Joe Spinell
Joe Spinell | |
---|---|
Spinell on the set of The Godfather (1972). | |
Born |
Joseph J. Spagnuolo October 28, 1936 Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States |
Died |
January 13, 1989 52) Queens, New York City, New York, United States | (aged
Resting place | Calvary Cemetery, Queens |
Residence | Queens, New York City, New York |
Other names |
Joe "Maniac" Spinell Joseph Spinell Joe Spinnel Joe Spinnell |
Occupation | Actor, screenwriter |
Years active | 1972–1989 |
Home town | Queens, New York City, New York |
Spouse(s) | Jean Jennings (February 1977–July 1979) |
Children | 1 |
Relatives |
Steve Spagnuolo (cousin) |
Joe Spinell (born Joseph J. Spagnuolo; October 28, 1936 – January 13, 1989) was an American character actor, who appeared in numerous films in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as various stage productions on and off Broadway.[1] His notable roles included performances in The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather Part II (1974), Rocky (1976) and Rocky II (1979), Taxi Driver (1976), William Friedkin's Sorcerer (1977) and Cruising (1980), and the cult horror film Maniac (1980), which he also wrote.
Life and career
Spinell was born Joseph J. Spagnuolo (Italian pronunciation: [spaˈɲɲwɔlo]) in Manhattan, New York, of Italian immigrant parents, and the last of six children. His father, Pelegrino Spagnuolo (1892–1950), died from liver and kidney disease. His mother, Filomena Spagnuolo (1903–1987), was a bit-part actress who acted in a few movies, some of them alongside her son.[2] Spinell stood 5 foot and 11 inches. He was born at his family's apartment on Second Avenue in Manhattan's Kip's Bay, an area then home to 10,000 Italian Americans.[3] 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. He was known to abuse drugs and alcohol heavily on and off throughout his career, especially during periods of unemployment. Spinell also 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. As a teenager and young adult, Spinell starred in various stage plays, both on and off Broadway.[4] His most notable film roles were as mafioso Willie 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.[5]
Maniac 2: Mr. Robbie was a 1986 horror short promotional film shot by Joe Spinell to raise financing for a sequel to Spinell's 1980 horror film Maniac.[6] The short film was included with the 30th anniversary edition release of Maniac.[7] The feature-length version of the film was never shot after Spinell's death in 1989.[6]
Towards the end of his life, most of his appearances in films were small parts or cameo appearances. His very last film role was a supporting part in the low-budget 1989 action-thriller Rapid Fire (not to be confused with a similar titled film starring Brandon Lee), which was directed by David A. Prior and filmed on location in Mobile, Alabama a few weeks before his death.
Personal life
Spinell was married to adult film star Jean Jennings (1957-2011) from February 1977 to July 1979. Together they had one daughter, but they eventually divorced (this was referenced for Spinell's role in the 1980 film Cruising, where his brutal, closeted NYPD patrolman talks about how his wife had abandoned him by taking their child and leaving for Florida, which is very similar to what actually happened to Spinell right before he began filming this role). A close friend of Sylvester Stallone, Spinell was the godfather of his late son Sage Stallone. He was the distant cousin of New York Giants assistant defensive coach Steve Spagnuolo.
Death
Joe Spinell died in his apartment located off of Greenpoint Avenue in Sunnyside, Queens, New York on January 13, 1989 at the age of 52. Sometime during that morning, he cut himself badly on his glass shower stall door after apparently slipping in his bathtub while showering and soon afterward fell asleep on his couch instead of calling for help, his hemophilia causing him to bleed to death. His body was found by his friend Sal Sirchia. Sirchia had phoned Spinell that morning and was told of the injury and his refusal of treatment. Sirchia became concerned when he tried calling Spinell from his workplace at around noon and there was no answer. In the late afternoon, Sirchia left work at the end of his shift and drove to Spinell's apartment. After no one answered the front door, Sirchia called the building superintendent, who entered Spinell's apartment, where they both found Spinell dead on his living room couch. Wearing only a bathrobe, Spinell bled to death over part of the couch from an apparent deep cut on the back of his head.
Spinell was buried in Calvary Cemetery, Queens near his home.
