Joe Viterelli
Born March 10, 1937 (Age: 89)
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New York, USA
Biography
Joseph "Joe" Viterelli (March 10, 1937 – January 28, 2004) was an Italian American actor known for his mafioso-orientated character roles. Joe Viterelli was born to Italian immigrants in Bronx, New York. Before Viterelli became an actor, he was a successful businessman in New York City. He had befriended director Leo Penn (actor Sean Penn's father), who initially tried but failed to persuade Viterelli to pursue acting because of his unique and typically Italian looks. Some years later, Sean Penn approached Viterelli and asked him to try out for a part as a favor: Viterelli did and went on to appear in State of Grace and then in over 40 movies. Joe Viterelli became an icon of Mafia-Movies. Viterelli died on January 28, 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada due to a severe stomach hemorrhage, a complication of just-completed heart surgery. He was 66 years old. His last role was as a mobster in a 2004 Super Bowl ad for Staples, Inc. and his last movie role was as Jelly in Harold Ramis’ Analyze That.
Joseph "Joe" Viterelli (March 10, 1937 – January 28, 2004) was an Italian American actor known for his mafioso-orientated character roles.
Joe Viterelli was born to Italian immigrants in Bronx, New York. Before Viterelli became an actor, he was a successful businessman in New York City. He had befriended director Leo Penn (actor Sean Penn's father), who initially tried but failed to persuade Viterelli to pursue acting because of his unique and typically Italian looks. Some years later, Sean Penn approached Viterelli and asked him to try out for a part as a favor: Viterelli did and went on to appear in State of Grace and then in over 40 movies. Joe Viterelli became an icon of Mafia-Movies.
Viterelli died on January 28, 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada due to a severe stomach hemorrhage, a complication of just-completed heart surgery. He was 66 years old. His last role was as a mobster in a 2004 Super Bowl ad for Staples, Inc. and his last movie role was as Jelly in Harold Ramis’ Analyze That.
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Filmography
Analyze That
2002
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as Jelly
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Age: 65
Serving Sara
2002
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as Fat Charlie
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Age: 65
Shallow Hal
2001
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as Steve Shanahan
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Age: 64
Wannabes
2000
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as Santo
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Age: 63
Mickey Blue Eyes
1999
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as Vinnie D'Agostino
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Age: 62
Analyze This
1999
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as Jelly
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Age: 61
Jane Austen's Mafia!
1998
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as Clamato
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Age: 61
American Strays
1996
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as Gene
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Age: 59
Eraser
1996
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as Tony Two-Toes
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Age: 59
Heaven's Prisoners
1996
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as Didi Giancano
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Age: 59
Bullets Over Broadway
1994
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as Nick Valenti
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Age: 57
The Firm
1993
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as Joey Morolto (uncredited)
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Age: 56
Ruby
1992
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as Joseph Valachi
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Age: 55
Mobsters
1991
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as Joe Profaci
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Age: 54
State of Grace
1990
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as Borelli
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Age: 53