Various henchmen, allies and "business associates" of the Corleone family.
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Consigliere
Genco Abbandando
Portrayed By: Franco Cosaro (The Godfather note ), Frank Sivero (Part II)
in his youth
"If I had a wartime consigliere, a Sicilian, I wouldn't be in this shape! Pop had Genco, look what I got!"
— Sonny Corleone, unfavorably comparing Tom Hagen to Vito's second
The first consigliere to the Corleone family, and a friend of Vito's from childhood. The Corleone's front company Genco Pura Olive Oil is named for him.
- Ascended Extra: While relegated to a single deleted scene in the first film, he becomes a more prominent character in Vito's story in Part II.
- The Consigliere: The Corleone family's first.
- Heterosexual Life-Partners: With Vito in Part II. The two become fast friends when Vito comes to work for Genco's father, and when Don Fannuci forces Vito out so Fannuci's nephew can be hired, Genco offers to steal for Vito to help him.
- Informed Ability: He doesn't really act like much of a chief advisor, and seems to let Vito do most of the thinking; in the deleted scene from the first movie, he clearly idolizes the Don and almost seems to think he has supernatural powers. But the otherwise super-capable Tom Hagen is compared very unfavorably to him in terms of being a "wartime consigliere".
- Tough Act to Follow: In-universe, his abilities as a 'wartime consigliere' makes Tom's job more difficult because Tom has to deal with a Mob War right after Genco dies.
Underboss
Al Neri
"Look! I'd love to smack Joey Zasa and then whack the bag, Okay? But it's impossible. He's always mingling with people. In front of TV cameras, in his own neighborhood, it's impossible."
"I trust these men with my life, Senator. To ask them to leave would be an insult."
— Michael Corleone, referring to Tom Hagen and Al Neri
Portrayed By: Richard Bright
A former NYPD cop expelled for Police Brutality, he was taken in by the Corleones as a hitman. Eventually became Michael's right-hand man and his most trusted bodyguard and advisor.
- Ascended Extra: By the second film, he becomes one of Michael's most trusted subordinates. And by the third, he's next to Connie in terms of power in the Family.
- Boring, but Practical: He carries out his job with strict professionalism and disconnection.
- Co-Dragons: With Rocco, for Michael.
- Consummate Professional: Neri does his job with minimal bullshit, and doesn't seem to take any pleasure out of violence and mayhem.
- Cowboy Cop: What got him fired from the Force and into the Family.
- Distracted by the Sexy: One of his few emotive moments is when he's checking out the dancers in Vegas.
- The Dragon: He and Rocco take over as Michael's main enforcers and gunmen. Al also survives the second film unlike Rocco which leaves him as the sole Dragon.
- The Dreaded: One assumes this after Tom says of him to Michael "Now you've got your Luca."
- Even Evil Has Standards: A small moment, but you can see that he looks down after Michael orders him to kill Fredo with just a look.
- Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: He doesn't understand why his wife became terrified of him because of his brutality, and chose to take her distances from and eventually divorce with him, believing that it was unjustified due to him having never hit her.
- Genius Bruiser: Genius might be an overstatement, but Al is very intelligent and Michael seeks and trusts his input.
- Impersonating an Officer: He does this in order to assassinate Barzini.
- In the books, Al Neri was previously an actual police officer until he killed a perpetrator while on the job rather than arresting him. The Corleones took a look at the circumstances and decided to provide him a high-powered defence to get him off the hook at the later trial, after which he came to work for the family.
- Kick the Dog: To blackmail Senator Geary in Part II the Mob kills an innocent hooker and positions it near him as he sleeps to make him think he did it. It's implied that Al was the one who killed her.
- Lawman Gone Bad: In the novel, he is revealed to have been an incorruptible but ferocious cop, until he beat a pimp to death for harming a little girl and winds up convicted of manslaughter. Michael gets him off with a suspended sentence and in gratitude, he becomes Michael's most trusted bodyguard and Professional Killer.
- Mook Promotion: He goes from a "Button Man" to Michael's trusted caporegime.
- More Despicable Minion: He's a former cop with a violent streak, dismissed for Police Brutality after he had beaten a suspect to death, who harbors racist ideas and will have even fewer restrictions on his innate violence now he belongs to the mob. Michael Corleone looks nice compared to him.
