Veteran television actor Joe Marinelli, known for his roles on soap operas “General Hospital” and “Santa Barbara” as well as Apple TV+’s “The Morning Show,” died on June 22, 2025, in Burbank, California. He was 68 years old.
Marinelli’s wife of 34 years, Jean Marinelli, confirmed his death to the media. His agent, Julie Smith, indicated that the actor had been battling throat and stomach cancer, having been diagnosed several years ago.
The actor was born on January 21, 1957, in Meriden, Connecticut, and moved to Southern California at age four. 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 early television breakthrough came in 1984 with roles on popular series including “Cagney & Lacey,” “Hill Street Blues,” and “L.A. Law.”
Marinelli gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of cross-dressing gangster Bunny Tagliatti on NBC’s “Santa Barbara” from 1988 to 1990. The role earned him a Soap Opera Digest Award and showcased his versatility as a performer. In a 2013 interview with Santa Barbara Online, Marinelli reflected on the character, noting that the role allowed him to combine his sense of humor with his love of creating different characters.
Following his success on “Santa Barbara,” Marinelli continued his soap opera career with a role as bank robber Pauly Hardman on CBS’s “Guiding Light” in 1993. He later portrayed criminal Joseph Sorel on ABC’s “General Hospital” from 1999 to 2001.
Throughout his career spanning more than four decades, Marinelli accumulated over 50 film and television credits. His extensive television work included appearances on “ER,” “The King of Queens,” “The West Wing,” “The Practice,” “House,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Parenthood,” “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” and “The Offer.”
Most recently, Marinelli appeared as director Donny Spagnoli in 22 episodes of Apple TV+’s “The Morning Show” starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. He worked on the series from its debut in 2019 through its third season in 2023. The cast received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for best dramatic ensemble in 2022.
Marinelli also appeared in feature films, including a role in Alexander Payne’s 2004 film “Sideways,” where he was credited as Frass Canyon Pourer. Director Payne mourned the actor as an extraordinary artist, noting that Marinelli had acted in his very first film school project 40 years earlier and again in “Sideways.” Payne described him as a uniquely magnificent human being with a heart as big as the ocean.
Mark Duplass, Marinelli’s castmate on “The Morning Show,” expressed his admiration for the late actor, stating that he really loved him and what he stood for. Duplass noted that while they didn’t spend countless hours together, they were spiritually aligned in many ways.
Fellow actor and longtime friend Leigh J. McCloskey shared a tribute on Facebook, describing Marinelli as someone who knew no dearer friend could be found. McCloskey noted that he knew Marinelli was sick and admired his indefatigable spirit throughout what sounded like a very difficult ordeal.
McCloskey characterized Marinelli as a great acting partner, teacher, philosophical friend, passionate believer in people, and storyteller extraordinaire who revealed the human spirit beautifully through laughter and depth. He expressed sadness at saying goodbye to his old friend and his belief in the goodness and possible greatness of the human adventure.
Marinelli is survived by his wife Jean and their two sons, Vincent and David. Musician Finneas, a childhood friend of son David, recalled being a beneficiary of Marinelli’s countless great stories, thoughtful questions, and numerous life lessons when he was 14 years old.
