Joe Spinell - Cast

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Overview Cast Crew
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.

Casted
  • The Godfather

    The Godfather

    Played Willi Cicci (uncredited)

    Average Rating
    8.7
    22092 votes
    Release Date
    Mar 14, 1972
    54 years ago
  • The Godfather Part II

    The Godfather Part II

    Played William 'Willie' Cicci

    Average Rating
    8.6
    13353 votes
    Release Date
    Dec 20, 1974
    52 years ago
  • Taxi Driver

    Taxi Driver

    Played Personnel Officer

    Average Rating
    8.1
    12991 votes
    Release Date
    Feb 09, 1976
    50 years ago
  • Rocky

    Rocky

    Played Tony Gazzo

    Average Rating
    7.8
    8315 votes
    Release Date
    Nov 20, 1976
    50 years ago
  • Rocky II

    Rocky II

    Played Tony Gazzo

    Average Rating
    7.3
    4628 votes
    Release Date
    Jun 15, 1979
    47 years ago
  • Sorcerer

    Sorcerer

    Played Spider

    Average Rating
    7.4
    616 votes
    Release Date
    Jun 24, 1977
    49 years ago
  • Cruising

    Cruising

    Played Patrolman DiSimone

    Average Rating
    6.6
    592 votes
    Release Date
    Feb 15, 1980
    46 years ago
  • Brubaker

    Brubaker

    Played Floyd Birdwell

    Average Rating
    7.1
    503 votes
    Release Date
    Jun 20, 1980
    46 years ago
  • Maniac

    Maniac

    Played Frank Zito

    Average Rating
    6.4
    470 votes
    Release Date
    May 10, 1980
    46 years ago
  • Nighthawks

    Nighthawks

    Played Lt. Munafo

    Average Rating
    6.4
    466 votes
    Release Date
    Mar 17, 1981
    45 years ago
  • Married to the Mob

    Married to the Mob

    Played Leonard 'Tiptoes' Mazzilli

    Average Rating
    5.9
    305 votes
    Release Date
    Aug 19, 1988
    38 years ago
  • Night Shift

    Night Shift

    Played Manetti

    Average Rating
    6.0
    223 votes
    Release Date
    Jul 30, 1982
    44 years ago
  • Starcrash

    Starcrash

    Played Count Zartharn

    Average Rating
    4.2
    203 votes
    Release Date
    Dec 21, 1978
    47 years ago
  • The Pick-up Artist

    The Pick-up Artist

    Played Eddie

    Average Rating
    5.6
    197 votes
    Release Date
    Sep 18, 1987
    39 years ago
  • Big Wednesday

    Big Wednesday

    Played Psychologist

    Average Rating
    6.9
    187 votes
    Release Date
    May 26, 1978
    48 years ago
  • Farewell, My Lovely

    Farewell, My Lovely

    Played Nick

    Average Rating
    6.6
    171 votes
    Release Date
    Aug 08, 1975
    51 years ago
  • The Ninth Configuration

    The Ninth Configuration

    Played Lt. Spinell

    Average Rating
    6.4
    165 votes
    Release Date
    Feb 29, 1980
    46 years ago
  • Paradise Alley

    Paradise Alley

    Played Burp

    Average Rating
    5.8
    145 votes
    Release Date
    Sep 22, 1978
    48 years ago
  • Losin' It

    Losin' It

    Played Border Patrolman

    Average Rating
    4.9
    120 votes
    Release Date
    Apr 08, 1983
    43 years ago
  • The Seven-Ups

    The Seven-Ups

    Played Toredano

    Average Rating
    6.3
    119 votes
    Release Date
    Dec 14, 1973
    53 years ago
  • Vigilante

    Vigilante

    Played Eisenberg

    Average Rating
    6.2
    110 votes
    Release Date
    Jan 04, 1983
    43 years ago
  • Forbidden Zone

    Forbidden Zone

    Played Drunken Sailor

    Average Rating
    6.2
    106 votes
    Release Date
    Mar 15, 1980
    46 years ago
  • Stay Hungry

    Stay Hungry

    Played Jabo

    Average Rating
    5.7
    85 votes
    Release Date
    Apr 23, 1976
    50 years ago
  • Eureka

    Eureka

    Played Pete

    Average Rating
    5.3
    77 votes
    Release Date
    May 01, 1983
    43 years ago
  • Last Embrace