Filmography
Film
Feature films | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Film | Role | Notes | |||
1972 | The Godfather | Willie Cicci | Uncredited; small role | |||
1973 | Cops and Robbers | Marty | minor role | |||
The Seven-Ups | Toredano | minor role | ||||
1974 | The Godfather Part II | Willie Cicci | supporting role | |||
1975 | Rancho Deluxe | Mr. Coleson | small role | |||
Farewell, My Lovely | Nick | small role | ||||
92 in the Shade | Ollie Slatt | minor role | ||||
1976 | Next Stop, Greenwich Village | Cop | small role | |||
Taxi Driver | Personnel Officer | small role | ||||
Stay Hungry | Jabo | minor role | ||||
Rocky | Tony Gazzo | supporting role | ||||
1977 | Sorcerer | Spider | small role | |||
1978 | Nunzio | Angelo | minor role | |||
Big Wednesday | Psychologist | small role | ||||
Paradise Alley | Burp | minor role | ||||
The One Man Jury | Mika Abatino | supporting role | ||||
Starcrash | Count Zarth Arn | supporting role | ||||
1979 | Last Embrace | Man in Cantina | small role | |||
Winter Kills | Arthur Fletcher | small role | ||||
Rocky II | Tony Gazzo | supporting role | ||||
The Little Dragons | Yancey | small role | ||||
1980 | Cruising | Patrolman DiSimone | minor role | |||
The Ninth Configuration | Lt. Spinell | minor role | ||||
Forbidden Zone | Squeezeit's Father | small role | ||||
Maniac | Frank Zito | lead role | ||||
Brubaker | Floyd Birdwell | supporting role | ||||
Melvin and Howard | Go-Go Club Owner | Uncredited; small role | ||||
The First Deadly Sin | Charles Lipsky | minor role | ||||
1981 | Nighthawks | Lt. Munafo | supporting role | |||
1982 | National Lampoon Goes to the Movies | Talent Agent / Beauty Show M.C. | ("Success Wanters"); small role | |||
Night Shift | Manetti | small role | ||||
The Last Horror Film | Vinny Durand | also known as Fanatic; lead role | ||||
Monsignor | Bride's Father | small role | ||||
One Down, Two To Go | Joe Spangler | small role | ||||
1983 | Vigilante | Eisenberg | minor role | |||
Losin' It | U.S. Customs Policeman | small role | ||||
Eureka | Pete | small role | ||||
The Last Fight | The Boss | minor role | ||||
1985 | Walking the Edge | Brusstar | supporting role | |||
1986 | The Whoopee Boys | Guido Antonucci | small role | |||
Hollywood Harry | Max Caldwell | supporting role | ||||
Maniac 2: Mr. Robbie | Mr. Robbie | Short film; lead role | ||||
The Messenger | Rico | small role | ||||
1987 | The Pick-up Artist | Eddie | small role | |||
Deadly Illusion | Hit Man | small role | ||||
1988 | Operation Warzone | Brig. Gen. George Delevane | supporting role | |||
Married to the Mob | Leonard 'Tiptoes' Mazzilli | (scenes deleted); small role | ||||
The Undertaker | Roscoe | lead role | ||||
1989 | Rapid Fire | Hanson | supporting role |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1975 | Strike Force | Sol Terranova | supporting role |
1977 | The Godfather Saga | Willie Cicci | Archive footage from the previous two Godfather films |
1979 | Vampire | Captain Desher | minor role |
1980 | Nightside | Michael Vincent | minor role |
1983 | Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer | Escobar | small role |
1985 | Out of the Darkness | Jim Halsey | minor role |
1986 | The Equalizer | Mob Boss | Episode #1.16 'Wash Up'; minor role |
1986 | The Children of Times Square | Street Vendor | small role |
1986 | Blood Ties | Joey | minor role |
1986-1987 | Night Heat | Various roles | 3 episodes |
References
- ↑ "Joe Spinell". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
- ↑ "Joe Spinell". NNDB. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
- ↑ "History of The Chapel of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary". Parish of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
- ↑ David Gregory (2001). The Joe Spinell Story (DVD) .
- ↑ Vincent Canby (January 31, 1981). "Maniac". New York Times. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
- 1 2 Janisse, Kier-La (June 21, 2013). "THE GENTLE MANIAC: Buddy Giovinazzo Remembers Original “MANIAC” Joe Spinell". Fangoria.
- ↑ Dahlke, Kurt (October 13, 2010). "Maniac - 30th Anniversary Edition". DVD Talk.
External links
- Joe Spinell on IMDb
- Joe Spinell at AllMovie
- Top 10 Films of Joe Spinell at Top Ten Films