Colombo was born in New York City, where his father was an early member of what was then the Profaci crime family.

In 1961, the First Colombo War unfolded, instigated by the kidnapping of four high-ranking members in the Profaci family by Joe Gallo.

Magliocco gave the contract to one of his top hit men, Colombo, who revealed the plot to its targets.

[1] His father, Anthony Colombo, was an early member of the Profaci crime family, which would eventually be renamed after his son.

[2] Joe Colombo attended New Utrecht High School in Brooklyn for two years, then dropped out to join the U.S. Coast Guard.

[2] Colombo owned a modest home in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and a five-acre estate in Blooming Grove, New York.

[7] Profaci's consigliere Charles "the Sidge" LoCicero negotiated with the Gallos and all the hostages were released peacefully.

[6] Larry Gallo survived a strangulation attempt in the Sahara club of East Flatbush by Carmine Persico and Salvatore "Sally" D'Ambrosio after a police officer intervened.

[13] Magliocco was assigned the task of killing Lucchese and Gambino, and gave the contract to one of his top hit men, Colombo.

The Commission spared Magliocco's life, but forced him to retire as Profaci family boss and pay a $50,000 fine.

"[14] On May 9, 1966, Colombo was sentenced to 30 days in jail for contempt by refusing to answer questions from a grand jury about his financial affairs.

That same month, his son Joseph Colombo Jr. was charged with melting down coins for resale as silver ingots.

[16] On June 29, 1970, 50,000 people attended the first Italian Unity Day rally in Columbus Circle in New York City.

Unlike other mob leaders who shunned the spotlight, Colombo appeared on television interviews, fundraisers and speaking engagements for the League.

However, after producer Albert Ruddy met with Colombo and agreed to excise the terms "Mafia" and "Cosa Nostra" from the film, the League cooperated fully.

[24] Ruddy would afterwards hold numerous meetings with Anthony, which led to assurance that the film would be based on individuals and would not defame or stereotype a group.

[26] On March 11, 1971, after being convicted of perjury for lying on his application to become a real estate broker, Colombo was sentenced to two and half years in state prison.

[1] On August 28, 1971, after two months at Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan, Colombo was moved to his estate at Blooming Grove.

[1] Colombo's funeral was held at St Bernadette's Catholic Church in Bensonhurst and he was buried in Saint John Cemetery in the Middle Village section of Queens.