Joe Marinelli, Beloved General Hospital and Santa Barbara Veteran, Has Died at 68

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Joe Marinelli, best known for portraying Bunny Tagliatti on Santa Barbara from 1988 to 1990, Pauly Hardman on Guiding Light in 1993, and Joseph Sorel on General Hospital from 1999 to 2001, has died at the age of 68.

Born on January 21, 1957, in Meriden, Connecticut, Marinelli had been facing health challenges in recent years. Despite this, he continued working and most recently appeared on Apple TV+’s The Morning Show, starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, where he played Donny Spagnoli, the fictional show’s director. In 2022, Marinelli and his castmates were honored with a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

Joe Marinelli pursued his passion for acting by studying at Loyola Marymount University and further honing his craft at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. His career began on stage, performing in numerous theater productions, before making his first prime-time television appearance in a 1984 episode of Cagney & Lacey. That same year, he landed roles in two episodes of Paper Dolls, which led to further TV credits on shows like Hill Street Blues and L.A. Law. It was reportedly the latter role that caught the attention of Santa Barbara executive producer Jill Farren Phelps, who cast him as the flamboyant and memorable Bunny Tagliatti — a cross-dressing gangster whose scenes with Robin Mattson’s Gina quickly became beloved by fans. Marinelli’s performance earned him the 1990 Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Comedic Performance in Daytime Television.

Phelps would later reunite with Marinelli during her stints at both Guiding Light and General Hospital. On GL, Marinelli played a short-lived but impactful role as Pauly, a vengeful bank robber with a grudge against Ross Marler. On GH, he portrayed mobster Joseph Sorel, who went up against Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and ultimately met his end at the hands of his daughter, Angel.

Beyond daytime television, Marinelli built a strong résumé in primetime as well. He appeared in acclaimed series such as ER, The West Wing, and Desperate Housewives. His film credits included roles in Sideways, Skylab, The Assassination of Richard Nixon, and One Last Ride. Throughout his career, he remained active in both television and theater.

Remembering Joe Marinelli

Actor Leigh McCloskey — who portrayed both the villainous Dr. Zach Kelton and his look-alike Ethan Asher on Santa Barbara — paid tribute to Marinelli in a heartfelt Facebook post. Sharing a photo with Marinelli and fellow SB alum A Martinez (ex-Cruz), McCloskey wrote:

“A sweeter man or dearer friend you could not find than Joe Marinelli. I knew Joe was sick and so admired his indefatigable spirit throughout what sounded like a very difficult, if not impossible, ordeal. Joe was a champion. He was a great acting partner, teacher, philosophical friend, passionate believer in people, and a storyteller extraordinaire who revealed the beauty of the human spirit through both humor and depth.”

McCloskey went on to reflect on Marinelli’s vibrant family life, saying:

“He had a beautiful, incredibly talented family that reflected his love of music and art. With his amazing wife Jean, they always radiated kindness and generosity. Saying goodbye is painful. Joe believed in the goodness—and even the greatness—of the human experience. I’m grateful to have walked this earth with you, Joe. Godspeed, old friend. May your spirit soar and return to the wonder you came from. You shared your light with us. Now, you’ve gone home. We’ll see you on the other side. With love, Leigh, Carla, Caytlyn, Brighton, and Olandar.”

Soap Opera Digest extends its deepest sympathies to Joe Marinelli’s family, friends, former colleagues, and fans during this difficult time.

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