    Last Embrace

    Played Man in Cantina

    Average Rating
    5.4
    74 votes
    Release Date
    May 04, 1979
    47 years ago
  • Melvin and Howard

    Melvin and Howard

    Played Go-Go Club Owner #2 (uncredited)

    Average Rating
    6.4
    72 votes
    Release Date
    Sep 19, 1980
    46 years ago
  • The Last Horror Film

    The Last Horror Film

    Played Vinny Durand

    Average Rating
    5.2
    65 votes
    Release Date
    Aug 12, 1982
    44 years ago
  • Winter Kills

    Winter Kills

    Played Arthur Fletcher

    Average Rating
    5.8
    58 votes
    Release Date
    May 11, 1979
    47 years ago
  • 40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic

    40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic

    Played Self (archive footage)

    Average Rating
    7.6
    49 votes
    Release Date
    Jun 09, 2020
    5 years ago
  • Next Stop, Greenwich Village

    Next Stop, Greenwich Village

    Played Cop

    Average Rating
    6.3
    41 votes
    Release Date
    Feb 04, 1976
    50 years ago
  • The First Deadly Sin

    The First Deadly Sin

    Played Charles Lipsky

    Average Rating
    5.7
    38 votes
    Release Date
    Oct 03, 1980
    46 years ago
  • The American Nightmare

    The American Nightmare

    Played Self

    Average Rating
    6.8
    36 votes
    Release Date
    Sep 11, 2000
    25 years ago
  • National Lampoon's Movie Madness

    National Lampoon's Movie Madness

    Played Agent / M.C. ("Success Wanters")

    Average Rating
    3.1
    34 votes
    Release Date
    Apr 23, 1982
    44 years ago
  • Rancho Deluxe

    Rancho Deluxe

    Played Mr. Colson

    Average Rating
    5.3
    31 votes
    Release Date
    Mar 14, 1975
    51 years ago
  • The Undertaker

    The Undertaker

    Played Uncle Roscoe

    Average Rating
    5.1
    25 votes
    Release Date
    Nov 01, 1988
    37 years ago
  • Cops and Robbers

    Cops and Robbers

    Played Marty

    Average Rating
    6.2
    18 votes
    Release Date
    Aug 15, 1973
    53 years ago
  • Walking the Edge

    Walking the Edge

    Played Brusstar

    Average Rating
    5.2
    17 votes
    Release Date
    Jan 11, 1985
    41 years ago
  • Monsignor

    Monsignor

    Played Bride's Father

    Average Rating
    4.2
    17 votes
    Release Date
    Oct 22, 1982
    44 years ago
  • The Whoopee Boys

    The Whoopee Boys

    Played Guido Antonucci

    Average Rating
    5.1
    16 votes
    Release Date
    Aug 22, 1986
    40 years ago
  • The Children of Times Square

    The Children of Times Square

    Played Street Vendor

    Average Rating
    6.0
    13 votes
    Release Date
    Mar 03, 1986
    40 years ago
  • One Down, Two to Go

    One Down, Two to Go

    Played Joe Spangler

    Average Rating
    4.2
    12 votes
    Release Date
    Nov 19, 1982
    44 years ago
  • Maniac II: Mr. Robbie

    Maniac II: Mr. Robbie

    Played Mr. Robbie

    Average Rating
    5.9
    11 votes
    Release Date
    Nov 01, 1986
    40 years ago
  • Rapid Fire

    Rapid Fire

    Played Hansen

    Average Rating
    3.4
    9 votes
    Release Date
    Apr 07, 1989
    37 years ago
  • Vampire

    Vampire

    Played Capt. Desher

    Average Rating
    5.8
    8 votes
    Release Date
    Oct 07, 1979
    47 years ago
  • The Joe Spinell Story

    The Joe Spinell Story

    Played (archive footage)

    Average Rating
    5.1
    8 votes
    Release Date
    Aug 21, 2001
    24 years ago
  • The Messenger

    The Messenger

    Played Rico

    Average Rating
    4.7
    7 votes
    Release Date
    Dec 01, 1986
    39 years ago
  • The One Man Jury

    The One Man Jury

    Played Mike Abatino

    Average Rating
    4.9
    7 votes
    Release Date
    Sep 29, 1978
    48 years ago
  • 92 in the Shade

