Veteran television actor Joe Marinelli, known for his memorable roles on soap operas and primetime series, died Sunday, June 22, in Burbank, California, at age 68 following a battle with stomach cancer.
Marinelli’s agent Julie Smith confirmed his death, noting that the actor had been diagnosed with throat and stomach cancer several years ago. His wife of nearly 34 years, musician Jean Marinelli, confirmed he died at their home in Burbank.
The Connecticut-born actor gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of cross-dressing mobster Bunny Tagliatti on NBC’s “Santa Barbara” from 1988 to 1990. The role earned him a Soap Opera Digest Award and established him as a memorable character actor in daytime television.
Born January 21, 1957, in Meriden, Connecticut, Marinelli moved to Southern California with his family in 1961 when he was four years old. He attended Arcadia High School in Los Angeles and Reno High School in Nevada before pursuing higher education at Loyola Marymount University and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.
After returning to the United States, Marinelli worked as a carpenter while performing in local Los Angeles theater productions. His television career began in 1984 with guest appearances on popular series including “Cagney & Lacey,” “Hill Street Blues,” and “L.A. Law.”
Executive producer Jill Farren Phelps discovered Marinelli during his work on “L.A. Law” and subsequently cast him as Bunny Tagliatti on “Santa Barbara.” The role required him to portray a gangster who frequently dressed in women’s clothing, a challenging character that Marinelli approached with depth and humor.
Marinelli reflected on the unique aspects of playing Bunny, explaining that the character allowed him to incorporate his sense of humor, love of creating different personas, and strong moral code. He noted that when the character experienced emotional pain, Bunny would turn to his female alter ego as a coping mechanism.
Following his departure from “Santa Barbara” in 1990, Marinelli continued his soap opera career with roles on CBS’s “Guiding Light” as bank robber Pauly Hardman in 1993, and ABC’s “General Hospital” as criminal Joseph Sorel from 1999 to 2001.
His television work extended beyond soap operas to include guest appearances on numerous primetime series. Marinelli appeared in episodes of “ER,” “The King of Queens,” “The West Wing,” “The Practice,” “House,” “Castle,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Parenthood,” “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” and “Ray Donovan.”
In recent years, Marinelli portrayed director Donny Spagnoli on Apple TV+’s “The Morning Show” starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. He appeared in 22 episodes across the series’ first three seasons from 2019 to 2023, and was part of the cast nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award for best dramatic ensemble in 2022.
Marinelli’s film work included appearances in Alexander Payne’s 2004 film “Sideways,” where he was credited as Frass Canyon Pourer, and “The Assassination of Richard Nixon.” Director Alexander Payne remembered Marinelli as having worked with him both in his first film school project 40 years ago and again in “Sideways.”
Mark Duplass, who played executive producer Chip Black on “The Morning Show,” praised Marinelli’s character and professional approach. Duplass described him as spiritually aligned despite their limited time working together.
Fellow actor and longtime friend Leigh J. McCloskey, who worked with Marinelli on “Santa Barbara,” posted a tribute on Facebook describing him as an exceptional acting partner, teacher, and philosophical friend. McCloskey praised Marinelli’s ability to reveal the human spirit through his storytelling and performances.
Throughout his career spanning more than four decades, Marinelli accumulated over 50 film and television credits. His most recent work included appearances on Paramount+’s “The Offer” and the series “Reboot.”
Marinelli is survived by his wife Jean, a French horn player who has performed with the Hollywood Bowl and for the FX series “Better Things,” and their two sons, Vincent and David. Vincent works as a film editor and writer, while David is a musician and songwriter.
Oscar-winning composer Finneas, who was a childhood friend of David Marinelli, remembered the actor as someone who provided countless stories, thoughtful questions, and life lessons. Finneas noted that even during times of personal uncertainty, Marinelli always seemed to understand others completely.