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Joe Marinelli
1957 - 2025
Joe Marinelli
1957 - 2025
Obituary
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BORN
1957
DIED
2025
Joe Marinelli Obituary
Joe Marinelli, actor known for playing the cross-dressing gangster Bunny Tagliatti on "Santa Barbara," died June 22, 2025, of stomach cancer in Burbank, California at the age of 68.
Marinelli's character was a hit enough with audiences that he appeared in over 170 episodes of the soap, and in 1990 won a Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Comic Actor, cementing himself a place in soap history. He made the rounds through many other shows, including "General Hospital," "Desperate Housewives," and "NYPD Blue," before landing in his final role: director Donny Spagnoli on the Apple+ series "The Morning Show," for which he was nominated alongside the rest of the cast for a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble.
"We lost a great one. Joe Marinelli lived in rare air. Generous performer, beautiful human, wide-eyed positivist," actor Mark Duplass said on the social media platform X. "I got to know him shooting 'The Morning Show.' We taught classes together. We talked about nothing and everything in between takes. We cut right to the important stuff on Day 1 of meeting. I will miss him dearly. And I will try to live my life a bit more like he lived his. We all should."
By Eric San Juan
(Image: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
5 Entries
Carole (McCallum) McEdwards
July 3, 2025
I met Joe at LA Nicola´s the first time he met my roommate Jean Roth (Marinelli). Joe had a real spark and soon he was showing up at Jean´s house, where I was living at the time. Joe and I had many deep discussions about many topics around idk just being a human. He was a generous, deep thinker and very funny. Joe was honest, and real, a person who was passionate about others´ welfare. He really cared about everyone he came in contact with, he was so unselfish. I was so happy that Jean found him. The wedding was very beautiful and FUN just like Joe and Jean. Farewell Joe see you after here.
Nancy Seruto
June 30, 2025
Joe and I went to the same grammar school, a year apart. When someone dared me to kiss a boy on the playground, I ran up and kissed Joe, and then ran away. He continued to bring that up every time I saw him, the first girl that ever kissed him.
I adored him. He was the most lovable person, so warm and joyful. His love for his family was boundless, and powerful enough to last forever. May it carry you through when missing him seems unbearable.
Love to you all, an so sorry you have lost him much too soon.
AnnaDale Sullivan
June 28, 2025
Dear Marinelli family
I met Joe,and all your family,at a Seruto family reunion about 10 years ago. I´ll always remember his warmth, wonderful stories,joy of life and love of family. I knew I´d met a remarkable person.
My family and I are truly sorry for your loss.
God Bless you ,
Annie (Seruto)Sullivan
Mr. Jr.
June 26, 2025
My condolences.
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Margo Cooper
June 25, 2025
My sincere condolences to all who knew and loved him. May he rest in peace.
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