selection, and won best cinematography.[25]

1983 to 1989: Final roles

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In 1983, he played a corrupt lawyer in William Lustig's vigilante film Vigilante. He also acted in Curtis Hanson's Losin' It, Nicolas Roeg's Eureka, and Fred Williamson's The Last Fight .[citation needed]

In 1985, he played the main villain in the crime film Walking the Edge, starring Robert Forster.

In 1986, he acted in John Byrum's The Whoopee Boys, Robert Forster's Hollywood Harry, and Fred Williamson's The Messenger.[citation needed] That year, he made Maniac 2: Mr. Robbie, a horror short promotional film directed by Buddy Giovinazzo and co-written by Spinell and Joe Cirillo which was loosely based on a 1973 feature film titled An Eye for an Eye (aka: The Psychopath). The short film was produced by Joe Spinell in order to raise financing for a sequel to Spinell's 1980 horror film Maniac.[26] The short was included with the 30th anniversary edition release of Maniac.[27][26]

In 1987, Spinell acted in The Pick-up Artist, and Deadly Illusion.[28][29]

In 1988, Spinell played a corrupt military official in David A. Prior's Operation Warzone.[30] His last lead role was completed in 1988, a slasher film named The Undertaker. The film was never released for the public, only existed in an incomplete form. In 2010, The Undertaker was released on DVD release by Code Red, and restored by Vinegar Syndrome on Blu-ray in 2016. The film is considered a cult classic, due in part to Joe Spinell's involvement and its long and troubled production.[citation needed]

In 1989, Spinell played a U.S. government official in Rapid Fire, directed by David A. Prior which was his final role.[citation needed]

Personal life

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Spinell was married to adult film star Jean Jennings (1957–2011) from February 1977 to July 1979. Together they had one daughter before they divorced.[31]

A close friend of Sylvester Stallone, Spinell was the godfather of his son Sage Stallone.[32] Spinell had a falling out with Sylvester Stallone during the filming of their final collaboration Nighthawks (1981).[33]

Death

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Spinell died in his apartment located off Greenpoint Avenue in Sunnyside, Queens, New York on January 13, 1989, at the age of 52.[citation needed] Sometime during that morning, he cut himself badly on his glass shower stall door after apparently slipping in the bathtub while showering. Soon afterward he fell asleep on his living room couch instead of calling for help, and his hemophilia caused him to bleed to death.[citation needed] Spinell was buried in Calvary Cemetery, Queens near his home.

Filmography

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Film

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Feature films
Year Title Role Notes
1972 The Godfather Willi Cicci Uncredited
1973 Cops and Robbers Marty
The Seven-Ups Toredano
1974 The Godfather Part II Willi Cicci
1975 Rancho Deluxe Mr. Colson
Farewell, My Lovely Nick
92 in the Shade Ollie Slatt
1976 Next Stop, Greenwich Village Cop At El Station
Taxi Driver The Personnel Officer
Stay Hungry Jabo
Rocky Tony Gazzo
1977 Sorcerer "Spider"
1978 Nunzio Angelo
Big Wednesday Psychologist
Paradise Alley "Burp"
The One Man Jury Mika Abatino
Starcrash Count Zarth Arn
1979 Last Embrace Man In Cantina
Winter Kills Arthur Fletcher
Rocky II Tony Gazzo
The Little Dragons Yancey
1980 Cruising Patrolman DiSimone
The Ninth Configuration Lieutenant Spinell
Forbidden Zone The Sailor, Squeezeit's Father
Maniac Frank Zito
Brubaker Floyd Birdwell
Melvin and Howard Go-Go Club Owner Uncredited
The First Deadly Sin Charles Lipsky
1981 Nighthawks Lieutenant Munafo
1982 National Lampoon Goes to the Movies Talent Agent / Beauty Show M.C. ("Success Wanters")
Night Shift Manetti
The Last Horror Film Vinny Durand also known as Fanatic
Monsignor Bride's Father
One Down, Two To Go Joe Spangler
1983 Vigilante Eisenberg
Losin' It U.S. Customs Officer
Eureka Pete
The Last Fight Angelo, The Boss
1985 Walking the Edge Brusstar
1986 The Whoopee Boys Guido Antonucci
Hollywood Harry Max Caldwell
Maniac 2: Mr. Robbie Mr. Robbie Short film
The Messenger Rico
1987 The Pick-up Artist Eddie
Deadly Illusion Hit Man
1988 Operation Warzone Delevane
Married to the Mob Leonard "Tiptoes" Mazzilli (scenes deleted)
The Undertaker Roscoe
1989 Rapid Fire Hanson final role

