Acting · Manhattan, New York · Born October 28, 1936
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.
Movie40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic
2020
as Self (archive footage)
MovieFantastiCozzi
2016
as Count Zarth Arn (archive footage)
MovieThe Godfather: The Complete Epic 1901–1959
2016
as William "Willie" Cicci
MovieExorcising 'Cruising'
2007
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe History of 'Cruising'
2007
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe Joe Spinell Story
2001
as (archive footage)
MovieThe American Nightmare
2000
as Self
MovieThriller Zone
1995
as Vinny Durand (segment "Fanatical Extremes") (archive footage)
MovieThe Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980
1992
as Will Cicci
MovieRapid Fire
1989
as Hansen
MovieThe Undertaker
1988
as Uncle Roscoe
MovieMarried to the Mob
1988
as Leonard 'Tiptoes' Mazzilli
K.O. Kippers
1988
as Tony Larosa
MovieOperation Warzone
1988
as Brig. Gen. George Delevane
MovieDeadly Illusion
1987
as Crazy Man in Gun Bureau
MovieThe Pick-up Artist
1987
as Eddie
MovieBlood Ties
1986
as Joey, New York Goon #1
MovieThe Messenger
1986
as Rico
MovieManiac II: Mr. Robbie
1986
as Mr. Robbie
MovieHollywood Harry
1986
as Max Caldwell
MovieThe Whoopee Boys
1986
as Guido Antonucci
MovieThe Children of Times Square
1986
as Street Vendor
MovieOut of the Darkness
1985
as Jim Halsey
TVThe Equalizer
1985
as Mob Boss
MovieWalking the Edge
1985
as Brusstar
MovieTrackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer
1983
as Escobar
MovieThe Last Fight
1983
as Angelo
MovieEureka
1983
as Pete
MovieLosin' It
1983
as Border Patrolman
MovieThe Big Score
1983
as Mayfield
MovieVigilante
1983
as Eisenberg
MovieOne Down, Two to Go
1982
as Joe Spangler
MovieMonsignor
1982
as Bride's Father
MovieThe Last Horror Film
1982
as Vinny Durand
MovieNight Shift
1982
as Manetti
MovieA Question of Honor
1982
as Masked witness (uncredited)
MovieNational Lampoon's Movie Madness
1982
as Agent / M.C. ("Success Wanters")
MovieForbidden Zone
1982
as Drunken Sailor
MoviePortrait of a Teenage Shoplifter
1981
as Door Guard
MovieNighthawks
1981
as Lt. Munafo
MovieManiac
1980
as Frank Zito
MovieThe First Deadly Sin
1980
as Charles Lipsky
MovieMelvin and Howard
1980
as Go-Go Club Owner #2 (uncredited)
MovieThe Little Dragons
1980
as Yancey
MovieBrubaker
1980
as Birdwell
MovieNightside
1980
as Michael Vincent
MovieThe Ninth Configuration
1980
as Lt. Spinell
MovieCruising
1980
as Patrolman DiSimone
MovieVampire
1979
as Capt. Desher
MovieRocky II
1979
as Tony Gazzo
MovieWinter Kills
1979
as Arthur Fletcher
MovieLast Embrace
1979
as Man in Cantina
MovieStarcrash
1978
as Count Zartharn
MovieThe One Man Jury
1978
as Mike Abatino
MovieParadise Alley
1978
as Burp
MovieBig Wednesday
1978
as Psychologist
MovieNunzio
1978
as Angelo
TVMario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television
1977
as William "Willie" Cicci
MovieSorcerer
1977
as Spider
MovieRocky
1976
as Tony Gazzo
MovieStay Hungry
1976
as Jabo
MovieTaxi Driver
1976
as Personnel Officer
MovieNext Stop, Greenwich Village
1976
as Cop
MovieThe Ransom of Red Chief
1975
as Bill
Movie92 in the Shade
1975
as Ollie Slatt
MovieFarewell, My Lovely
1975
as Nick
MovieStrike Force
1975
as Sol Terranova
MovieRancho Deluxe
1975
as Mr. Colson
MovieThe Godfather Part II
1974
as William 'Willie' Cicci
MovieThe Seven-Ups
1973
as Toredano
MovieCops and Robbers
1973
as Marty
MovieThe Godfather
1972
as Willi Cicci (uncredited)
