The Joe Spinell Story (2001 Video)

Luke Walter: Self

Photos 

Quotes 

• Luke Walter : Joe got more and more out of control with his drinking and shenanigans. He didn't know when to stop. Once I told him: "Joe, pull it back. Take it easy." And would snap at me saying: "You're not my mother! Leave me alone!" I was getting tired of the same shit over and over again. Yeah, I had to take a break from it all. But Joe sorta got angry that I didn't want to hang around with him anymore. One time after that, I was at a party with my date, Joe in a very intoxicated way, saw me and yelled out, "Luke took a woman, and he's not my boyfriend anymore!"

• [on the death of Joe Spinell's mother in 1987] 

  William Lustig : Shortly after Joe's mother passed away, I saw even a further decline in Joe. He became someone who... I didn't even want to be around anymore. Because he was just so out of it.

  [cut to William James Kennedy] 

  William James Kennedy : I stayed with Joe in his apartment for a few months after his mother died. Every time we'd walk into the apartment after we were out for the day or night or whatever, Joe would say out loud into the apartment, "Hi Ma, were home."

  [cut to Luke Walter] 

  Luke Walter : When she passed on, it really did affect him. I mean it really, really did. Joe and I were sort of away from each other at that point in time. I made an effort to reconsile. I showed up at the funeral and payed my respects. Joe thanked me and everyone for attending and lending him emotional support. But... I don't think I ever saw Joe happy again after that.

  [cut to Jason Miller] 

  Jason Miller : With Joe being a Mama's Boy all his life and to have her die... it's something I belive that Joe could never cure himself of the pain over his mother dying.

  [cut to Grace Raimo] 

  Grace Raimo : Joey's health got worse after our mother died. I lived only a block away with my husband and after that really more or less took care of him. It was really tough for me. First as a teenager dealing with my very sick father, and now with my younger brother Joe... with almost the exact same health problems.

• [on Joe's last days] 

  Luke Walter : I was with him the night before on January 12 where we went to Gallagher's, his favorite gentlemen's club down the street from his apartment building to watch the girlies dance. After a while I told him, "Joe, we've been here for a couple of hours. It's time to go home." I walked with him back to his apartment building, saw him in, and then walked to my car to drive back to my own apartment building. The next day at late afternoon, I received this phone call from some guy I didn't know who told me... Joe Spinell's dead. Now, I though it was some young kid playing a joke and I told him, "Joe's not dead. Don't fool around." The man on the phone said, "I'm not fooling around." I said, "well to be blunt, who the fuck are you?" The man on the phone said, "this is NYPD Officer Carl O'Brian and..." I cut him off saying, "look man, don't break my balls!" The guy said, "hold on". A few seconds later Joe's sister Grace came on the phone and she just said, "yeah Luke, he's dead."

• Luke Walter : One day, Joe and I were at Friar Tuck's talking about his work and Joe told be about his producer friend, Elliot Kastner, and Joe said, that "I think that Elliot wants to give a five-picture deal with Paramount" What do you think?" I said, "well, Joe that's great. You're finally on your way. I think a five picture deal with Elliott is a wonderful career opportunity. Then Joe said, "well, I have a little problem." I said, "well, what's the problem? What could you be worried about?" Joe then said, "well, they're these two young kids I told you about, Bill Lustig and Andy Garroni... they want me to do this horror film for them called Maniac. Should I take the five picture deal in Hollywood or help Bill and Andy make this movie?" I told him, "Joe, you decide what you want. There is no wrong choice. If you really belive in those two kids, you should make that horror movie."