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1975 Strike Force Sol Terranova
1977 The Godfather Saga Willi Cicci Archive footage from the previous two Godfather films
1979 Vampire Captain Desher
1980 Nightside Michael Vincent
1983 Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer Escobar
1985 Out of the Darkness Jim Halsey
1986 The Equalizer Mob Boss Episode #1.16 'Wash Up'
1986 The Children of Times Square Street Vendor
1986 Blood Ties Joey
1986-1987 Night Heat Tommy Angel / Carlucci / Joe "Uncle Joe" Latimer 3 episodes

References

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  1. ^ a b "Joe Spinell". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2012. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  2. ^ "Joe Spinell". NNDB. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  3. ^ "History of The Chapel of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary". Parish of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Archived from the original on February 25, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
  4. ^ Gregory, David (2001), The Joe Spinell Story
  5. ^ "IMDb: Top-US-Grossing Titles Released 1972-01-01 to 1972-12-31". IMDb. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  6. ^ Allan, John H. (April 16, 1972). "Profits of 'The Godfather'". The New York Times. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  7. ^ Eder, Richard (November 24, 1975). "Rancho Deluxe (1975) The Screen: 'Rancho':Spoof Western Opens at the D.W. Griffith". The New York Times.
  8. ^ Farewell, My Lovely at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films.
  9. ^ Eder, Richard (January 22, 1976). "92 in the Shade (1975) Self-Indulgence Is Triumphant in '92 in the Shade'". The New York Times.
  10. ^ "Top 10 Films Of Joe Spinell - Top 10 Films". www.top10films.co.uk. July 4, 2014. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  11. ^ "Inside the Actors Studio with Sylvester Stallone". Archived from the original on October 6, 2006. Retrieved September 28, 2006.
  12. ^ Ryfle, Steve (1999). Japan's favorite mon-star: the unauthorized biography of "The Big G". ECW Press. p. 207. ISBN 1-55022-348-8.
  13. ^ Wheeler, Jeremy (2007). "Star Crash (1978)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
  14. ^ "Starcrash". American Film Institute. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  15. ^ Pulleine, Tim (1979). "Starcrash". Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 46, no. 540. London: British Film Institute. p. 155.
  16. ^ "Last Embrace". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  17. ^ "Movie Rocky 2 – Box Office Data, News, Cast Information". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
  18. ^ Canby, Vincent (January 31, 1981). "Maniac". New York Times. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  19. ^ "Nightside". The New York Times.
  20. ^ "Melvin and Howard". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  21. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  22. ^ "[Blu-ray Review] 'The Last Horror Film' is a Good Movie with a Bad Blu-ray - Bloody Disgusting". bloody-disgusting.com. January 12, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  23. ^ "David Winters". Dance Mogul Magazine. July 1, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  24. ^ Cotter, Robert Michael "Bobb" (January 10, 2014). Caroline Munro, First Lady of Fantasy: A Complete Annotated Record of Film and Television Appearances. McFarland. ISBN 9780786491520.
  25. ^ "Festival Archives - Sitges Film Festival - Festival Internacional de Cinema Fantàstic de Catalunya". sitgesfilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
  26. ^ a b Janisse, Kier-La (June 21, 2013). "The Gentle Maniac: Buddy Giovinazzo Remembers Original "MANIAC" Joe Spinell". Fangoria. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  27. ^ Dahlke, Kurt (October 13, 2010). "Maniac - 30th Anniversary Edition". DVD Talk.
  28. ^ "Deadly Illusion". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  29. ^ Canby, Vincent (October 31, 1987). "Film: 'Deadly Illusion'". The New York Times. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  30. ^ Budnik, Daniel R. (2017). "Operation Warzone". '80s Action Movies on the Cheap. North Carolina: MacFarland & Company Inc. p. 190. ISBN 978-0-7864-9741-6.
  31. ^ "Joe Spinell".
  32. ^ "Sage Stallone, Son of Sylvester, Found Dead - Cause of Death Still Unknown". WhatCulture.com. July 15, 2012. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  33. ^ headgeek. "Stallone answers December 9th & 10th Questions in a double round - plus Harry's Seen ROCKY BALBOA..." Aint It Cool News. Retrieved September 30, 2018.

Works cited

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  • Budnik, Daniel R. (2017). '80s Action Movies on the Cheap. North Carolina: MacFarland & Company Inc. ISBN 9780786497416
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