- No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Loosely based on Carmine Galante, a vicious hitman and underboss to Joe Bonanno.
- Police Brutality: When he was a cop, he frequently patrolled the streets with a large flashlight which he used to great effect, either cracking up the foreheads of Italian youths that ran with street gangs or shattering the windshields of diplomats who showed no regard for traffic laws.
- Punch-Clock Villain: Unlike Luca Brasi, Al Neri seems to view his job as a Professional Killer as any other job, and isn't overly sadistic or vicious.
- The Quiet One: Says nothing in the first film, and only a few scattered lines in the second and third films.
- The Stoic:
- In the first, the closest thing he exhibits to an emotion is concentration when preparing to kill Barzini. He also visibly smiles for a brief second when he's checking out the girls Fredo invited to Michael's meeting with Moe Greene.
- The second film has two examples, both relating to Fredo:
- He isn't sure how to respond when Fredo makes eye contact with him and wordlessly approaches him at the funeral.
- He is visibly glum when Michael non-verbally orders him to kill Fredo.
- Those Two Guys: With Rocco Lampone in the second as Michael's top two enforcers, sharing the screen on multiple occasions.
- Undying Loyalty: To Michael.
- Would Hurt a Child: In the novel it's revealed that he beat his Spoiled Brat nephew for having talked in a very rude way to his mother, Al's sister. While it looks like his nephew started behaving better after, his wife was understandably horrified and grew distant of him, until eventually divorcing him.
Street boss
Joey Zasa
"As for Don Corleone, he makes it very clear to me today, that he is my enemy. You must choose between us."
Portrayed By: Joe Mantegna
Dubbed By: José Luccioni (European French)
A flamboyant captain of the Corleone family, trying to gain power in New York City. Michael and the other crime bosses consider him an embarrassment for his media grandstanding.
- 0% Approval Rating: Everyone hates him and are happy to see him go. The only person with any problem with his death is Michael, and that's only because he's upset Vincent and Connie ordered the hit without his permission.
- Arch-Enemy: Makes a massive one out of Vincent, constantly badgering him and even ordering a hit. Vincent ends up winning their rivalry by being the one to personally gun him down.
- Asshole Victim: Executed in cold blood, but he's one of the worst mobsters in the trilogy, so there are no tears shed.
- Attention Whore: One of the reasons everyone hates him. His constant need to grandstand to media caused even his bosses to loath him.
- Big Bad Wannabe: On the whole, he's not really as powerful as his boss, Altobello, and Michael and the Commission don't take him seriously.
- Bullying a Dragon: You think after having a chunk of his ear bitten off he'd back off of Vincent, but he orders a hit on him instead. Vincent's growing hatred of him leads to him being the one to personally execute the cowardly Don.
- Dirty Coward: Runs for the hills when he realizes a hit has been placed on him. Vincent (on horseback) gets him, anyway.
- Disc-One Final Boss: Of Part III. In fact, the real Big Bad is relieved to see him go!
- Dude, Where's My Respect?: His rant to the Mafia commission complains about no one taking him seriously. Michael tells him it's own fault for being so flamboyant.
- Equal-Opportunity Evil: He recruits blacks and Latinos into his organization, which shows he "has a good heart". That's just about the only good thing Michael has to say about him, but it's likely only a case of Pragmatic Villainy rather than any sincere acceptance and tolerance (i.e. having more soldiers and grunts).
- Establishing Character Moment: He rudely interrupts a Corleone family gathering, the entire party coming to a dead halt until picking back up when he leaves.
- Hated by All: Even civilians wanted this guy dead for turning the neighborhood into a filthy slum and getting their kids hooked on drugs.
- Jerkass: The man sells drugs to children.
- Large Ham: Especially while playing himself up for media.
- Man of Wealth and Taste: He likes to be known for his well dressed style and as a champion of Italian-American heritage. It doesn't exactly endear him to his fellow mafiosi.
- Michael Corleone comments that he's been labelled "Best-Dressed Gangster" by Esquire Magazine In-Universe.
- Never My Fault: Seems unable to understand everyone hates him for being a grandstanding Jerkass, instead blaming Michael for how everyone views him.
