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Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthday
October 28, 1936
Died
January 13, 1989
Place of Birth
Manhattan, New York
Also Known As
- Joseph J. Spagnuolo
- Joseph Spagnuolo
Joe Spinell
1.1 Popularity
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.
Known For
7.6
Self (archive footage)
40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic
2020
6.0
Count Zarth Arn (archive footage)
FantastiCozzi
2016
7.7
Self (archive footage)
The History of 'Cruising'
2007
6.5
Self (archive footage)
Exorcising 'Cruising'
2007
0.0
The History of 'Cruising'
2007
5.1
(archive footage)
The Joe Spinell Story
2001
6.8
Self
The American Nightmare
2000
5.5
Vinny Durand (segment "Fanatical Extremes") (archive footage)
Thriller Zone
1995
3.4
Hansen
Rapid Fire
1989
5.1
Uncle Roscoe
The Undertaker
1988
Credits
40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic
as Self (archive footage)
2020
7.6
FantastiCozzi
as Count Zarth Arn (archive footage)
2016
6.0
The History of 'Cruising'
as Self (archive footage)
2007
7.7
Exorcising 'Cruising'
as Self (archive footage)
2007
6.5
The History of 'Cruising'
2007
0.0
The Joe Spinell Story
as (archive footage)
2001
5.1
The American Nightmare
as Self
2000
6.8
Thriller Zone
as Vinny Durand (segment "Fanatical Extremes") (archive footage)
1995
5.5
Rapid Fire
as Hansen
1989
3.4
The Undertaker
as Uncle Roscoe
1988
5.1
Married to the Mob
as Leonard 'Tiptoes' Mazzilli
1988
5.9
🎬
K.O. Kippers
as Tony Larosa
1988
8.0
Operation Warzone
as Brig. Gen. George Delevane
1988
2.0
Deadly Illusion
as Crazy Man in Gun Bureau
1987
5.6
The Pick-up Artist
as Eddie
1987
5.6
Blood Ties
as Joey, New York Goon #1
1986
5.8
The Messenger
as Rico
1986
4.7
Maniac II: Mr. Robbie
as Mr. Robbie
1986
5.9
Hollywood Harry
as Max Caldwell
1986
2.0
The Whoopee Boys
as Guido Antonucci
1986
5.1
The Children of Times Square
as Street Vendor
1986
6.0
Out of the Darkness
as Jim Halsey
1985
6.4
The Equalizer
as Mob Boss
1985
7.1
Walking the Edge
as Brusstar
1985
5.2
Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer
as Escobar
1983
0.0
The Last Fight
as Angelo
1983
4.0
Eureka
as Pete
1983
5.3
Losin' It
as Border Patrolman
1983
4.9
The Big Score
as Mayfield
1983
5.0
Vigilante
as Eisenberg
1983
6.2
One Down, Two to Go
as Joe Spangler
1982
4.2
Monsignor
as Bride's Father
1982
4.2
The Last Horror Film
as Vinny Durand
1982
5.2
Night Shift
as Manetti
1982
6.0
A Question of Honor
as Masked witness (uncredited)
1982
7.0
National Lampoon's Movie Madness
as Agent / M.C. ("Success Wanters")
1982
3.1
Portrait of a Teenage Shoplifter
as Door Guard
1981
0.0
The Godfather: The Complete Epic 1901–1959
as William "Willie" Cicci
1981
8.9
Nighthawks
as Lt. Munafo
1981
6.4
The First Deadly Sin
as Charles Lipsky
1980
5.7
Melvin and Howard
as Go-Go Club Owner #2 (uncredited)
1980
6.4
The Little Dragons
as Yancey
1980
4.7
Brubaker
as Floyd Birdwell
1980
7.1
Nightside
as Michael Vincent
1980
5.0
Maniac
as Frank Zito
1980
6.4
Forbidden Zone
as Drunken Sailor
1980
6.2
The Ninth Configuration
as Lt. Spinell
1980
6.4
Cruising
as Patrolman DiSimone
1980
6.6
Vampire
as Capt. Desher
1979
5.8
Rocky II
as Tony Gazzo
1979
7.3
Winter Kills
as Arthur Fletcher
1979
5.8
Last Embrace
as Man in Cantina
1979
5.4
Starcrash
as Count Zartharn
1978
4.2
The One Man Jury
as Mike Abatino
1978
4.9
Paradise Alley
as Burp
1978
5.8
Big Wednesday
as Psychologist
1978
6.9
Nunzio
as Angelo
1978
3.8
Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television
as William "Willie" Cicci
1977
8.6
Sorcerer
as Spider
1977
7.4
Rocky
as Tony Gazzo
1976
7.8
Stay Hungry
as Jabo
1976
5.7
Taxi Driver
as Personnel Officer
1976
8.1
Next Stop, Greenwich Village
as Cop
1976
6.3
The Ransom of Red Chief
as Bill
1975
0.0
92 in the Shade
as Ollie Slatt
1975
5.5
Farewell, My Lovely
as Nick
1975
6.6
Strike Force
as Sol Terranova
1975
5.6
Rancho Deluxe
as Mr. Colson
1975
5.3
The Godfather Part II
as William 'Willie' Cicci
1974
8.6
The Seven-Ups
as Toredano
1973
6.4
Cops and Robbers
as Marty
1973
6.2
The Godfather
as Willi Cicci (uncredited)
1972
8.7