Actor Joe Viterelli: biography, personal life, best films

Joe Viterlly - American actor, who brilliantly succeeded in the role of gangsters. Analyze it, Analyze it, Firma, Eraser - the most famous films with his participation. In the first two scenes, the actor played the role of gangster Stunny, subordinate to the mafia of Paul Vitti. What else can you tell about this amazing person?

Joe Vitelli: the beginning of the road

The future performer of the role of Studna was born in New York, there was a joyful event in March 1937. Joe Viterelli was born into a family of immigrants from Italy, spent his first years in the Bronx. Among his relatives there were no actors, so no one could have guessed that the boy, who was not distinguished from the crowd of peers, would one day become a star.

In his youth Joe Viterlly tried many professions. He managed to visit a driver, a loader, a carpenter, a dry cleaners employee, quit and again looked for work. At one time a young man tried to do business, but did not succeed because of the lack of a commercial vein.

First roles

It can not be said if Joe Vitelli became an actor, if his friend Leo Penn advised him not to try himself in this field. Director Penn appreciated the bright appearance of his friend and suggested that Vitelli would look great in the roles of gangsters. Joe followed a wise advice, which he did not regret.

For the first time a novice actor was on the set in 1990. Vitelli played a small role in the criminal melodrama "The state of frenzy", which tells about the everyday life of the representatives of the New York criminal world. Then Joe starred in the paintings "Gangsters", "In the Shadow of the Killer", "What She Does not Know", "Bullets Over Broadway", "The Guard at the Crossroads," "The Captive of Heaven." Also Vitelli appeared in the series "Police Commissioner", "Ideal Crime".

His first roles differed little from each other, he constantly played small gangsters, violators of the law. Fortunately, this absolutely did not bother Joe Vitelli, the films and serials with his participation continued to appear on wide screens.

Filmography

In 1996, the militant "Eraser" came out, in which Joe played the role of the charismatic hero Tony, known under the nickname Fingers. The protagonist is an employee of the witness protection program who "erases" the past of people taken under protection. Once he has to protect a woman whose testimony will help to expose the gang selling superweapons. This is not an easy task, because the witness is hunted by people who are ready absolutely for anything.

In the second half of the 90s, Vitelli Joe starred in the films "American tramps", "Machine-gun blues", "In search of Lola", "Mafia!". Luck smiled to the actor when he was approved for the role of Student in the criminal comedy "Analyze this." The protagonist of the tape is the influential Mafiosi Paul Vitti, whose one name makes the criminal world of New York tremble with fear. Once he finds himself on the verge of a nervous breakdown, which harms his reputation. The subordinates convince the boss to seek help from a psychoanalyst. The actor embodied the image of one of the most devoted servants of Witti, who is genuinely concerned about his fate.

Then, Vitelli Joe starred in the films Death Valley, Blue-eyed Mickey, Walk in the Park, Break Up, Spot Agent, Face to Face, Love Is Evil, Scammers. He also performed a small, but bright and memorable role in the drama series "Strip".

What else to see?

The last time Viterelli was on the set in 2002, it happened two years before his death. The actor once again embodied the image of Stunny, who is considered the most famous of his character. He starred in the sequel to the picture "Analyze this", which was called "Analyze that." Spectators again meet with the influential and ruthless Mafiosi Paul Vitti, whose assistant is Studen. The Godfather is imprisoned for serious crimes, he has only to plan an escape. Of course, Witti manages to get out of his cage, but he again needs the help of a psychoanalyst.

After the release of the criminal comedy "Analyze that" was no longer starred in the films of Joe Viterlly. The complete filmography of the American movie star includes about 30 kinematorphic works. Almost all of them are listed in this article.

Life Behind the Scenes

Vitelli is an actor who managed not only to find the cause of his life, but also to create a strong family. The chosen one was Joe Katerina Brennan, married to whom he spent many happy years. Katerina - a simple woman, not related to the world of cinema. The wife gave Vitelli five children, whom he always tried to protect from intrusive attention of journalists.

Death of the actor

Unfortunately, the actor left this world in January 2004, he was only 66 years old. The cause of death is a severe form of stomach hemorrhage, a complication after a heart surgery. Joe died in a hospital in Las Vegas, before he had time to say goodbye to his family. The movie owner of the characteristic appearance of Vitelli was remembered as the best gangster of American cinema, a man of legend.