Writer, director, and producer Joe Giannone was born on November 17, 1946. He attended Richmond College in Staten Island. Giannone made a few short films prior to working on several full-length theatrical features. Best known for writing and directing the nifty slasher cult favorite "Madman," Joe also handled assistant director duties on both "The Clonus Horror" and the made-for-TV movie "Nightsongs" and was a consulting producer for the horror mystery thriller "The Wind." Moreover, Giannone participated on the commentary for the 2001 Anchor Bay DVD release of "Madman." Joe died of heart failure at age 60 on December 10, 2006.