Joe Spinell(1936-1989)
- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
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.
Spinell 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.
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.
Spinell 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.