Unlike his brother Carlos, the "Godfather" of the New Orleans Mafia, Joseph Jr. was born in the United States in New Orleans, Louisiana after his family's arrival to North America. He was the seventh of nine children and the only sibling to follow his brother into the New Orleans crime family. Marcello, Jr. co-owned the famous Elmwood Plantation, Broussard's, La Louisiane, and Lenfant's Restaurants with long-time friend Nick Mosca. Joseph Paul Jr. was husband of Anastasia "Butsy" Cuccia Marcello and father of Louise, Joseph Paul III, and Samuel Joseph Marcello. He died of natural causes in 1999.