Photos

Joe Spinell

​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 ForActing
  • Born28 October 1936 (age 89)
  • Place of BirthManhattan, New York

Joe Spinell

Photos
​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 ForActing
  • Born28 October 1936 (age 89)
  • Place of BirthManhattan, New York
KNOWN FOR
PHOTOS
CREDITS
Poster
40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic
star
7.622
2020
Poster
FantastiCozzi
star
6.0
2016
Poster
Exorcising 'Cruising'
star
6.5
2007
Poster
The History of 'Cruising'
star
7.7
2007
Poster
The History of 'Cruising'
star
-
2007
Poster
The Joe Spinell Story
star
5.7
2001
Poster
The American Nightmare
star
7.0
2000
Poster
Thriller Zone
star
5.5
1995
Poster
Rapid Fire
star
3.688
1989
Poster
Operation Warzone
star
2.0
1988
Poster
Married to the Mob
star
5.958
1988
Poster
The Undertaker
star
5.271
1988
Poster
K.O. Kippers
star
8.0
1988
Poster
The Pick-up Artist
star
5.7
1987
Poster
Deadly Illusion
star
5.6
1987
Poster
Maniac II: Mr. Robbie
star
5.9
1986
Poster
The Messenger
star
5.2
1986
Poster
The Whoopee Boys
star
4.9
1986
Poster
Hollywood Harry
star
2.3
1986
Poster
The Children of Times Square
star
6.0
1986
Poster
Blood Ties
star
5.8
1986
Poster
Walking the Edge
star
5.4
1985
Poster
Out of the Darkness
star
6.357
1985
Poster
The Big Score
star
5.0
1983
Poster
Eureka
star
5.3
1983
Poster
The Last Fight
star
4.4
1983
Poster
Losin' It
star
5.018
1983
Poster
Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer
star
-
1983
Poster
Vigilante
star
6.193
1982
Poster
Night Shift
star
6.023
1982
Poster
The Last Horror Film
star
5.3
1982
Poster
One Down, Two to Go
star
4.5
1982
Poster
Monsignor
star
4.4
1982
Poster
A Question of Honor
star
7.0
1982
Poster
National Lampoon's Movie Madness
star
3.121
1982
Poster
Nighthawks
star
6.374
1981
Poster
The Godfather 1901–1959: The Complete Epic
star
9.4
1981
Poster
Portrait of a Teenage Shoplifter
star
-
1981
Poster
Melvin and Howard
star
6.44
1980
Poster
Forbidden Zone
star
6.3
1980
Poster
Maniac
star
6.44
1980
Poster
Cruising
star
6.601
1980
Poster
The Ninth Configuration
star
6.45
1980
Poster
The Little Dragons
star
4.7
1980
Poster
Nightside
star
-
1980
Poster
Brubaker
star
7.066
1980
Poster
The First Deadly Sin
star
5.833
1980
Poster
Rocky II
star
7.3
1979
Poster
Winter Kills
star
5.882
1979
Poster
Vampire
star
5.75
1979
Poster
Last Embrace
star
5.4
1979
Poster
Starcrash
star
4.194
1978
Poster
Nunzio
star
4.8
1978
Poster
The One Man Jury
star
5.4
1978
Poster
Big Wednesday
star
6.9
1978
Poster
Paradise Alley
star
5.843
1978
Poster
Sorcerer
star
7.4
1977
Poster
Rocky
star
7.793
1976
Poster
Stay Hungry
star
5.677
1976
Poster
Next Stop, Greenwich Village
star
6.408
1976
Poster
Taxi Driver
star
8.135
1976
Poster
Farewell, My Lovely
star
6.562
1975
Poster
Strike Force
star
5.583
1975
Poster
Rancho Deluxe
star
5.397
1975
Poster
92 in the Shade
star
5.4
1975
Poster
The Ransom of Red Chief
star
-
1975
Poster
The Godfather Part II
star
8.571
1974
Poster
The Seven-Ups
star
6.3
1973
Poster
Cops and Robbers
star
6.1
1973
Poster
The Godfather
star
8.688
1972