Joe Marinelli, Soap Star on General Hospital and Santa Barbara, dead at 68
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Joe Marinelli, a veteran character actor best known for his roles on several major daytime soap operas, has died at the age of 68.
Known for his deep dedication to acting and a distinctive on-screen presence, Marinelli's work stretched across decades and genres.
His death comes as a loss not only to television fans but to the wider creative community who worked alongside him. His family and representatives confirmed his passing earlier this week.
Marinelli died on Sunday, June 22, in Burbank, California, following a battle with stomach cancer. According to his wife Jean Marinelli, who spoke with The Hollywood Reporter, he had also been living with throat cancer.
His longtime agent Julie Smith also confirmed the diagnosis to People, adding that he had been quietly managing both illnesses in recent years.
Despite his health challenges, he remained involved in film and television work until shortly before his death.
He was widely recognized for playing Bunny Tagliatti, a cross-dressing mobster, on NBC’s Santa Barbara, a role he began in 1988. He followed that up with appearances as Pauly Hardman on Guiding Light and Joseph Sorel on General Hospital from 1999 to 2001.
Outside of daytime dramas, he appeared in major series such as The West Wing, Castle, and Parenthood, and played a supporting role in Alexander Payne’s 2004 film Sideways.
More recently, he acted in Apple TV+’s The Morning Show, where he reunited with long-time collaborators.
His co-star Mark Duplass shared a tribute with THR, saying, “I really loved him and what he stood for. We didn’t spend 10,000 hours together, but we were spiritually aligned in many ways.”
Payne also remembered him, saying, “The great Joe Marinelli acted in my very first movie at film school 40 years ago and again in Sideways. Aside from being an extraordinary artist, he was a uniquely magnificent human being with a heart as big as the ocean.”
Marinelli was born in Meriden, Connecticut, on January 21, 1957, and moved to California with his family at the age of four.
Read also: Rock guitarist Mick Ralphs, known for his work with Mott the Hoople and Bad Company, dies at 81
He attended Arcadia High School in Los Angeles and later Reno High School in Nevada before enrolling at Loyola Marymount University.
His commitment to acting took him to London, where he studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).
After returning to the United States, he supported himself as a carpenter while building his acting resume in the L.A. theater scene.
His early television work included episodes of Cagney & Lacey, Paper Dolls, and Hill Street Blues, and his appearance on L.A. Law led to his casting in Santa Barbara.
Marinelli once reflected on his time portraying Bunny, telling Santa Barbara Online in 2013
“One thing I learned is that pants are a lot more comfortable than nylons. I also learned that other people thought I was very courageous. While getting my makeup put on one day, a woman’s voice whispered in my ear, ‘You must be very comfortable in your sexuality.’”
Leigh J. McCloskey, who acted alongside Marinelli on Santa Barbara, remembered him in a Facebook post.
"A sweeter man or a dearer friend you could not find than Joe Marinelli,” he wrote, calling him a “great acting partner, teacher, philosophical friend, passionate believer in people, and a storyteller extraordinaire.”
Also read: Remember Bobby Sherman? The teen idol turned hero leaves behind a legacy of heart and purpose
He went on to say, “[It] saddens me greatly to say goodbye to my old friend and his belief in the goodness, and even the possible greatness of the human adventure.” McCloskey closed with, “I’m glad I walked this earth with you Joe.”
Marinelli appeared in over 50 film and television productions across his career, often portraying intense or unconventional characters. In addition to his work on soaps and in primetime, he appeared on Ray Donovan, The Practice, Desperate Housewives, and The Offer, among many others.
He described the decade following his soap opera work as “absolute bliss,” having told Santa Barbara Online that he “didn’t stop working for a long time.”
His consistency and range earned him deep respect within the entertainment industry.
Read next: Lou Christie remembered: The golden falsetto behind "Lightnin’ Strikes" and a lifetime of song
Do you remember Joe Marinelli’s most iconic roles—or do you have a personal memory of seeing his work live on screen? We’d love to hear how his performances resonated with you. Share your thoughts in the comments below and join others in honoring his decades-long contribution to storytelling.
