Joe Spinell
For decades now, Joe Spinell has been an actor whose career has outlived most of the formats it was recorded on. 'The Godfather Part II' is where the largest audience met him. He appears in 'Taxi Driver' too. The first credits arrived long before the title most people know. The filmography leans toward crime. Neither the cinema nor the television half of the career can be called the side project.
Joe Spinell
55 Movies
2 Series
For decades now, Joe Spinell has been an actor whose career has outlived most of the formats it was recorded on. 'The Godfather Part II' is where the largest audience met him. He appears in 'Taxi Driver' too. The first credits arrived long before the title most people know. The filmography leans toward crime. Neither the cinema nor the television half of the career can be called the side project.
Movies
Plays William 'Willie' Cicci
The Godfather Part II
1974
Plays Personnel Officer
Taxi Driver
1976
Plays Tony Gazzo
Rocky
1976
Plays Tony Gazzo
Rocky II
1979
Plays Spider
Sorcerer
1977
Plays Patrolman DiSimone
Cruising
1980
Plays Leonard 'Tiptoes' Mazzilli
Married to the Mob
1988
Plays Lt. Munafo
Nighthawks
1981
Plays Nick
Farewell, My Lovely
1975
Plays Birdwell
Brubaker
1980
Plays Border Patrolman
Losin' It
1983
Plays Pete
Eureka
1983
Plays Burp
Paradise Alley
1978
Writer
Plays Frank Zito
Maniac
1980
Plays Jabo
Stay Hungry
1976
Plays Manetti
Night Shift
1982
Plays Psychologist
Big Wednesday
1978
Plays Lt. Spinell
The Ninth Configuration
1980
Plays Toredano
The Seven-Ups
1973
Plays Count Zartharn
Starcrash
1978
Plays Eisenberg
Vigilante
1983
Plays Will Cicci
The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980
1992
Plays Man in Cantina
Last Embrace
1979
Plays Eddie
The Pick-up Artist
1987
Plays Agent / M.C. ("Success Wanters")
National Lampoon's Movie Madness
1982
Plays Arthur Fletcher
Winter Kills
1979
Plays Charles Lipsky
The First Deadly Sin
1980
Plays Drunken Sailor
Forbidden Zone
1982
Plays Cop
Next Stop, Greenwich Village
1976
Plays Vinny Durand
The Last Horror Film
1982
Plays Bride's Father
Monsignor
1982
Plays Uncle Roscoe
The Undertaker
1988
Plays Guido Antonucci
The Whoopee Boys
1986
Plays Angelo
The Last Fight
1983
Plays Mayfield
The Big Score
1983
Plays Marty
Cops and Robbers
1973
Plays Mr. Colson
Rancho Deluxe
1975
Plays Max Caldwell
Hollywood Harry
1986
Plays Crazy Man in Gun Bureau
Deadly Illusion
1987
Plays Ollie Slatt
92 in the Shade
1975
Plays Joe Spangler
One Down, Two to Go
1982
Plays Brusstar
Walking the Edge
1985
Plays Rico
The Messenger
1986
Plays Joey, New York Goon #1
Blood Ties
1986
Plays Yancey
The Little Dragons
1980
Writer
Plays Mr. Robbie
Maniac II: Mr. Robbie
1986
Plays Hansen
Rapid Fire
1989
Plays Mike Abatino
The One Man Jury
1978
Plays Angelo
Nunzio
1978
Plays Brig. Gen. George Delevane
Operation Warzone
1988
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980
Full Filmography
The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980
Will Cicci
1992
Film
Rapid Fire
Hansen
1989
Film
The Undertaker
Uncle Roscoe
1988
Film
Married to the Mob
Leonard 'Tiptoes' Mazzilli
1988
Film
Operation Warzone
Brig. Gen. George Delevane
1988
Film
Deadly Illusion
Crazy Man in Gun Bureau
1987
Film
The Pick-up Artist
Eddie
1987
Film
The Equalizer
Mob Boss · 1 episode
1986
TV
Blood Ties
Joey, New York Goon #1
1986
Film
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Joe Spinell still alive?
Joe Spinell passed away on January 13, 1989 at age 52.
What are the most famous roles of Joe Spinell?
Joe Spinell is best known for roles in The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, Taxi Driver.
How many movies has Joe Spinell been in?
Over a 17-year career (since 1972), Joe Spinell has appeared in 55 movies and 2 TV shows.
What was Joe Spinell's first movie?
The career of Joe Spinell began with The Godfather (1972).
What is Joe Spinell's most recent movie or series?
Joe Spinell's most recent release is The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980, which premiered on October 21, 1992.
What TV shows has Joe Spinell appeared in?
On television, Joe Spinell has appeared in Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television, The Equalizer.
Joe Spinell
1936-10-28 · Manhattan, 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.