Joe Dallesandro Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday Facts
Explore Joe Dallesandro net worth, his relationships, age/birthdate and birthday in this in-depth profile of the actor and pop culture icon.
Joe Dallesandro Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday
Joe Dallesandro is an American actor celebrated as a counter-culture icon for his films with Andy Warhol and Paul Morrissey, and later for his work in European and Hollywood cinema.
Introduction
Joseph Angelo D’Allesandro III—known professionally as Joe Dallesandro—was born on December 31, 1948, and counts among the most influential figures of underground cinema and pop-art culture. His career, spanning nudist modelling, Warhol’s Factory, European exploitation films and mainstream appearances, has generated an estimated net worth of approximately $5 million. In his personal life, Dallesandro has been married three times and is known to have fathered two children, with his longstanding marriage to Kimberly (“Kim”) being his publicly acknowledged current partner.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Joseph Angelo D’Allesandro III |
| Age/Birthdate | December 31, 1948 |
| Birthday | December 31 |
| Nationality | United States |
| Profession | Actor, Model, Pop-Icon |
| Estimated Net Worth | Approximately $5 million |
| Relationship Status | Married to Kimberly (“Kim”) Dallesandro (third marriage) |
| Known For | Warhol superstar roles (e.g., Flesh, Trash, Heat), sex-symbol status, pop-culture influence |
A Rebel’s Road to Cult Stardom
Born in Pensacola, Florida, Joe Dallesandro’s early years were marked by upheaval. His mother was a teenager at his birth and later incarcerated; he and his younger brother were placed in foster care and later lived with their father and grandparents in Queens. By his mid-teens he rebuffed schooling, collided with authority and turned to modelling and hustling to survive—a background that would lend authenticity to his later roles.
His break came when he aligned with the pop-art avant-garde of the late 1960s. While working as a doorman-factotum at Andy Warhol’s Factory, chance led him into proto-film work. He starred in Lonesome Cowboys (1968) and then the seminal Flesh (1968) directed by Paul Morrissey, playing a hustler—a role informed in part by his own street-wise past.
His looks, attitude and emergence at a moment of sexual revolution made him a symbol of a shifting cultural landscape. In Trash (1970) he found further prominence, and critics began to treat his roles as emblematic of youth and counter-culture.
Defining moments in Joe Dallesandro’s journey include:
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Early nude-modelling and underground photography work, leading to his employment at the Factory.
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Breakout film role in Flesh (1968), which transformed him into a cult icon.
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European film period in the 1970s, where he did genre-exploitation work in Italy and France (e.g., Andy Warhol’s Frankenstein, Je t’aime moi non plus).
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Mainstream Hollywood resurgence, including a role as mobster Lucky Luciano in The Cotton Club (1984).
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Recognition of legacy and LGBTQ-culture impact, including receiving the Teddy Award in 2009 for his contribution to queer cinema.
The Core Pillars of Joe Dallesandro’s Wealth
The financial foundation behind Joe Dallesandro’s net worth rests on several pillars:
| Source | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Acting & Modelling Career | Earnings from films (underground, European, Hollywood) and early nude/modelling work. |
| Brand & Image Licensing | Use of his image in pop culture (album covers, photography, merchandise). |
| Property & Asset Management | Reports suggest he managed a residential building in Los Angeles, providing a steady base. |
Together, these streams contributed to the approximate net worth estimate of $5 million.
Relationships & Personal Life
In the public eye, Joe Dallesandro’s personal life reflects as much the unconventional as his career. He identifies as openly bisexual and has had three marriages:
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First marriage, to Leslie (daughter of his father’s then-partner), in 1967; they had a son, Michael (born December 19, 1968), and divorced in 1969.
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Second marriage, to Theresa (“Terry”) in 1970; their son Joseph A. Dallesandro Jr. was born November 14, 1970; they divorced around 1978.
