Joe Marinelli, the American actor known for his roles in ‘The Morning Show’ and numerous television series, passed away last Sunday after a long battle with cancer.
Julie Smith, his agent, revealed that the 68-year-old actor had been fighting stomach and throat cancer for years before his death.
Jean Marinelli, his wife of nearly 34 years, also confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter.
Friends and colleagues have honored Marinelli’s legacy on social media, celebrating both his talent and his warmth as a person.
Mark Duplass, the filmmaker and actor who worked with Marinelli on ‘The Morning Show’, shared a heartfelt tribute:
“We lost a great one. Joe Marinelli lived in rare air. Generous performer, beautiful human, wide-eyed positivist. I got to know him shooting The Morning Show,” he wrote.
“We taught classes together. We talked about nothing and everything in between takes. We cut right to the important stuff on Day 1 of meeting. I will miss him dearly. And I will try to live my life a bit more like he lived his. We all should.”
Acclaimed director Alexander Payne also paid homage, writing:
“The great Joe Marinelli acted in my very first movie at film school 40 years ago and again in Sideways. Aside from being an extraordinary artist, he was a uniquely magnificent human being with a heart as big as the ocean.”
Over his decades-long career, Marinelli became a familiar face on screen, most notably portraying Bunny Tagliatti in 171 episodes of the NBC soap opera ‘Santa Barbara’, bank robber Pauly Hardman on ‘Guiding Light’ (1993), and mobster Joseph Sorel in ‘General Hospital’.
In ‘The Morning Show’, Marinelli played Donny Spagnoli, the TV show’s director, working alongside stars like Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston.
Beyond his recent work, Marinelli appeared in over 50 television shows and films, including ‘Sideways’ (2004) and ‘One Last Ride’ (2004). His extensive TV credits included ‘The West Wing’, ‘Desperate Housewives’, ‘Lethal Weapon’, and ‘NYPD Blue’.
Born Joseph Anthony on January 21, 1957, in Meriden, Connecticut, Marinelli moved with his family to Southern California in 1961. He attended Arcadia High School, Reno High School (Nevada), and Loyola Marymount University before honing his craft at London’s prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).
Before his acting career took off, Marinelli worked as a carpenter. His big break came when he met ‘Santa Barbara’ producer Jill Farren Phelps, leading to his breakout role.
Marinelli is survived by his wife and their two children, Vincent and David.
