Joe Spinell
Actor
- Born
- October 28, 1936, Manhattan, New York
- Died
- January 13, 1989
- Age
- 52 years old
- Zodiac
- Scorpio
- Total works
- 71 movies, 2 TV shows
- Latest work
- 40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic (2020)
- Genres
- Action,Drama,Crime
Joe Spinell was a character actor known for his portrayal of criminals and thugs, often due to his imposing physical presence. He gained significant attention for his roles as Willi Cicci in The Godfather (1972) and its sequel, as well as Tony Gazzo in Rocky (1976) and Rocky II (1979). Spinell co-wrote and starred in the cult classic horror film Maniac (1980), where he played a serial killer. His performance in Nighthawks (1981) further demonstrated his range as an actor. Spinell's life was marked by personal struggles, including hemophilia and chronic asthma, and he passed away in 1989. He was buried in Calvary Cemetery, Queens, and was planning a sequel to Maniac before his death.
