Joe Spinell
Born
October 28, 1936
Died
January 13, 1989 (52 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Manhattan, New York
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.
40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic
Self (archive footage)
2020
FantastiCozzi
Count Zarth Arn (archive footage)
2016
Exorcising 'Cruising'
Self (archive footage)
2007
The History of 'Cruising'
Self (archive footage)
2007
The History of and Exorcising 'Cruising'
2007
The Joe Spinell Story
(archive footage)
2001
The American Nightmare
Self
2000
Thriller Zone
Vinny Durand (segment "Fanatical Extremes") (archive footage)
1995
Rapid Fire
Hansen
1989
The Undertaker
Uncle Roscoe
1988
Married to the Mob
Leonard 'Tiptoes' Mazzilli
1988
K.O. Kippers
Tony Larosa
1988
Operation Warzone
Brig. Gen. George Delevane
1988
Deadly Illusion
Crazy Man in Gun Bureau
1987
The Pick-up Artist
Eddie
1987
Blood Ties
Joey, New York Goon #1
1986
The Messenger
Rico
1986
Maniac II: Mr. Robbie
Mr. Robbie
1986
Hollywood Harry
Max Caldwell
1986
The Whoopee Boys
Guido Antonucci
1986
The Children of Times Square
Street Vendor
1986
Out of the Darkness
Jim Halsey
1985
The Equalizer
Mob Boss · (1 episode)
1985
Walking the Edge
Brusstar
1985
Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer
Escobar
1983
The Last Fight
Angelo
1983
Eureka
Pete
1983
Losin' It
Border Patrolman
1983
The Big Score
Mayfield
1983
One Down, Two to Go
Joe Spangler
1982
Monsignor
Bride's Father
1982
The Last Horror Film
Vinny Durand
1982
Night Shift
Manetti
1982
Vigilante
Eisenberg
1982
A Question of Honor
Masked witness (uncredited)
1982
National Lampoon's Movie Madness
Agent / M.C. ("Success Wanters")
1982
Portrait of a Teenage Shoplifter
Door Guard
1981
The Godfather 1901–1959: The Complete Epic
William "Willie" Cicci
1981
Nighthawks
Lt. Munafo
1981
The First Deadly Sin
Charles Lipsky
1980
Melvin and Howard
Go-Go Club Owner #2 (uncredited)
1980
The Little Dragons
Yancey
1980
Brubaker
Floyd Birdwell
1980
Nightside
Michael Vincent
1980
Maniac
Frank Zito
1980
Forbidden Zone
Drunken Sailor
1980
The Ninth Configuration
Lt. Spinell
1980
Cruising
Patrolman DiSimone
1980
Vampire
Capt. Desher
1979
Rocky II
Tony Gazzo
1979
Winter Kills
Arthur Fletcher
1979
Last Embrace
Man in Cantina
1979
Starcrash
Count Zartharn
1978
The One Man Jury
Mike Abatino
1978
Paradise Alley
Burp
1978
Big Wednesday
Psychologist
1978
Nunzio
Angelo
1978
Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television
William "Willie" Cicci · (4 episodes)
1977
Sorcerer
Spider
1977
Rocky
Tony Gazzo
1976
Stay Hungry
Jabo
1976
Taxi Driver
Personnel Officer
1976
Next Stop, Greenwich Village
Cop
1976
The Ransom of Red Chief
Bill
1975
92 in the Shade
Ollie Slatt
1975
Farewell, My Lovely
Nick
1975
Strike Force
Sol Terranova
1975
Rancho Deluxe
Mr. Colson
1975
The Godfather Part II
William 'Willie' Cicci
1974
The Seven-Ups
Toredano
1973
Cops and Robbers
Marty
1973
The Godfather
Willi Cicci (uncredited)
1972