Joe Marinelli, a journeyman TV actor whose long career included stints on Santa Barbara and General Hospital, died Sunday. He was 68.
His passing was confirmed on Facebook by friend Leigh J. McCloskey, who wrote, “a sweeter man or a dearer friend you could not find than Joe Marinelli. Joe was a champion. He was a great acting partner, teacher, philosophical friend, passionate believer in people, and a storyteller extraordinaire that with laughter and depth revealed the human spirit so beautifully and in so many different ways.”
From 1988 to 1990, Marinelli played cross-dressing gangster Bunny Tagliatti on Santa Barbara. In 1999, he appeared on General Hospital as Joseph Sorel.
Marinelli’s vast TV credits include stints on Cagney & Lacey, Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, Hunter, Midnight Caller, ER, The King of Queens, The District, NYPD Blue, The West Wing, The Practice, House, Castle and Parenthood. His most recent stint was as UBA director Donny Spagnoli on Apple’s The Morning Show.
In his Facebook tribute to Marinelli, McCloskey went on to write that Marinelli “has a beautiful, incredibly talented family that reflects his love of music and art and with his amazing wife Jean, together they always radiated generous and noble hearts. It saddens me greatly to say goodbye to my old friend and his belief in the goodness, and even the possible greatness of the human adventure. I’m glad I walked this earth with you Joe. Godspeed old friend, may your spirit soar beyond the stars and reacquaint you with the greater wonder from which you came. You shared your de-light with us, and now return home. We’ll see you on the other side of forever, in light and with your legacy in our hearts.”