- No Historical Figures Were Harmed: A thinly-veiled up-yours against Joseph Colombo, from his personality to the Italian-American heritage organization Zasa fronts, resembling Colombo's Italian-American Civil Rights League which caused Coppola headaches
during the first film. His over-the-top, media-friendly persona also recalls John Gotti, Carmine Persico, Paul Castellano and "Crazy" Joe Gallo. - Not-So-Harmless Villain: While seemingly a small fish in a big pond, he did still orchestrate a slaughter of the mob families.
- Remember the New Guy?: As with Pentangeli in Part II, a case of Real Life Writes the Plot. Originally Zasa was to be Willie Cicci, but Joe Spinell's death forced Coppola to rewrite his storyline for a new character.
- Smug Snake: Sees himself as top dog, but Vincent and Connie remind how low on the totem pole he his with their hit.
- The Sociopath: Joey is a man of no morals. He takes no responsibility for his actions, feels nothing for the people he slaughtered, and is so morally bankrupt he'd sell drugs to children.
- The Starscream: He is hinted as wanting to take over Altobello's plan so he can be Don.
- Undignified Death: Spends his last moments screaming at a locked door before being executed by Vincent.
- Would Hurt a Child: As mentioned before, he peddles narcotics to kids.
Caporegimes
Under Vito Corleone
Peter Clemenza
"You know, you gotta stop them at the beginning. Like they should have stopped Hitler at Munich, they should never let him get away with that, they was just asking for trouble."
Portrayed By: Richard Castellano (The Godfather), Bruno Kirby (Part II)
One of Vito's caporegimes, who helps initiate Vito's criminal career and becomes one of his most trusted advisers; Serves as a mentor to Michael and other members of the Family.
- Acrofatic: Both the book and the film show him as a surprisingly agile dancer at the Corleone wedding.
- Affably Evil: To his friends and associates, he's regarded as a friendly, jovial kind of guy, joking and always happy to share his tales of the good old days. In fact, he's in the middle of sharing tales from old times when he dies. He's also directly involved in some of the most (in)famous murders in the film series.
- Big Fun: Provides a comedic scene or two in Part I, the quote above being the most classic example of how funny he is.
- The Big Guy: As a Capo of the family, he takes a direct role in controlling the movements of the family soldiers; for good measure, he's occasionally called upon to act as a hitman.
- Bond One-Liner: "Leave the gun. Take the cannoli."
- Bus Crash: He dies of a heart attack — although Cicci implies foul play — between the events of the first and second films and his position as capo of the Corleone family's New York branch passes to Frank Pentangeli, his Suspiciously Similar Substitute. This was not originally going to happen; the reason for this change was a disagreement between actor Richard Castellano and Coppola (Castellano wanted creative control over his characternote and Coppola would not allow it, so Castellano was dropped from the film).
- Cool Uncle: To Vito's children, even if not by blood.
- The Corrupter: It is he who introduces a young Vito Corleone to a life of crime, by coercing him into hiding a satchel of guns, and later "thanking" Vito by tricking him into stealing a fancy rug.
- Danger Takes a Backseat: While killing Carlo Rizzi.
- Dropped a Bridge on Him: Dialogue in the second film implies that he died of a heart attack between movies, though some of his crew think he was actually poisoned.
- Fat Bastard: Has a reputation for violent, ruthless tactics in gang wars.
- Formerly Fit: In Part II, when played by Bruno Kirby in his youth, Clemenza was a lot skinnier than when played by Richard Castellano. Though the younger Clemenza is a bit thicker than the younger Vito and Tessio and can be seen eating a lot. His final scene in the flashback shows him gaining much more weight.
- Henpecked Husband: A mild example, but he does make a point of bringing home that cannoli as per his wife's request. Right after murdering a human being.
- Heterosexual Life-Partners: With Vito and Tessio.
- Hidden Depths: An excellent cook, even showing Michael how to make spaghetti sauce, and a history buff who compares Sollozzo's actions to Hitler's Beer Hall Putsch.
- The movie additionally emphasizes how Tessio is the "smarter" of the two Corleone Capos, but Clemenza demonstrates a fairly calculating demeanor when walking Michael through the best way to assassinate Sollozzo and McCluskey.
- Honorary Uncle: To Vito's children. Specifically he's Sonny's godfather.
- Ironic Name: The professional killer's last name means "mercy" in Italian.
- It's Personal:
- Clemenza takes Paulie's Bodyguard Betrayal as a personal insult, given that the man was his protégé.
