Joe Spinell
Actor

Joe Spinell Net Worth

Joe Spinell was a New York City native born on October 28, 1936. He was a tough guy on and off screen, and during his teen years he acted in various plays on the New York stage. In 1960, he parlayed his stage work into a performing contract for MGM and changed his name to Joe Spinell. He held down other jobs to make ends meet, including working as a taxi driver, post office clerk, and liquor store clerk. In 1972, he was first noticed when he appeared in his first movie role in The Godfather (1972). He went on to appear in many violent urban movies, usually cast as vicious thugs or seedy gang leaders. His most memorable role was as Frank Zito in Maniac (1980). In the last years of his life, he worked on a sequel to Maniac (1980) titled Mr. Robbie, but he passed away in 1989 due to undetermined causes. He left behind an impressive body of film work and is survived by an ex-wife, a daughter, two brothers, and a sister.
Joe Spinell is a member of Actor

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Actor, Writer, Producer
Birth Day October 28, 1936
Birth Place  New York City, New York, United States
Age 84 YEARS OLD
Died On January 13, 1989(1989-01-13) (aged 52)\nQueens, New York City, New York, United States
Birth Sign Scorpio
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)

💰 Net worth: $3 Million (2024)

Joe Spinell, a renowned actor, writer, and producer from the United States, is expected to have a net worth of $3 million in 2024. Known for his exceptional talent and versatile performances, Spinell has amassed a considerable fortune throughout his successful career in the entertainment industry. From his memorable roles in iconic films such as "The Godfather" and "Rocky," to his contributions as a writer and producer, Spinell has demonstrated his prowess in various aspects of filmmaking. With his net worth steadily growing, it is evident that Joe Spinell's talent and dedication have made him a respected figure in Hollywood.

Biography/Timeline

1892

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. 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. 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.

1957

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.

1980

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. 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.

1986

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. The short film was included with the 30th anniversary edition release of Maniac. The feature-length version of the film was never shot after Spinell's death in 1989.

1989

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.

Some Joe Spinell images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.