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IMDbPro

Joe Spinell(1936-1989)

  • Actor
  • Writer
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeter
See rank
Joe Spinell in Taxi Driver (1976)
Home Video Extra (Clip) from Anchor Bay Entertainment
Play trailer4:49
Maniac 2: Mr. Robbie (1986)
7 Videos
10 Photos
Joseph J. Spagnuolo was born on October 28, 1936 in Manhattan, New York City at his family's apartment on 2nd Avenue. Spinell was a tough guy on and off the screen all his life. During his teen years, while still in high school, he acted in various plays on the New York stage, on and off Broadway, eventually earning a place in Joe Papp's Shakespeare Festival Theater. In 1960, he parlayed his stage work into a performing contract for MGM, where it was suggested that he change his name to Joe Spinell to make his name easier to pronounce. For nine years, Spinell worked with the group, which was also known as the Theater of the Forgotten, which also put on plays in prisons for the inmates. His minimal salary for his stage work forced him to hold down other jobs to make ends meet. Those jobs included working as a taxi driver, a post office clerk, and a liquor store clerk during Christmas holidays.

In 1972, Spinell was originally noticed when he appeared in his first movie role, a small, uncredited speaking part in The Godfather (1972), the right film for a tough, mean-looking Italian with a New York City accent. After his success, he became a familiar character actor who appeared in violent urban movies where he was usually cast as vicious thugs or seedy gang leaders. In both Godfather movies he played the hit man Willy Cici. In Rocky (1976), the first of several films he made with Sylvester Stallone, he played the loan shark Gazzo who employs Rocky as a collector.

His best (or worst) or most disgusting role is probably the one for which he is best remembered: the rare starring role of Frank Zito in Maniac (1980), a serial killer who kills women and uses their scalps to dress up female mannequins he keeps in his apartment. After Maniac (1980), Spinell continued acting with big-name Hollywood and independent movie directors, usually playing villainous thugs in small to medium roles.

During the last years of his life, Spinell's choice of projects became increasingly suspect; for example, imprisoned serial killer John Wayne Gacy wanted Spinell to play him in a movie. But with Maniac (1980) still on his mind, Spinell always wanted to do a sequel to the movie and with New York filmmaker Buddy Giovinazzo, they shot a 10-minute promo reel in 1986 titled Mr. Robbie, which was to be the sequel for Maniac (1980). After a few years of hard work and searching, Spinell found financing for the sequel, though just as pre-production was to begin, Joe Spinell suddenly passed away in his apartment in Sunnyside, Queens, New York on January 13, 1989, at age 52, due to undetermined causes, still the subject of much speculation. Some say he died of a heart attack because of his failing health in recent months due to his heavy drinking, drug use, and the emotional turmoil resulting from his mother's death in 1987. Others say he died from an asthma attack, or that he bled to death from an accidental (or deliberate) cut since he was a hemophiliac.

Spinnel left behind an impressive body of film work all of which stand as a testament to his talent and unique screen presence as a character actor. He is survived by an ex-wife, a daughter, two brothers and a sister.
BornOctober 28, 1936
DiedJanuary 13, 1989(52)
BornOctober 28, 1936
DiedJanuary 13, 1989(52)
IMDbProStarmeter
See rank

Photos10

Joe Spinell in Taxi Driver (1976)
Joe Spinell in Walking the Edge (1985)
Ann Dusenberry and Joe Spinell in Movie Madness (1982)
Stacy Keach, Jason Miller, and Joe Spinell in The Ninth Configuration (1980)
Kevin Conway, Terry Funk, Paul Mace, Frank McRae, Frank Pesce, and Joe Spinell in Paradise Alley (1978)
Kevin Conway, Terry Funk, and Joe Spinell in Paradise Alley (1978)
Jeff McCracken and Joe Spinell
Caroline Munro and Joe Spinell in The Last Horror Film (1982)
Abigail Clayton and Joe Spinell in Maniac (1980)

Known for

Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver (1976)
Taxi Driver
8.2
  • Personnel Officer
  • 1976
Sylvester Stallone and Talia Shire in Rocky (1976)
Rocky
8.1
  • Gazzo
  • 1976
Maniac (1980)
Maniac
6.4
  • Frank Zito
  • 1980
Rocky II (1979)
Rocky II
7.3
  • Gazzo
  • 1979

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actor

  • Dale Midkiff and Jo Anderson in Dream Street (1989)
    Dream Street
  • Michael Wayne in Rapid Fire (1989)
    Rapid Fire
  • The Undertaker (1988)
    The Undertaker
  • Cinemax Comedy Experiment
  • Michelle Pfeiffer, Matthew Modine, Mercedes Ruehl, and Dean Stockwell in Married to the Mob (1988)
    Married to the Mob
  • Operation Warzone (1988)
    Operation Warzone
    • (as Joe Spinnell)
  • Morgan Fairchild, Billy Dee Williams, John Beck, and Vanity in Deadly Illusion (1987)
    Deadly Illusion
    • (as Joe Spinnel)
  • Scott Hylands and Jeff Wincott in Night Heat (1985)
    Night Heat
  • Nicholas Campbell and Peggy Smithhart in Diamonds (1987)
    Diamonds
  • Molly Ringwald and Robert Downey Jr. in The Pick-up Artist (1987)
    The Pick-up Artist
  • Fred Williamson in The Messenger (1986)
    The Messenger
  • Joe Spinell in Maniac 2: Mr. Robbie (1986)
    Maniac 2: Mr. Robbie
  • Hollywood Harry (1986)
    Hollywood Harry
  • Brad Davis in Il cugino americano (1986)
    Il cugino americano
  • The Whoopee Boys (1986)
    The Whoopee Boys

Writer

  • Nora Arnezeder in Maniac (2012)
    Maniac
  • Joe Spinell in Maniac 2: Mr. Robbie (1986)
    Maniac 2: Mr. Robbie
  • Maniac (1980)
    Maniac

Producer

  • Joe Spinell in Maniac 2: Mr. Robbie (1986)
    Maniac 2: Mr. Robbie
  • Maniac (1980)
    Maniac
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos8

Sorcerer
Clip 2:50
Sorcerer
Maniac
Trailer 1:33
Maniac
Rocky II
Trailer 2:49
Rocky II
Rocky
Trailer 0:34
Rocky
Maniac II: Mr. Robbie
Trailer 4:49
Maniac II: Mr. Robbie
Maniac (1980)
Trailer 1:34
Maniac (1980)
Rocky
Featurette 0:58
Rocky
Rocky
Featurette 0:56
Rocky

Personal details

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    • October 28, 1936
    • New York City, New York, USA
    • January 13, 1989
    • New York City, New York, USA(heart attack)
    • Jean JenningsSeptember 28, 1977 - July 1979 (divorced, 1 child)
  • Radio interview for the horror film Maniac (1980) with William Lustig and Caroline Munro.
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Biographical Movie
    • 1 Interview
    • 1 Article

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Was close friends with Sylvester Stallone. He provided Stallone with money and food when Stallone was a current and struggling actor.
  • Quotes
    My whole life's like a book. I go shootin', ridin' and fishin'. Listen, I'm a roper, I'm a doper, I'm a lover, I'm a fighter, I'm a rodeo rider.
    • Usually played tough, scary and sleazy New York City scoundrels
    • Hollywood Harry
      (1986)
      $8,000

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