- Considering that Sonny was Clemenza's godson, he shows no mercy for Carlo, who was ultimately responsible for Sonny's death.
- The Mentor: According to the book, he taught Sonny how to fight and kill, though he was a bit disappointed that Sonny never showed any particular liking for the garotte. In both the film and the book, he also advises Michael on carrying out the killing of Sollozzo and McCluskey.
- No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Loosely based on Frank Labruzzo, Joe Bonanno's brother-in-law who stayed loyal to him even during the tumultuous Bananas Wars in the 1960s. Also had some elements of Joe Magliocco, Giuseppe Profaci's underboss and cousin, and as well as Vincent Gigante, Vito Genovese's protege and future boss. The assassination of Victor Stracci by Clemenza was partially based on the botched hit on Frank Costello in 1957; Gigante's unintentional warning only grazed Costello's scalp, but Costello saw the writing on the wall and later stepped down as boss.
- Pay Evil unto Evil: Personally kills Carlo Rizzi by strangling him in a car. It was probably personal since Sonny, who Carlo lured to his death, was Clemenza's godson.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: In the book, Peter decides not to promote a subordinate who works in Harlem because he feels that the man's ability to get along with African-Americans is a character weakness. While simultaneously plotting the murder of the traitor Paulie and also drinking heavily enough that he comes across as a functioning alcoholic.
- Real Men Don't Cry: Averted in The Godfather Returns, he will not watch Tessio's execution because "there are some things a guy doesn't want to see."
- Red Herring: Tom thought that Clemenza would have been the one to betray the Corleones and was genuinely surprised when Michael told him that Tessio had made the deal with Barzini.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: Red Oni to Tessio's blue.
- Shotguns Are Just Better: Packs a double-barreled shotgun to assassinate Don Stracci and his bodyguard in the Baptism murders.
- Small Role, Big Impact: If it weren't for him luring a young Vito into a life of crime, there would be no "Don Corleone".
- Undying Loyalty: There's a lot of love between him and Vito and Vito's family. In the end he's the one who remains loyal to them whilst Tessio and Frankie betray them.
Salvatore Tessio
"We hit Bruno Tattaglia at four o'clock this morning."
"Tell Mike it was only business. I always liked him."
Portrayed By: Abe Vigoda (The Godfather), John Aprea (Part II)
Another associate of Vito's from the old days; a Corleone family capo based in Brooklyn, he is considered more cautious and intelligent than Clemenza.
- Adaptational Villainy: The book makes it much clearer that his betrayal of the Corleone's comes down to Michael and Vito seemingly hanging him, Clemenza and all their men out to dry with their move to Las Vegas and refusal to let them recruit more men or retaliate in the face of encroachment of the Barzini and Tattalgia families onto their territories note . In fact Michael and Vito even expected someone to betray them and Michael was not surprised that it was Tessio, simply because it was the most logical move considering the situation Michael himself had put him in. From a certain point of view, it was Michael and Vito who betrayed Tessio.
- Ain't Too Proud to Beg: Downplayed; he remains dignified throughout, but he does briefly plead Tom for his life: "Can you get me off the hook, Tom? For old time's sake?" Once it becomes clear that this isn't an option, however, he accepts the inevitable with grace.
- Alas, Poor Villain: Despite betraying the family, his execution is treated in a very somber manner, given his close relationship with the family.
- Bad Guy Bar: In the books, his base of operations is a bar known as Two Toms.
- Been There, Shaped History: The novel narrates that he killed Salvatore Maranzano in a Brooklyn restaurant.
- The Cameo: Tessio is featured in both stories of Part II, with Abe Vigoda briefly appearing in the 1941 flashback.
- Defector from Decadence: It's implied that Michael's apparent weakness and lack of resolution (a ruse meant to lull the other families into a false sense of security as well as to force the hand of any potential traitors) is the reason behind his betrayal. Factored in and hinted by the two main capos announcing their intention to spin-off from the Family because of Michael's incapacity to defend their own territories.
- Face Death with Dignity:
- Once it's clear that he can't talk his way out of his execution, he calmly and willingly steps into the car without another word of protest.
- Subverted in the game, where you have to chase him down and kill him and he begs for his life.
- Heterosexual Life-Partners: With Vito and Clemenza.
