Joe Viterelli
Actor
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.
Filmography
The Firm
as Joey Morolto (uncredited) 1993
Analyze This
as Jelly 1999
Eraser
as Tony Two-Toes 1996
Analyze That
as Jelly 2002
Bullets Over Broadway
as Nick Valenti 1994
Mickey Blue Eyes
as Vinnie D'Agostino 1999
State of Grace
as Borelli 1990
Serving Sara
as Fat Charlie 2002
The Crossing Guard
as Joe 1995
See Spot Run
as Gino 2001
Jane Austen's Mafia!
as Clamato 1998
Mobsters
as Joe Profaci 1991
Out to Sea
as Mickey 1997
Heaven's Prisoners
as Didi Giancano 1996
Ruby
as Joseph Valachi 1992
American Strays
as Gene 1996