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Joe Spinell

Joe Spinell

Actor, Writer, Producer

Born October 28, 1936 in Manhattan, New York

Died January 13, 1989

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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.

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Joe Spinell Photos

Joe Spinell Videos

AIP Madness - Rapid Fire trailer

Operation Warzone Trailer - Action International Pictures 1988 - Joe Spinell

The Undertaker 1988 - Blu-ray/DVD Combo Trailer [Vinegar Syndrome Black Friday 2016 Trailer]

Walking the Edge (1985) Original Trailer [FHD]

The Last Horror Film (1982) - Trailer

Maniac - Goin' to a Showdown (1980)

Darren Bousman on MANIAC

Maniac! - Trailer

Restored Trailer

Filmography

Actor

83

Type

Year

Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story Poster

Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story Feature Film2025Self

40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic Poster

40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic Short Film2020

John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs Poster

John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs Documentary2017

FantastiCozzi Poster

FantastiCozzi Documentary2016Count Zarth Arn

My Best Maniac Documentary2009Self

Rocky Jumped a Park Bench Poster

Rocky Jumped a Park Bench Short Film2008Self

Exorcising Cruising Poster

Exorcising Cruising Video2007Patrolman DiSimone

The History of Cruising Poster

The History of Cruising Video2007Patrolman DiSimone

Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film Poster

Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film Documentary2006Self

The Godfather Poster

The Godfather Video Game2006Willi Cicci

The Godfather and the Mob Poster

The Godfather and the Mob Documentary2006

A Look Into 'the Forbidden Zone' Poster

A Look Into 'the Forbidden Zone' Documentary2004Self

The Joe Spinell Story Poster

The Joe Spinell Story Documentary2001Self

The American Nightmare Poster

The American Nightmare Documentary2000Self

Thriller Zone Poster

Thriller Zone Video1995Vinny Durand

The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980 Poster

The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980 Video1992Willie Cicci

Dream Street Poster

Dream Street TV Series19891 episode, 1989

Rapid Fire Poster

Rapid Fire Feature Film1989Hansen

Married to the Mob Poster

Married to the Mob Feature Film1988Leonard 'Tiptoes' Mazzilli

Operation Warzone Poster

Operation Warzone Feature Film1988Brig. Gen. George Delevane

The Undertaker Poster

The Undertaker Feature Film1988Roscoe

Deadly Illusion Poster

Deadly Illusion Feature Film1987Crazy Man in Gun Bureau

Diamonds Poster

Diamonds TV Series1987Singh

The Pick-up Artist Poster

The Pick-up Artist Feature Film1987Eddie

Hollywood Harry Poster

Hollywood Harry Feature Film1986Max Caldwell

Il cugino americano Poster

Il cugino americano TV Movie1986Joey, New York Goon #1

Maniac 2: Mr. Robbie Poster

Maniac 2: Mr. Robbie Short Film1986Mr. Robbie

The Children of Times Square Poster

The Children of Times Square TV Movie1986Street vendor

The Messenger Poster

The Messenger Feature Film1986Rico

The Whoopee Boys Poster

The Whoopee Boys Feature Film1986Guido Antonucci

Cinemax Comedy Experiment TV Series1985Box Manager Tony LaRosa

Night Heat Poster

Night Heat TV Series1985Carlucci

Out of the Darkness Poster

Out of the Darkness TV Movie1985Jim Halsey

The Equalizer Poster

The Equalizer TV Series1985Mob Boss

Walking the Edge Poster

Walking the Edge Feature Film1985Brusstar

Eureka Feature Film1983Pete

The Big Score Poster

The Big Score Feature Film1983Mayfield

The Last Fight Poster

The Last Fight Feature Film1983Angelo

Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer Poster

Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer TV Movie1983Escobar - Doorman

