Joe Marinelli, the Cross-Dressing Bunny Tagliatti on ‘Santa Barbara,’ Dies at 68

by

Joe Marinelli, a seasoned character actor best known for his humorous and captivating portrayal of the cross-dressing mobster Bunny Tagliatti in the NBC daytime drama “Santa Barbara,” has passed away at the age of 68.

Marinelli passed away on Sunday, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, according to his wife of nearly 34 years, Jean Marinelli.

Or:

Marinelli died on Sunday, as confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter, according to his longtime wife, Jean Marinelli.

Or:

The wife of Marinelli, Jean Marinelli, informed The Hollywood Reporter that Marinelli passed away on Sunday.

Or:

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Marinelli’s wife of nearly 34 years, Jean Marinelli, revealed that he died on Sunday.

Or:

Jean Marinelli, who has been married to Marinelli for almost 34 years, told The Hollywood Reporter that he passed away on Sunday.

All these sentences convey the same information as the original one but in different ways and with slightly different word choices.

Following his role as Bernardo “Bunny” Tagliatti from 1988 to 1990, Marinelli took on the part of bank robber Pauly Hardman in the CBS daytime drama “Guiding Light” in 1993. From 1999 to 2001, he also played another criminal character, Joseph Sorel, on the ABC soap opera “General Hospital”.

Between 1988 and 1990, Marinelli starred as Bernardo “Bunny” Tagliatti. In 1993, he moved to the CBS daytime drama “Guiding Light”, where he played a bank robber named Pauly Hardman. From 1999 to 2001, he continued his criminal portrayals on the ABC soap opera “General Hospital”, playing the character Joseph Sorel.

Lately, I’ve stepped into the shoes of UBA director Donny Spagnoli for the initial three seasons of the gripping drama series, “The Morning Show,” streaming on Apple TV+.

Marinelli, who honed his acting skills at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, has appeared in films like “Sideways” (2004) and “One Last Ride,” as well as numerous TV shows. These include hits such as “Hunter,” “ER,” “The King of Queens,” “NYPD Blue,” and “The West Wing.” Additionally, he made guest appearances on shows like “The Practice,” “House,” “Castle,” “Desperate Housewives,” and “Ray Donovan.

While on the TV show “Santa Barbara“, Bunny developed a deep affection for Gina DeMott Capwell (Robin Mattson), found himself in a heated competition with Mason Capwell/Sonny Sprocket (Lane Davies and Terry Lester), purchased a club he named Bunny’s Lair, and nearly tied the knot with Vanessa DeFranco (Denise Gentile).

In a 2013 interview, Marinelli said he put a lot of himself into his most famous role.

Bunny gave me the freedom to bring along numerous aspects: my knack for humor, my passion for crafting diverse characters – both male and female – and a solid ethical framework,” he explained. “Much like many others, I am susceptible to emotional pain, and when Bunny was wounded, he would resort to his feminine alter ego.”

-or-

“Bunny permitted me to carry along various elements: my humor, my creativity in developing male and female characters, and a robust moral compass,” he stated. “Just as many people can be sensitive to hurt feelings, I found that when Bunny was injured, he would transform into his female identity.

1957 saw the birth of Joseph Anthony Marinelli in Meriden, Connecticut. In 1961, he and his family relocated to Southern California. He went to Arcadia High School, Reno High School (Nevada), and later Loyola Marymount University before embarking on his journey to RADA in London.

In the United States, Marinelli persisted in honing his acting skills under actress Jean Muir and casting director Michael Shurtleff (also known for his book Audition) and was quite active in local theater productions in Los Angeles. Simultaneously, he managed to earn a living as a carpenter.

From 1984 onwards, he appeared in episodes for shows like Cagney & Lacey, Paper Dolls, Hill Street Blues, and L.A. Law. During this time, Jill Farren Phelps, the executive producer of Santa Barbara, noticed him and offered him a role as Bunny. Notably, her brother was Marinelli’s supervisor as a carpenter.

As a gamer, I pondered over the lessons I might grasp by delving into this role. Turns out, trousers are a whole lot cozier compared to those tight nylons! Also, it seems folks think I’m pretty brave for taking on this character.

One day as someone was applying my makeup, a soft whisper echoed in my ear, ‘You seem quite at ease with your sexuality.’ Upon turning, the source had vanished, yet those words lingered in my mind.

He departed from Santa Barbara when his contract wasn’t extended, but he remarked, “That felt like a blessing, as casting directors throughout town had me constantly in demand. I would enter a room and people would begin to laugh and share that their spouse adored Bunny. I didn’t have a break from work for quite some time, and both Lorimar and Warner Bros., notably, were aggressively trying to establish my own show. The ensuing decade was pure joy.

Besides his wife, who is known for playing the French horn at the Hollywood Bowl and in the TV series Better Things, he leaves behind her two sons, Vincent and David.

On Facebook, Leigh McCloskey (Ethan Asher on Santa Barbara) paid tribute to his co-star.

You won’t find a kinder man or a more cherished friend than Joe Marinelli,” he penned down. “I was aware of Joe’s illness and I couldn’t help but respect his unwavering determination during what seemed like an incredibly challenging, almost insurmountable situation.

Joe was exceptional in every sense. He was an outstanding collaborator on stage, an insightful mentor, a thought-provoking confidant, an ardent advocate for humanity, and an extraordinary narrator who, with humor and depth, showcased the beauty of the human spirit in countless ways.

Read More

2025-06-25 00:25