1937-03-10 New York, USA
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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Analyze That | Jelly | 2002-12-06 |
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Serving Sara | Fat Charlie | 2002-08-23 |
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See Spot Run | Gino | 2001-03-02 |
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The Cure for Boredom | Fat Tony Ragoni | 2001-10-02 |
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Shallow Hal | Steve Shanahan | 2001-11-01 |
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Wannabes | Santo | 2000-06-29 |
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Hitman's Run | Jimmy / Howard Sussman | 1999-01-01 |
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Mickey Blue Eyes | Vinnie D'Agostino | 1999-08-16 |
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The Making of a Mobster: 'Mickey Blue Eyes' | Self | 1999-07-31 |
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Facade | Max | 1999-06-15 |
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A Walk in the Park | 1999-01-01 | |
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Analyze This | Jelly | 1999-03-05 |
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Jane Austen's Mafia! | Dominick Clamato | 1998-07-24 |
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Out to Sea | Mickey | 1997-07-02 |
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Looking For Lola | Salvatore Greco | 1997-12-31 |
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Eraser | Tony Two-Toes | 1996-06-21 |
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Heaven's Prisoners | Didi Giancano | 1996-05-17 |
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American Strays | Gene | 1996-09-12 |
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Black Rose of Harlem | Costanza | 1996-03-01 |
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The Crossing Guard | Joe | 1995-11-15 |
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Bullets Over Broadway | Nick Valenti | 1994-10-14 |
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The Firm | Joey Morolto (uncredited) | 1993-06-30 |
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In the Shadow of a Killer | Gino Marchese | 1992-04-27 |
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Ruby | Joseph Valachi | 1992-03-27 |
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What She Doesn't Know | Fat Tommy Carducci | 1992-02-23 |
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Mobsters | Joe Profaci | 1991-07-26 |
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State of Grace | Borelli | 1990-09-14 |
