Joe Marinelli is an American actor. Born of Italian parents, he was raised in Meriden, Connecticut, and moved to Southern California in 1961. His father George was a WWII veteran whose goal was to show his family the wonders of the United States. By the time Joe was in the 6th grade, he had traveled by car to every state on the Continent at least two times. After being kicked out of 7th grade English classes several times for making sound effects while the class read stories, teacher Stan Zalas told him that what got him into trouble as a student would make him a wonderful actor. Little did Joe know at the time, Zalas was a graduate of the Pasadena Playhouse and a talented actor himself. He directed Joe through Junior High School (and later when Joe was an adult). From that point on, Joe was in at least two plays every year, but did not want to commit to choosing it as a profession because he didn't want the uncertain lifestyle of an actor. While studying Business at Loyola Marymount University, he was in many plays and acting classes and was accepted into an honor/tutorial program at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, studying privately with their professors. It was there he learned the integrity of the profession and could accept the lifestyle. After completing his degree in Theater, he continued to study with Jean Muir, Michael Shurtleff, and Stella Adler. Muir and Shurtleff became mentors to him. The ten years following college were filled with constant theater performances in Los Angeles, with little or no pay, and occasional co-starring roles, but mostly making his living as a carpenter. His first break was a Guest Starring role on LA Law, where he was seen by Jill Farren Phelps, Executive Producer of Santa Barbara. She contacted him to audition for the role of Gangster/Crossdesser. Bunny Tagliatti, and this changed his life. He got the part, and later won the Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Comedic Performance in Daytime Television. He has continued working ever since, appearing in television, feature films, and commercials.

Joe Marinelli
OccupationActor
Years active1984–present

Marinelli has had guest-starring roles on various syndicated night-time series, including NYPD Blue, Lethal Weapon, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Desperate Housewives, Numb3rs, and Victorious. He has also appeared in commercials and documentaries.

Marinelli is filming The Morning Show for Apple TV, where he plays the role of Director Donny Spagnoli. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, French hornist Jean Marinelli, and sons Vincent, a film editor and David, a music producer.

Filmography

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Year Title Role Director Notes
1984 Cagney & Lacey James Frawley TV series (1 episode)
1985 Carmen Joey Alexander Payne Short
Hill Street Blues Mortuary Guy Christian I. Nyby II TV series (1 episode)
1986 Stingray Guard #1 David Hemmings TV series (1 episode)
1987 L.A. Law Gordon Bass Sharron Miller TV series (1 episode)
1988-1990 Santa Barbara Bunny Tagliatti Rick Bennewitz, Rob Schiller, ... TV series (170 episodes)
Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Comic Actor: Daytime (1990)
1991 The Passion of Martin Father Alexander Payne
DEA Anthony Maracotta Jr. Peter Ellis TV series (1 episode)
Hunter Mickey Dolan Tony Mordente TV series (1 episode)
Equal Justice D'Alessio Barbara Amato TV series (1 episode)
Midnight Caller Tony D'Arco James Quinn TV series (1 episode)
They Came from Outer Space Dino Manze Gary Walkow TV series (1 episode)
1992 Mann & Machine Armand Mastroianni TV series (1 episode)
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures Giacomo Casanova Kristoffer Tabori TV series (1 episode)
1993 Guiding Light Pauly Roy B. Steinberg TV series (1 episode)
1995 Donor Unknown Paolo John Harrison TV movie
Models Inc. Stan Driscoll Linda Day TV series (1 episode)
1997 ER Joey Sarah Pia Anderson TV series (1 episode)
NYPD Blue Danny DeMarco Michael W. Watkins TV series (1 episode)
1999 General Hospital Sorel William Ludel TV series (1 episode)
The King of Queens Neal Rob Schiller TV series (1 episode)
2000 JAG Messers Tony Wharmby TV series (1 episode)
2002 NYPD Blue Gene Greaves Matthew Penn TV series (1 episode)
The District Cutter's Attorney Jim Charleston TV series (1 episode)
The West Wing Morris Vincent Misiano TV series (1 episode)
2004 Sideways Frass Canyon Pourer Alexander Payne
One Last Ride Carmine Tony Vitale
The Assassination of Richard Nixon Mel Samuels Niels Mueller
The Practice Rocco Jeannot Szwarc & Bill D'Elia TV series (2 episodes)
2005 Skylab Fred Masters Mark Landsman Short
2006 Cutting Room Vincent Ian Truitner
Love Made Easy Benito Peter Luisi
2007 Numbers Phillip Berelli John Behring TV series (1 episode)
2008 House Director David Straiton TV series (1 episode)
2009 Castle Jimmy Moran Bryan Spicer TV series (1 episode)
2010 Parenthood Professor Romano Lawrence Trilling TV series (1 episode)
2011 Victorious Chancellor's Minion Steve Hoefer TV series (1 episode)
Desperate Housewives Father David Warren TV series (1 episode)
2013 Ray Donovan Amelio Jeremy Podeswa TV series (1 episode)
2014 Legends Professor Terrence O'Hara TV series (1 episode)
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Adamo Dioli Ron Underwood TV series (1 episode)
2015 Switched at Birth Motorist Ron Lagomarsino TV series (1 episode)
2016 Insecure Jeweler Debbie Allen TV series (1 episode)
2018 Disjointed Salvatore Scarlotti Richie Keen TV series (1 episode)
Lethal Weapon Stan Clayne Crawford TV series (1 episode)
2019 Giuseppe's Opus Giuseppe Trevor Downs Short
The Morning Show Donny Spagnoli Mimi Leder, David Frankel, ... TV series (9 episodes)
2020 Hollywood Sidney Franklin Ryan Murphy TV series (1 episode)
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