
Acting
Born March 10, 1937 · New York, USA
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.

Analyze That
2002

Serving Sara
2002

Shallow Hal
2001

The Cure for Boredom
2001

See Spot Run
2001

Wannabes
2000

Mickey Blue Eyes
1999
The Making of a Mobster: 'Mickey Blue Eyes'
1999
Facade
1999

Analyze This
1999

Hitman's Run
1999

A Walk in the Park
1999

Jane Austen's Mafia!
1998

Looking For Lola
1997

Out to Sea
1997

American Strays
1996

Eraser
1996

Heaven's Prisoners
1996

Black Rose of Harlem
1996

The Crossing Guard
1995

Bullets Over Broadway
1994

The Firm
1993

In the Shadow of a Killer
1992

Ruby
1992

What She Doesn't Know
1992

Mobsters
1991

State of Grace
1990