Joe Viterelli, Jelly From 'Analyze This,' Dies

[Barad Simith]

http://www.nbc10.com/entertainment/2869341/detail.html

Joe Viterelli, Jelly From 'Analyze This,' Dies

8:33 a.m. EST February 24, 2004



Word has just surfaced that noted character actor Joe Viterelli has died.

Viterelli, who often played mobsters in films, died of complications from heart surgery in Las Vegas on Jan. 29. He was 66.

A character actor noted for his pug-faced features and stocky frame, Viterelli played henchman Jelly in the Robert DeNiro-Billy Crystal mob comedies "Analyze This" and "Analyze That."

A New York City native, Viterelli went to Los Angeles in the late 1970s and stumbled into acting. He became friends with director Leo Penn, who thought Viterelli's tough-guy features would play well in movies and television.

Viterelli first declined, but the director's son, Sean Penn, persuaded him to appear in the 1990 gangster tale "State of Grace."

The role established him as a dependable character actor, and he went on to appear in dozens of films including "Bullets Over Broadway," the Sean Penn-directed "The Crossing Guard," "Eraser," "Mickey Blue Eyes" and "Shallow Hal." His last film was 2002's "Analyze That."

Viterelli also recently appeared in a commercial for Staples that debuted during the Super Bowl.

[rocktivity]

1. Character actor

That's what they call you when you're not young, skinny, or cute enough to be considered a sex symbol.

Blessed are the character actors, for they shall inherit the dream factory.


rocknation

[R Hickey]

2. He really looked "puffy" in the Staples commercial

He didn't look healthy, and when I watched the commercial, I wondered to myself how long he was going to live. But, he was already dead.