Joe Spinell

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.

Known For

The Godfather

The Godfather Part II

The Equalizer

Taxi Driver

Rocky

Rocky II

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

Sorcerer

All Movies (69)

• 40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic2020 · as Self (archive footage)
• FantastiCozzi2016 · as Count Zarth Arn (archive footage)
• The Godfather: The Complete Epic 1901–19592016 · as William "Willie" Cicci
• Exorcising 'Cruising'2007 · as Self (archive footage)
• The History of 'Cruising'2007 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Joe Spinell Story2001 · as (archive footage)
• The American Nightmare2000 · as Self
• Thriller Zone1995 · as Vinny Durand (segment "Fanatical Extremes") (archive footage)
• Rapid Fire1989 · as Hansen
• The Undertaker1988 · as Uncle Roscoe
• Married to the Mob1988 · as Leonard 'Tiptoes' Mazzilli
• K.O. Kippers1988 · as Tony Larosa
• Operation Warzone1988 · as Brig. Gen. George Delevane
• Deadly Illusion1987 · as Crazy Man in Gun Bureau
• The Pick-up Artist1987 · as Eddie
• Blood Ties1986 · as Joey, New York Goon #1
• The Messenger1986 · as Rico
• Maniac II: Mr. Robbie1986 · as Mr. Robbie
• Hollywood Harry1986 · as Max Caldwell
• The Whoopee Boys1986 · as Guido Antonucci
• The Children of Times Square1986 · as Street Vendor
• Out of the Darkness1985 · as Jim Halsey
• Walking the Edge1985 · as Brusstar
• Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer1983 · as Escobar
• The Last Fight1983 · as Angelo
• Eureka1983 · as Pete
• Losin' It1983 · as Border Patrolman
• The Big Score1983 · as Mayfield
• Vigilante1983 · as Eisenberg
• One Down, Two to Go1982 · as Joe Spangler
• Monsignor1982 · as Bride's Father
• The Last Horror Film1982 · as Vinny Durand
• Night Shift1982 · as Manetti
• A Question of Honor1982 · as Masked witness (uncredited)
• National Lampoon's Movie Madness1982 · as Agent / M.C. ("Success Wanters")
• Forbidden Zone1982 · as Drunken Sailor
• Portrait of a Teenage Shoplifter1981 · as Door Guard
• Nighthawks1981 · as Lt. Munafo
• Maniac1980 · as Frank Zito
• The First Deadly Sin1980 · as Charles Lipsky
• Melvin and Howard1980 · as Go-Go Club Owner #2 (uncredited)
• The Little Dragons1980 · as Yancey
• Brubaker1980 · as Birdwell
• Nightside1980 · as Michael Vincent
• The Ninth Configuration1980 · as Lt. Spinell
• Cruising1980 · as Patrolman DiSimone
• Vampire1979 · as Capt. Desher
• Rocky II1979 · as Tony Gazzo
• Winter Kills1979 · as Arthur Fletcher
• Last Embrace1979 · as Man in Cantina
• Starcrash1978 · as Count Zartharn
• The One Man Jury1978 · as Mike Abatino
• Paradise Alley1978 · as Burp
• Big Wednesday1978 · as Psychologist
• Nunzio1978 · as Angelo
• Sorcerer1977 · as Spider
• Rocky1976 · as Tony Gazzo
• Stay Hungry1976 · as Jabo
• Taxi Driver1976 · as Personnel Officer
• Next Stop, Greenwich Village1976 · as Cop
• The Ransom of Red Chief1975 · as Bill
• 92 in the Shade1975 · as Ollie Slatt
• Farewell, My Lovely1975 · as Nick
• Strike Force1975 · as Sol Terranova
• Rancho Deluxe1975 · as Mr. Colson
• The Godfather Part II1974 · as William 'Willie' Cicci
• The Seven-Ups1973 · as Toredano
• Cops and Robbers1973 · as Marty
• The Godfather1972 · as Willi Cicci (uncredited)

All TV Shows (2)

• The Equalizer1985 · as Mob Boss
• Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television1977 · as William "Willie" Cicci