Joe Spinell

Joe Spinell Movies and TV Shows

​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.

Personal info

  • Gender: Male
  • Date of birth: 10/28/1936 (87 years old)
  • Place of birth: Manhattan, New York
Year
Genre
IMDB
TMDB
Available on the following streaming services in the United States
Maniac
IMDB 6.1
TMDB 60%
role:
Original Film Writer
2012

Horror

6.1
60%
The Unit
IMDB 8.1
TMDB 73%
role:
Leonard 'Tiptoes' Mazzilli
Not available
2006

Action

Adventure

Drama

8.1
73%
Not available
1996

Comedy

Family

7.8
83%
The Pick-up Artist
IMDB 5.3
TMDB 58%
role:
Eddie
Not available
1987

Comedy

Crime

Romance

5.3
58%
Not available
Losin' It
IMDB 4.9
TMDB 50%
role:
Border Patrolman
1983

Comedy

4.9
50%
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Night Shift
IMDB 6.5
TMDB 60%
role:
Manetti
1982

Comedy

6.5
60%
Nighthawks
IMDB 6.3
TMDB 64%
role:
Lt. Munafo
1981

Action

Crime

Thriller

6.3
64%
Maniac
IMDB 6.4
TMDB 64%
role:
Story & 3 more
1980

Horror

6.4
64%
Brubaker
IMDB 7.1
TMDB 71%
role:
Floyd Birdwell
1980

Crime

Drama

7.1
71%
Forbidden Zone
IMDB 6.5
TMDB 65%
role:
Squeezit's Father
1980

Comedy

Music

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

6.5
65%
1980

Comedy

Drama

Horror

Mystery

Thriller

6.8
67%
Cruising
IMDB 6.5
TMDB 64%
role:
Patrolman DiSimone
1980

Crime

Drama

Horror

Mystery

Thriller

6.5
64%
Rocky II
IMDB 7.3
TMDB 72%
role:
Tony Gazzo
1979

Drama

7.3
72%
Starcrash
IMDB 4.0
TMDB 41%
role:
Count Zartharn
1978

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

4.0
41%
1978

Action

Drama

5.7
59%
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Big Wednesday
IMDB 7.1
TMDB 70%
role:
Psychologist
1978

Comedy

Drama

7.1
70%
Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television
IMDB 9.5
TMDB 87%
role:
William "Willie" Cicci
Not available
1977

Crime

Drama

9.5
87%
Not available
Sorcerer
IMDB 7.7
TMDB 74%
role:
Spider
1977

Adventure

Thriller

7.7
74%
Rocky
IMDB 8.1
TMDB 78%
role:
Tony Gazzo
1976

Action

Drama

8.1
78%
Taxi Driver
IMDB 8.2
TMDB 82%
role:
Personnel Officer
1976

Action

Adventure

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

8.2
82%
The Godfather Part II
IMDB 9.0
TMDB 86%
role:
William 'Willie' Cicci
1974

Crime

Drama

9.0
86%
The Seven-Ups
IMDB 6.8
TMDB 65%
role:
Toredano
Not available
1973

Action

Crime

Drama

Thriller

6.8
65%
Not available
The Godfather
IMDB 9.2
TMDB 87%
role:
Willi Cicci (uncredited)
1972

Crime

Drama

9.2
87%

FAQs

Some movies or TV shows available in the United States starring or involving Joe Spinell are, for example, Maniac, Kenan And Kel and Losin' It.
The streaming services with the largest selection are Prime Video, Amazon and iTunes.
The best Anystream ratings are The Godfather (9.0), The Godfather Part II (8.8) and Taxi Driver (8.2).
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