JV
Joe Viterelli
Actor
Died January 28, 2004 (66 years)
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.
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.
Filmography
| 2002 | Analyze That · as Jelly |
| 2002 | Serving Sara · as Fat Charlie |
| 2001 | Shallow Hal · as Steve Shanahan |
| 2001 | The Cure for Boredom · as Fat Tony Ragoni |
| 2001 | See Spot Run · as Gino |
| 2001 | Italian Ties · as Charlie |
| 2000 | Wannabes · as Santo |
| 1999 | The Strip (TV Series) |
| 1999 | Mickey Blue Eyes · as Vinnie D'agostino |
| 1999 | Facade · as Max |
| 1999 | Analyze This · as Jelly |
| 1999 | Hitman's Run · as Jimmy / Howard Sussman |
| 1999 | |
| 1998 | Mafia! · as Clamato |
| 1997 | Looking for Lola · as Salvatore Greco |
| 1997 | Out to Sea · as Mickey |
| 1996 | American Strays · as Gene |
| 1996 | Eraser · as Tony Two-Toes |
| 1996 | Heaven's Prisoners · as Didi Giancano |
| 1996 | Black Rose of Harlem · as Costanza |
| 1995 | The Crossing Guard · as Joe |
| 1995 | Marker (TV Series) · as Luau Tony |
| 1994 | Bullets Over Broadway · as Nick Valenti |
| 1994 | Under Suspicion (TV Series) · as James Vitelli, Sr. |
| 1993 | Fallen Angels (TV Series) · as Ugolino |
| 1993 | The Firm · as Joey Morolto (uncredited) |
| 1992 | In the Shadow of a Killer · as Gino Marchese |
| 1992 | Ruby · as Joseph Valachi |
| 1992 | What She Doesn't Know · as Fat Tommy Carducci |
| 1991 | Palace Guard (TV Series) |
| 1991 | The Commish (TV Series) |
| 1991 | Mobsters · as Joe Profaci |
| 1990 | State of Grace · as Borelli |