Known for his deep dedication to acting and a distinctive on-screen presence, Marinelli's work stretched across decades and genres.
His death comes as a loss not only to television fans but to the wider creative community who worked alongside him. His family and representatives confirmed his passing earlier this week.
Marinelli died on Sunday, June 22, in Burbank, California, following a battle with stomach cancer. According to his wife Jean Marinelli, who spoke with The Hollywood Reporter, he had also been living with throat cancer.
His longtime agent Julie Smith also confirmed the diagnosis to People, adding that he had been quietly managing both illnesses in recent years.
Despite his health challenges, he remained involved in film and television work until shortly before his death.
He was widely recognized for playing Bunny Tagliatti, a cross-dressing mobster, on NBC’s Santa Barbara, a role he began in 1988. He followed that up with appearances as Pauly Hardman on Guiding Light and Joseph Sorel on General Hospital from 1999 to 2001.
Joe Marinelli, Soap Star on General Hospital and Santa Barbara, dead at 68. Image source: RealityRealm / YouTube
Outside of daytime dramas, he appeared in major series such as The West Wing, Castle, and Parenthood, and played a supporting role in Alexander Payne’s 2004 film Sideways.
More recently, he acted in Apple TV+’s The Morning Show, where he reunited with long-time collaborators.
His co-star Mark Duplass shared a tribute with THR, saying, “I really loved him and what he stood for. We didn’t spend 10,000 hours together, but we were spiritually aligned in many ways.”
Payne also remembered him, saying, “The great Joe Marinelli acted in my very first movie at film school 40 years ago and again in Sideways. Aside from being an extraordinary artist, he was a uniquely magnificent human being with a heart as big as the ocean.”
Marinelli was born in Meriden, Connecticut, on January 21, 1957, and moved to California with his family at the age of four.
Read also: Rock guitarist Mick Ralphs, known for his work with Mott the Hoople and Bad Company, dies at 81
He attended Arcadia High School in Los Angeles and later Reno High School in Nevada before enrolling at Loyola Marymount University.
His commitment to acting took him to London, where he studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).
After returning to the United States, he supported himself as a carpenter while building his acting resume in the L.A. theater scene.
His early television work included episodes of Cagney & Lacey, Paper Dolls, and Hill Street Blues, and his appearance on L.A. Law led to his casting in Santa Barbara.
Marinelli once reflected on his time portraying Bunny, telling Santa Barbara Online in 2013
“One thing I learned is that pants are a lot more comfortable than nylons. I also learned that other people thought I was very courageous. While getting my makeup put on one day, a woman’s voice whispered in my ear, ‘You must be very comfortable in your sexuality.’”
Leigh J. McCloskey, who acted alongside Marinelli on Santa Barbara, remembered him in a Facebook post.
"A sweeter man or a dearer friend you could not find than Joe Marinelli,” he wrote, calling him a “great acting partner, teacher, philosophical friend, passionate believer in people, and a storyteller extraordinaire.”
Also read: Remember Bobby Sherman? The teen idol turned hero leaves behind a legacy of heart and purpose
He went on to say, “[It] saddens me greatly to say goodbye to my old friend and his belief in the goodness, and even the possible greatness of the human adventure.” McCloskey closed with, “I’m glad I walked this earth with you Joe.”
Marinelli appeared in over 50 film and television productions across his career, often portraying intense or unconventional characters. In addition to his work on soaps and in primetime, he appeared on Ray Donovan, The Practice, Desperate Housewives, and The Offer, among many others.
He described the decade following his soap opera work as “absolute bliss,” having told Santa Barbara Online that he “didn’t stop working for a long time.”
His consistency and range earned him deep respect within the entertainment industry.
Read next: Lou Christie remembered: The golden falsetto behind "Lightnin’ Strikes" and a lifetime of song
