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Joe Spinell

Joe Spinell

Known for ActingBorn 1936-10-28Died 1989-01-13Manhattan, New York
​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.Read more

Movies & web series

The Godfather: The Complete Epic 1901–19598.8
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The Godfather: The Complete Epic 1901–1959

2016 · Movie

The Godfather8.7
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The Godfather

1972 · Movie

Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television8.6
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Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television

1977 · Series

A Question of Honor8.5
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A Question of Honor

1982 · Movie

The Godfather Part II8.6
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The Godfather Part II

1974 · Movie

Taxi Driver8.1
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Taxi Driver

1976 · Movie

K.O. Kippers
8.0
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K.O. Kippers

1988 · Movie

Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer8.0
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Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer

1983 · Movie

Portrait of a Teenage Shoplifter8.0
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Portrait of a Teenage Shoplifter

1981 · Movie

The History of 'Cruising'7.7
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The History of 'Cruising'

2007 · Movie

40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic7.5
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40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic

2020 · Movie

Rocky7.8
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Rocky

1976 · Movie

Sorcerer7.4
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Sorcerer

1977 · Movie

Rocky II7.3
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Rocky II

1979 · Movie

The Equalizer7.1
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The Equalizer

1985 · Series

Brubaker7.1
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Brubaker

1980 · Movie

The American Nightmare6.8
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The American Nightmare

2000 · Movie

Big Wednesday6.9
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Big Wednesday

1978 · Movie

Exorcising 'Cruising'6.5
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Exorcising 'Cruising'

2007 · Movie

Out of the Darkness6.7
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Out of the Darkness

1985 · Movie

Cruising6.6
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Cruising

1980 · Movie

Farewell, My Lovely6.6
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Farewell, My Lovely

1975 · Movie

Melvin and Howard6.5
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Melvin and Howard

1980 · Movie

Thriller Zone6.3
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Thriller Zone

1995 · Movie

Maniac6.4
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Maniac

1980 · Movie

The Ninth Configuration6.4
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The Ninth Configuration

1980 · Movie

Nighthawks6.4
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Nighthawks

1981 · Movie

FantastiCozzi6.0
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FantastiCozzi

2016 · Movie

The Children of Times Square6.3
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The Children of Times Square

1986 · Movie

Blood Ties6.3
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Blood Ties

1986 · Movie

Next Stop, Greenwich Village6.4
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Next Stop, Greenwich Village

1976 · Movie

Maniac6.0
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Maniac

2012 · Movie

Maniac II: Mr. Robbie6.3
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Maniac II: Mr. Robbie

1986 · Movie

Vigilante6.2
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Vigilante

1983 · Movie

The Seven-Ups6.3
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The Seven-Ups

1973 · Movie

Cops and Robbers6.3
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Cops and Robbers

1973 · Movie

Forbidden Zone6.2
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Forbidden Zone

1982 · Movie

Vampire6.1
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Vampire

1979 · Movie

Night Shift6.0
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Night Shift

1982 · Movie

Married to the Mob6.0
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Married to the Mob

1988 · Movie

The Big Score6.0
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The Big Score

1983 · Movie

Nightside6.0
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Nightside

1980 · Movie

Strike Force5.9
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Strike Force

1975 · Movie

Paradise Alley5.9
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Paradise Alley

1978 · Movie

The First Deadly Sin5.8
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The First Deadly Sin

1980 · Movie

Winter Kills5.8
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Winter Kills

1979 · Movie

The Pick-up Artist5.7
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The Pick-up Artist

1987 · Movie

92 in the Shade5.8
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92 in the Shade

1975 · Movie