Actor Joe Viterelli: biography, personal life, best films

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Joe Viterelli is an American actor who brilliantly succeeded in the role of gangsters. "Analyze This", "Analyze That", "The Firm", "Eraser" are the most famous films with his participation. In the first two films, the actor played the role of the gangster Studnya, a subordinate of the mafia Paul Witti. What else can you tell about this amazing person?

Joe Viterelli: the beginning of the journey

The future performer of the role of the Jelly was born in New York, a joyful event took place in March 1937. Joe Viterelli was born in a family of emigrants from Italy, spent the first years of his life in the Bronx. There were no actors among his relatives, so no one could have imagined that the boy, who did not stand out from the crowd of his peers, would one day become a star.

In his youth, Joe Viterelli tried many professions. He managed to be a driver, a loader, a carpenter, a dry-cleaner, quit and again looked for a job. At one time, a young man tried to do business, but did not succeed due to the lack of a commercial streak.

First roles

It is impossible to say whether Joe Viterelli would have become an actor if his friend Leo Penn had not advised him to try himself in this field. Director Penn appreciated the bright appearance of a friend and suggested that Viterelli would look great in gangster roles. Joe followed the wise advice, which he did not regret.

The aspiring actor was on set for the first time in 1990. Viterelli played a small role in the crime melodrama State of Frenzy, which tells about the everyday life of representatives of the New York criminal world. Then Joe starred in the films "Gangsters", "In the Shadow of a Killer", "Things She Doesn't Know About", "Bullets Over Broadway", "Guard at the Crossroads", "Prisoners of Heaven". Viterelli also appeared in the series "Police Commissioner", "Perfect Crimes".

His first roles differed little from each other, he constantly played petty gangsters, violators of the law. Fortunately, this did not bother Joe Viterelli at all, films and TV shows with his participation continued to be released on wide screens.

Filmography

In 1996, the action movie "The Eraser" was released, in which Joe played the role of the charismatic hero Tony, known as Fingers. The protagonist is a witness protection program employee who "erases" the past of people taken under protection. One day, he has to defend a woman whose testimony will help expose a gang that sells superweapons. This is not an easy task, because the witness is hunted by people who are ready for absolutely anything.

In the second half of the 90sViterelli Joe starred in the films "American Tramps", "Machine Gun Blues", "Looking for Lola", "Mafia!". Luck smiled at the actor when he was approved for the role of Jelly in the crime comedy Analyze This. The protagonist of the tape is an influential mafia Paul Vitti, whose name alone makes the criminal world of New York tremble with fear. One day, he is on the verge of a nervous breakdown, which damages his reputation. Subordinates convince the boss to seek the help of a psychoanalyst. The actor embodied the image of one of Vitti's most devoted henchmen, who is sincerely concerned about his fate.

Then Viterelli Joe starred in Death Valley, Blue Eyed Mickey, A Walk in the Park, Break Up, Agent Spot, Face to Face, Love Evil, "Scammers". He also played a small but bright and memorable role in the drama series The Strip.

What else to see?

The last time Viterelli was on set was in 2002, two years before his death. The actor again embodied the image of the Jelly, which is considered his most famous character. He starred in the sequel to the film "Analyze This", which was called "Analyze That". Spectators again meet with the influential and ruthless mafia Paul Vitti, whose henchman is Studen. The godfather is imprisoned on charges of serious crimes, he can only plan an escape. Of course, Vitti manages to get out of his cage, but again he needs the help of a psychoanalyst.

After the releasecrime comedy "Analyze That" was no longer filmed in the films of Joe Viterelli. The complete filmography of the star of American cinema includes about 30 cinematic works. Almost all of them are listed in this article.

Life behind the scenes

Viterelli is an actor who managed not only to find his life's work, but also to create a strong family. Joe's chosen one was Katerina Brennan, married to whom he spent many happy years. Katerina is a simple woman who has nothing to do with the world of cinema. The wife gave Viterelli five children, whom he always tried to protect from the annoying attention of journalists.

Death of an actor

Unfortunately, the actor left this world in January 2004, he was only 66 years old. The cause of death was a severe form of gastric hemorrhage, a complication after heart surgery. Joe died in a Las Vegas hospital before he could say goodbye to his loved ones. A moviegoer, the owner of the characteristic appearance of Viterelli was remembered as the best gangster of American cinema, a man-legend.