© Copyright Harutyunyan 2024

sunfilm-logo
Home/Joe Spinell
Joe Spinell‌

Gender

Male

Birthday

calendar1936-10-28

Popularity

star10.4

Joe Spinell

Manhattan, New York

Joe Spinell

Manhattan, New York

Gender

Male

Birthday

calendar1936-10-28

Popularity

star10.4

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.

Movie Credits

Rocky

Rocky‌
star7.8
calendar 1976

Rocky II

Rocky II‌
star7.3
calendar 1979

Farewell, My Lovely

Farewell, My Lovely‌
star6.6
calendar 1975

Stay Hungry

Stay Hungry‌
star5.7
calendar 1976

Starcrash

Starcrash‌
star4.2
calendar 1978

Nighthawks

Nighthawks‌
star6.4
calendar 1981

Exorcising 'Cruising'

Exorcising 'Cruising'‌
star6.0
calendar 2007

The History of 'Cruising'

The History of 'Cruising'‌
star6.0
calendar 2007

Vigilante

Vigilante‌
star6.3
calendar 1982

Next Stop, Greenwich Village

Next Stop, Greenwich Village‌
star6.4
calendar 1976

The Seven-Ups

The Seven-Ups‌
star6.3
calendar 1973

Melvin and Howard

Melvin and Howard‌
star6.4
calendar 1980

Forbidden Zone

Forbidden Zone‌
star6.3
calendar 1980

The Godfather 1901–1959: The Complete Epic

The Godfather 1901–1959: The Complete Epic‌
star9.3
calendar 1981

Maniac

Maniac‌
star6.4
calendar 1980

Cruising

Cruising‌
star6.6
calendar 1980

Night Shift

Night Shift‌
star6.0
calendar 1982

Sorcerer

Sorcerer‌
star7.4
calendar 1977

The Ninth Configuration

The Ninth Configuration‌
star6.5
calendar 1980

The American Nightmare

The American Nightmare‌
star6.9
calendar 2000

The Last Horror Film

The Last Horror Film‌
star5.2
calendar 1982

The Godfather

The Godfather‌
star8.7
calendar 1972

Operation Warzone

Operation Warzone‌
star2.0
calendar 1988

Nunzio

Nunzio‌
star4.8
calendar 1978

The Big Score

The Big Score‌
star5.0
calendar 1983

Walking the Edge

Walking the Edge‌
star5.6
calendar 1985

The Messenger

The Messenger‌
star5.2
calendar 1986

Rapid Fire

Rapid Fire‌
star3.8
calendar 1989

Thriller Zone

Thriller Zone‌
star5.5
calendar 1995

The One Man Jury

The One Man Jury‌
star5.4
calendar 1978

40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic

40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic‌
star7.6
calendar 2020

The Little Dragons

The Little Dragons‌
star4.7
calendar 1980

Eureka

Eureka‌
star5.2
calendar 1983

Married to the Mob

Married to the Mob‌
star5.9
calendar 1988

Strike Force

Strike Force‌
star6.5
calendar 1975

The Undertaker

The Undertaker‌
star5.7
calendar 1988

The Last Fight

The Last Fight‌
star4.4
calendar 1983

One Down, Two to Go

One Down, Two to Go‌
star4.5
calendar 1982

Maniac II: Mr. Robbie

Maniac II: Mr. Robbie‌
star5.9
calendar 1986

The Whoopee Boys

The Whoopee Boys‌
star4.8
calendar 1986

Taxi Driver

Taxi Driver‌
star8.1
calendar 1976

Big Wednesday

Big Wednesday‌
star6.9
calendar 1978

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe‌
star5.4
calendar 1975

Winter Kills

Winter Kills‌
star5.8
calendar 1979

Paradise Alley

Paradise Alley‌
star5.8
calendar 1978

Portrait of a Teenage Shoplifter

Portrait of a Teenage Shoplifter‌
star0.0
calendar 1981

Nightside

Nightside‌
star0.0
calendar 1980

The Godfather Part II

The Godfather Part II‌
star8.6
calendar 1974

Vampire

Vampire‌
star5.7
calendar 1979

Hollywood Harry

Hollywood Harry‌
star2.3
calendar 1986

K.O. Kippers

K.O. Kippers‌
star8.0
calendar 1988

Losin' It

Losin' It‌
star5.0
calendar 1983

Brubaker

Brubaker‌
star7.1
calendar 1980

The Pick-up Artist

The Pick-up Artist‌
star5.6
calendar 1987

Monsignor

Monsignor‌
star4.4
calendar 1982

FantastiCozzi

FantastiCozzi‌
star6.0
calendar 2016

92 in the Shade

92 in the Shade‌
star5.4
calendar 1975

Last Embrace

Last Embrace‌
star5.4
calendar 1979

The First Deadly Sin

The First Deadly Sin‌
star5.8
calendar 1980

Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer

Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer‌
star0.0
calendar 1983

The Children of Times Square

The Children of Times Square‌
star6.0
calendar 1986

Cops and Robbers

Cops and Robbers‌
star6.2
calendar 1973

The Ransom of Red Chief

The Ransom of Red Chief‌
star0.0
calendar 1975

The Joe Spinell Story

The Joe Spinell Story‌
star5.7
calendar 2001

Blood Ties

Blood Ties‌
star5.8
calendar 1986

Out of the Darkness

Out of the Darkness‌
star7.1
calendar 1985

A Question of Honor

A Question of Honor‌
star7.0
calendar 1982

Deadly Illusion

Deadly Illusion‌
star5.6
calendar 1987

National Lampoon's Movie Madness

National Lampoon's Movie Madness‌
star3.2
calendar 1982

Tv Credits

The Equalizer

The Equalizer‌
star7.1
calendar 1985

Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television

Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television‌
star8.5
calendar 1977