Joe Spinell

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 for
    Acting
    Place of birth
    Manhattan, New York
    Birthday
    10/28/1936
Maniac
Maniac
6.4
Operation Warzone
Operation Warzone
2
Rapid Fire
Rapid Fire
4.3
Mr. Robbie: Maniac II
Mr. Robbie: Maniac II
6.1
The Undertaker
The Undertaker
5.7
The Last Horror Film
The Last Horror Film
5.3
Hollywood Harry
Hollywood Harry
1
The Ransom of Red Chief
The Ransom of Red Chief
0
Nunzio
Nunzio
4.8
Walking the Edge
Walking the Edge
5.6
K.O. Kippers
8
The One Man Jury
The One Man Jury
7.5
Portrait of a Teenage Shoplifter
Portrait of a Teenage Shoplifter
0
The Messenger
The Messenger
5.4
Thriller Zone
Thriller Zone
6
Strike Force
Strike Force
6.5
Starcrash
Starcrash
4.1
Cruising
Cruising
6.6
The Last Fight
The Last Fight
5
Rocky II
Rocky II
7.262
Rocky
Rocky
7.787
One Down, Two to Go
One Down, Two to Go
4.5
40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic
40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic
7.6
Farewell, My Lovely
Farewell, My Lovely
6.6
Nighthawks
Nighthawks
6.369
Vigilante
Vigilante
6.3
The Little Dragons
The Little Dragons
5
The Children of Times Square
The Children of Times Square
6.3
Cops and Robbers
Cops and Robbers
6.2
Out of the Darkness
Out of the Darkness
7.1
The Ninth Configuration
The Ninth Configuration
6.5
The Big Score
The Big Score
5
The Whoopee Boys
The Whoopee Boys
5.1
Big Wednesday
Big Wednesday
6.9
Paradise Alley
Paradise Alley
5.8
The First Deadly Sin
The First Deadly Sin
5.8
The Seven-Ups
The Seven-Ups
6.4
Sorcerer
Sorcerer
7.4
92 in the Shade
92 in the Shade
5.4
Blood Ties
Blood Ties
5.5
Deadly Illusion
Deadly Illusion
6.2
A Question of Honor
A Question of Honor
7
Nightside
Nightside
0
Night Shift
Night Shift
6
Eureka
Eureka
5.2
Rancho Deluxe
Rancho Deluxe
5.3
Vampire
Vampire
7.5
Married to the Mob
Married to the Mob
5.88
Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer
Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer
0
Next Stop, Greenwich Village
Next Stop, Greenwich Village
6.3
Losin' It
Losin' It
4.952
Forbidden Zone
Forbidden Zone
6.4
Monsignor
Monsignor
4.1
Last Embrace
Last Embrace
5.4
Stay Hungry
Stay Hungry
5.6
Brubaker
Brubaker
7
The Pick-up Artist
The Pick-up Artist
5.664
The Joe Spinell Story
The Joe Spinell Story
6.6
National Lampoon's Movie Madness
National Lampoon's Movie Madness
3.3
Winter Kills
Winter Kills
5.9
Exorcising 'Cruising'
Exorcising 'Cruising'
6
The History of 'Cruising'
The History of 'Cruising'
6
The Godfather Part II
The Godfather Part II
8.59
The Godfather 1901–1959: The Complete Epic
The Godfather 1901–1959: The Complete Epic
10
Taxi Driver
Taxi Driver
8.155
Melvin and Howard
Melvin and Howard
6.4
The Godfather
The Godfather
8.708
FantastiCozzi
FantastiCozzi
6
The American Nightmare
The American Nightmare
6.9
Logo
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