Joe Marinelli dies at 68 after cancer battle, remembered for Santa Barbara and General Hospital roles

Joe Marinelli, a veteran character actor known for his work in daytime soap operas, has died at 68. He was best known for roles in shows like Santa Barbara and General Hospital. Marinelli passed away on June 22, 2025, in Burbank, California, following a battle with stomach and throat cancer. His wife, Jean Marinelli, confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter, while his agent Julie Smith also shared the news with CNN.

Marinelli rose to prominence playing Bunny Tagliatti, a cross-dressing mobster, on NBC’s Santa Barbara from 1988 to 1990. He later took on roles as Pauly Hardman in Guiding Light and Joseph Sorel in General Hospital from 1999 to 2001. In addition to daytime television, Marinelli built a wide-ranging career in primetime and film. He appeared in series such as ER, House, The West Wing, Castle, Ray Donovan, Desperate Housewives, and The Morning Show, as well as in Alexander Payne’s 2004 film Sideways.

Director Alexander Payne remembered Marinelli fondly, calling him “an extraordinary artist” and “a uniquely magnificent human being.” Actor Mark Duplass, his co-star on The Morning Show, said, “We didn’t spend 10,000 hours together, but we were spiritually aligned in many ways.” Leigh J. McCloskey, a Santa Barbara castmate and longtime friend, described him as “a storyteller extraordinaire” and “a passionate believer in people.”

Born on January 21, 1957, in Meriden, Connecticut, Marinelli moved to Southern California as a child. He studied at Loyola Marymount University and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London before beginning his acting career in Los Angeles.

He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Jean, and their two sons, Vincent and David. Musician Finneas, a childhood friend of David, reflected on Marinelli’s legacy: “Even at times when I did not fully understand myself, Joe always seemed to.”