Joe Marinelli, a seasoned television actor renowned for his roles on soap operas like General Hospital and Santa Barbara, as well as Apple TV+’s The Morning Show, has passed away at age 68, confirmed his agent Julie Smith to Entertainment Weekly.
Marinelli’s wife of nearly 34 years, musician Jean Marinelli, shared that he died on Sunday, June 22, in Burbank after battling stomach cancer.
He was well-known for playing Bunny Tagliatti, a cross-dressing gangster on Santa Barbara from 1988 to 1990, and Joseph Sorel on General Hospital from 1999 to 2001. He also appeared on Guiding Light and had over 50 credits spanning primetime TV and film.
Among his notable roles, Marinelli appeared in 22 episodes of The Morning Show, starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. He portrayed Donny Spagnoli, the news director, from the show’s debut in 2019 through its third season in 2023. The cast earned a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Ensemble in 2022.
Since 1984, Marinelli’s career included appearances on popular series such as Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, ER, The King of Queens, The West Wing, The Practice, Desperate Housewives, House, Insecure, and The Offer. His film credits include Sideways and The Assassination of Richard Nixon.
His close friend and fellow actor, Leigh J. McCloskey, paid tribute on Facebook, calling Marinelli “one of the kindest and dearest friends” and praising his unyielding spirit during a tough illness.
McCloskey described Marinelli as “a remarkable acting partner, mentor, philosophical companion, and a master storyteller who captured the human spirit with humor and depth.”
He added, “It deeply saddens me to say goodbye to my dear friend and his unwavering faith in the goodness and greatness of the human journey. I’m grateful to have shared this life with you, Joe. May your spirit soar beyond the stars and reunite with the wonders from which you came. You brought light to our lives, and now you return home. We’ll meet again on the other side of forever, with your legacy forever in our hearts.”
