Joe Spinell
Acting • Born 1936-10-28 – Died 1989-01-13
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.
Filmography
72 credits
Rocky
Movie • 1976
Tony Gazzo
Rocky II
Movie • 1979
Tony Gazzo
Farewell, My Lovely
Movie • 1975
Nick
Stay Hungry
Movie • 1976
Jabo
Starcrash
Movie • 1978
Count Zartharn
Nighthawks
Movie • 1981
Lt. Munafo
Exorcising 'Cruising'
Movie • 2007
Self (archive footage)
The History of 'Cruising'
Movie • 2007
Self (archive footage)
Vigilante
Movie • 1983
Eisenberg
Next Stop, Greenwich Village
Movie • 1976
Cop
The Seven-Ups
Movie • 1973
Toredano
Melvin and Howard
Movie • 1980
Go-Go Club Owner #2 (uncredited)
Forbidden Zone
Movie • 1980
Drunken Sailor
The Godfather: The Complete Epic 1901–1959
Movie • 2016
William "Willie" Cicci
Maniac
Movie • 1980
Frank Zito
Cruising
Movie • 1980
Patrolman DiSimone
Night Shift
Movie • 1982
Manetti
Sorcerer
Movie • 1977
Spider
The Ninth Configuration
Movie • 1980
Lt. Spinell
The American Nightmare
Movie • 2000
Self
The Last Horror Film
Movie • 1982
Vinny Durand
The Godfather
Movie • 1972
Willi Cicci (uncredited)
Operation Warzone
Movie • 1988
Brig. Gen. George Delevane
Nunzio
Movie • 1978
Angelo
The Big Score
Movie • 1983
Mayfield
Walking the Edge
Movie • 1985
Brusstar
The Messenger
Movie • 1986
Rico
Rapid Fire
Movie • 1989
Hansen
Thriller Zone
Movie • 1995
Vinny Durand (segment "Fanatical Extremes") (archive footage)
The One Man Jury
Movie • 1978
Mike Abatino
40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic
Movie • 2020
Self (archive footage)
The Little Dragons
Movie • 1980
Yancey
Eureka
Movie • 1983
Pete
Married to the Mob
Movie • 1988
Leonard 'Tiptoes' Mazzilli
Strike Force
Movie • 1975
Sol Terranova
The Undertaker
Movie • 1988
Uncle Roscoe
The Last Fight
Movie • 1983
Angelo
One Down, Two to Go
Movie • 1982
Joe Spangler
Maniac II: Mr. Robbie
Movie • 1986
Mr. Robbie
The Whoopee Boys
Movie • 1986
Guido Antonucci
Taxi Driver
Movie • 1976
Personnel Officer
Big Wednesday
Movie • 1978
Psychologist
Rancho Deluxe
Movie • 1975
Mr. Colson
Winter Kills
Movie • 1979
Arthur Fletcher
Paradise Alley
Movie • 1978
Burp
Portrait of a Teenage Shoplifter
Movie • 1981
Door Guard
Nightside
Movie • 1980
Michael Vincent
The Godfather Part II
Movie • 1974
William 'Willie' Cicci
Vampire
Movie • 1979
Capt. Desher
Hollywood Harry
Movie • 1986
Max Caldwell
K.O. Kippers
Movie • 1988
Tony Larosa
Losin' It
Movie • 1983
Border Patrolman
Brubaker
Movie • 1980
Birdwell
The Pick-up Artist
Movie • 1987
Eddie
Monsignor
Movie • 1982
Bride's Father
FantastiCozzi
Movie • 2016
Count Zarth Arn (archive footage)
92 in the Shade
Movie • 1975
Ollie Slatt
Last Embrace
Movie • 1979
Man in Cantina
Cops and Robbers
Movie • 1973
Marty
The First Deadly Sin
Movie • 1980
Charles Lipsky
Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer
Movie • 1983
Escobar
The Children of Times Square
Movie • 1986
Street Vendor
The Ransom of Red Chief
Movie • 1975
Bill
The Joe Spinell Story
Movie • 2001
(archive footage)
Blood Ties
Movie • 1986
Joey, New York Goon #1
Out of the Darkness
Movie • 1985
Jim Halsey
Deadly Illusion
Movie • 1987
Crazy Man in Gun Bureau
A Question of Honor
Movie • 1982
Masked witness (uncredited)
National Lampoon's Movie Madness
Movie • 1982
Agent / M.C. ("Success Wanters")
The History of 'Cruising'
Movie • 2007
The Equalizer
TV • 1985
Mob Boss
Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television
TV • 1977
William "Willie" Cicci