A Question of Honor Poster

A Question of Honor TV Movie1982Masked witness

Losin' It Poster

Losin' It Feature Film1982Border Patrolman

Monsignor Poster

Monsignor Feature Film1982Bride's Father

Movie Madness Poster

Movie Madness Feature Film1982Agent

Night Shift Poster

Night Shift Feature Film1982Manetti

One Down, Two to go Poster

One Down, Two to go Feature Film1982Joe Spangler

The Last Horror Film Poster

The Last Horror Film Feature Film1982Vinny

Vigilante Poster

Vigilante Feature Film1982Eisenberg

Nighthawks Poster

Nighthawks Feature Film1981Lt. Munafo

Brubaker Poster

Brubaker Feature Film1980Floyd Birdwell

Cruising Poster

Cruising Feature Film1980Patrolman DiSimone

Forbidden Zone Poster

Forbidden Zone Feature Film1980Drunken Sailor

Maniac Feature Film1980Frank Zito

Melvin and Howard Poster

Melvin and Howard Feature Film1980Go-Go Club Owner #2

Nightside Poster

Nightside TV Movie1980Michael Vincent

The First Deadly Sin Poster

The First Deadly Sin Feature Film1980Charles Lipsky

The Ninth Configuration Poster

The Ninth Configuration Feature Film1980Lt. Spinell

Last Embrace Poster

Last Embrace Feature Film1979Man in Cantina

Rocky II Poster

Rocky II Feature Film1979Gazzo

The Little Dragons Poster

The Little Dragons Feature Film1979Yancey

Vampire TV Movie1979Captain Desher

Winter Kills Poster

Winter Kills Feature Film1979Arthur Fletcher

Big Wednesday Poster

Big Wednesday Feature Film1978Psychologist

CBS Afternoon Playhouse Poster

CBS Afternoon Playhouse TV Series1978Door Guard

Nunzio Feature Film1978Angelo

Paradise Alley Poster

Paradise Alley Feature Film1978Burp

Starcrash Poster

Starcrash Feature Film1978Count Zarth Arn

The One Man Jury Poster

The One Man Jury Feature Film1978Mike Abatino

Sorcerer Poster

Sorcerer Feature Film1977Spider

The Godfather Saga Poster

The Godfather Saga Mini-Series1977Willie Cicci

Next Stop, Greenwich Village Poster

Next Stop, Greenwich Village Feature Film1976Cop at El Station

Rocky Feature Film1976Gazzo

Stay Hungry Poster

Stay Hungry Feature Film1976Jabo

Taxi Driver Poster

Taxi Driver Feature Film1976Personnel Officer

92 in the Shade Poster

92 in the Shade Feature Film1975Ollie Slatt

Farewell, My Lovely Poster

Farewell, My Lovely Feature Film1975Nick

Rancho Deluxe Poster

Rancho Deluxe Feature Film1975Mr. Colson

Strike Force Poster

Strike Force TV Movie1975Sol Terranova

The Ransom of Red Chief Poster

The Ransom of Red Chief TV Movie1975Bill

The Godfather Part II Poster

The Godfather Part II Feature Film1974Willi Cicci

Cops and Robbers Poster

Cops and Robbers Feature Film1973Marty

The Seven-Ups Poster

The Seven-Ups Feature Film1973Toredano

The Godfather Poster

The Godfather Feature Film1972Willi Cicci

The Joe Franklin Show Poster

The Joe Franklin Show TV Series1950Self

Thanks

6

Type

Year

Samedi Gris Poster

Samedi Gris Feature Film2026

From the Darkness Theatre Poster

From the Darkness Theatre Short Film2013

The Super Poster

The Super Feature Film2010

Maniac Cop 2 Poster

Maniac Cop 2 Feature Film1990

Rapid Fire Poster

Rapid Fire Feature Film1989

TVTV Looks at the Academy Awards Poster

TVTV Looks at the Academy Awards Documentary1976

Writer

3

Type

Year

Maniac Feature Film2012

Maniac 2: Mr. Robbie Poster

Maniac 2: Mr. Robbie Short Film1986

Maniac Feature Film1980

Producer

2

Type

Year

Maniac 2: Mr. Robbie Poster

Maniac 2: Mr. Robbie Short Film1986

Maniac Feature Film1980

Other Crew

1

Starcrash Poster

Starcrash Feature Film1978

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