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Third marriage, to Kimberly (“Kim”) in 1987; this is his publicly noted current partner.
Key insights into Joe Dallesandro’s relationships and personal life:
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He has two sons: Michael and Joe Jr.
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He is grandfather to multiple grandchildren.
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His upbringing—foster care, juvenile delinquency, gang life—deeply influenced both his identity and the authenticity he brought to his screen personas.
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He remains married to Kim, with whom he shares his home and manages aspects of his brand and image.
Lifestyle, Assets & Interests
Beyond the spotlight, Joe Dallesandro leads a life that blends creative simplicity with cultural depth.
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He resides in Hollywood, Los Angeles, in a residential building he once managed—a setting he described in a rare interview.
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His artistic interests remain strong: he has expressed love for animation and graphic art, and has curated limited-edition prints of his photography and modelling history.
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He engages in philanthropic work, particularly for LGBTQ+ youth: in 2016 he donated memorabilia for gay-youth causes and publicly reflected on accountability and legacy.
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While not known for flashy car collections or ostentatious luxury, his lifestyle suggests a focus on cultural legacy, authenticity and selective visibility rather than high-glamour excess.
Net Worth Breakdown & Analysis
Estimating an iconic but somewhat niche figure like Joe Dallesandro involves interpretation across sources. The publicly referenced figure of approximately $5 million comes from aggregations of his film earnings, image licensing, and property holdings.
Here’s a rough breakdown (figures are illustrative):
| Category | Estimated Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Film & Acting Career | ≈ $3.0 million | CelebrityNetWorth estimate |
| Brand Deals & Image Licensing | ≈ $1.0 million | Pop-culture licensing, various sources |
| Investments & Property Assets | ≈ $1.0 million | Reported building management in LA |
Analysis:
While Dallesandro’s net worth is modest compared to mega-star actors, it speaks to a sustained, multifaceted career. His early underground notoriety created enduring image value; his European and Hollywood work widened his reach; and his property-based income helped stabilise his finances. His legacy status further enhances long-term value—through print sales, archival work, pop-culture references and collector interest—which suggests the potential for future growth beyond typical acting residuals.
Public Image, Legacy & Influence
Joe Dallesandro remains a figure of enduring cultural significance:
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He is widely regarded as “the most famous male sex symbol of American underground films” of his era.
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His presence in pivotal works of the sexual revolution and a male aesthetic shift—nude modelling, hustler roles, Warhol films—afford him a unique legacy in film studies, LGBTQ+ history and pop culture.
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His image surfaces repeatedly: a still of him from Flesh was used on the debut album cover of The Smiths; he was referenced in Walk on the Wild Side by Lou Reed.
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In his later life he has embraced reflection and mentorship, speaking candidly about his upbringing, responsibilities to younger generations and the significance of his non-mainstream beginnings.
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For scholars of independent film, queer cinema and pop culture, Dallesandro’s career offers a case study in how underground aesthetics can transition into enduring visual legacy.
Conclusion
The journey of Joe Dallesandro—from troubled youth to Warhol superstar to pop-culture icon—reflects the power of reinvention and the enduring value of authenticity. Born on December 31, 1948, his birthday marks not just a personal milestone but the evolution of a cultural figure. His estimated net worth of around $5 million underscores a career built on more than just box-office greatness: it rests on image, subculture, enduring global appeal and strategic asset management.
His relationships—three marriages, two children, grandchildren and a wife, Kimberly, who has been his partner in both life and brand—illustrate a personal life shaped by transformation, stability and creative collaboration.
Together, the narrative of Joe Dallesandro’s personal life, career and legacy invites reflection on how underground art can ripple into mainstream culture, how image becomes icon, and how personal history builds enduring public influence.
As “Little Joe” himself once observed, the people fascinated by his career were drawn to the authenticity beneath the surface. Today, his story remains an inspiring reminder that one can walk on the wild side—but still craft a meaningful legacy.
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