    92 in the Shade

    Played Ollie Slatt

    Average Rating
    5.5
    7 votes
    Release Date
    Aug 22, 1975
    51 years ago
  • Out of the Darkness

    Out of the Darkness

    Played Jim Halsey

    Average Rating
    6.4
    7 votes
    Release Date
    Oct 12, 1985
    41 years ago
  • The Godfather: The Complete Epic 1901–1959

    The Godfather: The Complete Epic 1901–1959

    Played William "Willie" Cicci

    Average Rating
    9.5
    6 votes
    Release Date
    Mar 24, 1981
    45 years ago
  • The Little Dragons

    The Little Dragons

    Played Yancey

    Average Rating
    4.7
    6 votes
    Release Date
    Jul 18, 1980
    46 years ago
  • Strike Force

    Strike Force

    Played Sol Terranova

    Average Rating
    5.6
    6 votes
    Release Date
    Apr 12, 1975
    51 years ago
  • The Last Fight

    The Last Fight

    Played Angelo

    Average Rating
    4.0
    6 votes
    Release Date
    Sep 07, 1983
    43 years ago
  • Blood Ties

    Blood Ties

    Played Joey, New York Goon #1

    Average Rating
    5.8
    6 votes
    Release Date
    Dec 14, 1986
    39 years ago
  • Deadly Illusion

    Deadly Illusion

    Played Crazy Man in Gun Bureau

    Average Rating
    5.6
    6 votes
    Release Date
    Oct 16, 1987
    39 years ago
  • Hollywood Harry

    Hollywood Harry

    Played Max Caldwell

    Average Rating
    2.0
    4 votes
    Release Date
    Oct 03, 1986
    40 years ago
  • The History of 'Cruising'

    The History of 'Cruising'

    Played Self (archive footage)

    Average Rating
    7.7
    3 votes
    Release Date
    Sep 18, 2007
    18 years ago
  • Operation Warzone

    Operation Warzone

    Played Brig. Gen. George Delevane

    Average Rating
    2.0
    3 votes
    Release Date
    Jul 01, 1988
    38 years ago
  • Nunzio

    Nunzio

    Played Angelo

    Average Rating
    3.8
    3 votes
    Release Date
    May 10, 1978
    48 years ago
  • The Big Score

    The Big Score

    Played Mayfield

    Average Rating
    5.0
    3 votes
    Release Date
    Mar 17, 1983
    43 years ago
  • Exorcising 'Cruising'

    Exorcising 'Cruising'

    Played Self (archive footage)

    Average Rating
    6.5
    2 votes
    Release Date
    Sep 18, 2007
    18 years ago
  • Thriller Zone

    Thriller Zone

    Played Vinny Durand (segment "Fanatical Extremes") (archive footage)

    Average Rating
    5.5
    2 votes
    Release Date
    Jan 01, 1995
    31 years ago
  • FantastiCozzi

    FantastiCozzi

    Played Count Zarth Arn (archive footage)

    Average Rating
    6.0
    2 votes
    Release Date
    May 21, 2016
    10 years ago
  • Nightside

    Nightside

    Played Michael Vincent

    Average Rating
    5.0
    1 votes
    Release Date
    Jun 08, 1980
    46 years ago

  • K.O. Kippers

    Played Tony Larosa

    Average Rating
    8.0
    1 votes
    Release Date
    Aug 13, 1988
    38 years ago
  • A Question of Honor

    A Question of Honor

    Played Masked witness (uncredited)

    Average Rating
    7.0
    1 votes
    Release Date
    Apr 28, 1982
    44 years ago
  • Portrait of a Teenage Shoplifter

    Portrait of a Teenage Shoplifter

    Played Door Guard

    Average Rating
    0.0
    0 votes
    Release Date
    Dec 01, 1981
    44 years ago
  • Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer

    Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer

    Played Escobar

    Average Rating
    0.0
    0 votes
    Release Date
    Oct 15, 1983
    43 years ago
  • The Ransom of Red Chief

    The Ransom of Red Chief

    Played Bill

    Average Rating
    0.0
    0 votes
    Release Date
    Nov 01, 1975
    51 years ago
  • The History of 'Cruising'

    The History of 'Cruising'

    Average Rating
    0.0
    0 votes
    Release Date
    Sep 18, 2007
    18 years ago
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