Anthony Spinelli (February 21, 1927 – May 29, 2000) was an American mainstream actor and producer, who later became a pornographic film director.
Spinelli was born Sam Weinstein, to a Jewish family. He was the brother of actor Jack Weston and the father of porn director Mitchell Spinelli.
Under his original stage name, Sam Weston, he produced the mainstream films Gun Fever (1958) and One Potato, Two Potato (1964). As an actor, he appeared on several TV shows in the 1960s, including Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Green Acres, and That Girl. After those films, he was unable to find further work in mainstream entertainment, and became an encyclopedia salesman to support his family. After seeing a pornographic film in an adult theater, he decided to try his hand in the genre, starting with Diary of a Nymph (1971).
Spinelli produced and directed scores of pornographic films, occasionally also appearing in non-sex roles, usually uncredited. From the mid-1980s, most of his work was direct to video.Anthony Spinelli, IMDb, retrieved 30 September 2023. David Jennings, a cinematographer and director who worked with Spinelli during this phase of his career, describes him as a "master" and an "actor's director":David Jennings, Skinflicks: The Inside Story of the X-Rated Video Industry (Bloomington, Indiana: First Book Library, 2000), Chapter 9.
Jennings says Spinelli focused on the "meticulous direction" of dialogue scenes, sometimes leaving sex scenes to be completed by his assistants. Nothing to Hide is one of Spinelli's most highly regarded X-rated films, ranking number two in a 2001 list of all-time greatest adult movies published by AVN (Adult Video News)."The 101 Greatest Adult Tapes of All Time", AVN (Adult Video News), August 2001. Retrieved 30 September 2023 from Wayback Machine.
Filmography Selected credits only. Year Title Role Notes1962 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Taxi Driver Season 1 Episode 13: "Bonfire"1964 The Patsy Man on Phone Uncredited1964 One Potato, Two Potato Johnny Hruska Producer1971 Sexual Therapist Doctor Voice, uncredited1971 Journal of Love Dr. Mariner Voice, uncredited1972 Diary of a Bed The Bed Voice, uncredited1974 Youthful Sexual Madness Narrator Voice, uncredited1976 Night Caller Policeman at Door Voice, uncredited1977 Sex World Director1978 Easy Man in Bar Director1979 China Sisters Man on Tape Recorder Voice, uncredited1980 Talk Dirty to Me Herbie Director1980 Skin on Skin J.J.'s Father Director1981 Vista Valley PTA Friend in the Bar Director1981 Exposed Max Green 1981 Nothing to Hide Herbie Director1981 Between the Sheets Bed Voice; director1983 Dixie Ray: Hollywood Star Hotel Clerk Uncredited; director1990 Sizzle Director
Awards 1985 AVN Award – Best Director, Film (Dixie Ray, Hollywood Star) 1993 AVN Award – Best Director, Video (The Party) XRCO Hall of Fame inductee AVN Hall of Fame inductee
References
External links