- Informed Attribute: He's referred to as very clever and cunning, but this is isn't really shown much in the films (though it is better demonstrated in the novel). The closest he gets to this is when he secretly allies with Barzini, which is ultimately rendered ineffective due to Michael outsmarting him.
- Lean and Mean: He's very lanky compared to Clemenza, but is equally (if not more so) ruthless than he.
- The Mole: Secretly works for Barzini.
- No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Loosely based on Gaspar DiGregorio, a capo in the Bonanno family, a trusted friend, and distant relative of Joe Bonanno. But when Bonanno promoted his son Bill to consigliere, this incited hard feelings with DiGregorio, who then plots with rival bosses (who were already incensed with Bonanno's plot to kill them) to orchestrate Bonanno's ouster, splitting the family into two rival factions. Like Tessio, who set up Michael for an assassination in a supposed "sit-down", DiGregorio arranged an ambush on Bonanno's son, but not a single shot aimed by DiGregorio's men hit their intended target. But unlike Tessio, who gets a "one-way ride", DiGregorio was rebuked by the Commission for his incompetence on the ambush against Bill Bonanno and was forced to step down, living in relative obscurity until his death in 1970.
- Nothing Personal: After being discovered as Don Barzini's mole in the Corleone family, he explains that nothing about his betrayal was personal.
- The Quiet One: He doesn't say much compared to Clemenza.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: The Blue to Clemenza's red.
- The Smart Guy: Considered the smarter of the two Caporegimes, and usually makes the tactical decisions of the Family soldiers. This is also why Michael isn't at all surprised when Tessio (rather than Clemenza as Tom had figured) is revealed to have sold him out to Barzini.
Under Michael Corleone
Frank "Frankie Five Angels" Pentangeli
"Your father did business with Hyman Roth, your father respected Hyman Roth, but your father never trusted Hyman Roth!"
"Those were the great old days, you know. And we was like the Roman Empire. The Corleone family was like the Roman Empire."
Portrayed by: Michael V. Gazzo
Clemenza's successor running the Corleone family's New York operations, he's quick-tempered and spoiling for a fight with Hyman Roth and his allies, the Rosato Brothers. He's eventually trapped into informing on Michael, and his incriminating testimony to the Senate becomes a major plot point.
- Bath Suicide: In Part II, Tom Hagen visits him in prison and talks about this practice in the Roman Empire, hinting that if he does this his family will be spared. He does, and they are. The camera shot depicting the outcome is a Shout-Out to the painting The Death of Marat
. - Beware the Silly Ones: He's initially introduced as a goofy comic relief character who tries in exasperation to get the Communion band to play a Tarantella. It's worth remembering that he's a high ranking lieutenant in the Corleone family, and, in ''Part II' proper, he becomes extremely dangerous by initially being willing to testify as to Michael's criminal activities; unlike Willi Cicci he would have been able to implicate Michael directly.
- Bullying a Dragon: Pentangeli is perfectly willing to openly call out Michael for his dealings with Roth, and is not shaken when Michael tries to cite his superiority.
- Cassandra Truth: He warns Michael early on that Roth is behind his trouble with the Rosato brothers. Michael ignores him, to his peril.
- Driven to Suicide: Slits his own wrists after Tom Hagen pays him a visit, with the consigliere strongly insinuating that by doing so his family will be spared and looked after..
- Establishing Character Moment: He is shown at the opening gathering, slightly drunk and waiting for a meeting with Michael. His attempt to have a traditional Italian song played leaves him humiliated. All this serves to display that he is out of touch with the new West Coast-facing organization and out of power.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: The appearance of his older brother at Michael's trial (flown in from Sicily by the Corleones) compels him to change and outright refute his own previously given testimony.
- The implied promise that his family will be taken care of after he dies compels him to take his own life in atonement for betraying Michael.
- The Gadfly: He adopts this attitude during his testimony, outwardly appearing to simply be jerking them around. In reality, he's backtracking due to the veiled threat Michael makes by bringing Frank's brother to the trial.
- Gratuitous Italian: Peppers his speech with various Italian phrases.
- Heel–Face Turn: Subverted, Pentangeli is put under Witness Protection and is going to testify against the Corleone family. Michael and Tom Hagen find a way to prevent him breaking the omertà; his brother shows up the day he has to testify. It's not stated if they stop Pentangeli by shaming him in front of his old-school brother, or if there's some kind of Implied Death Threat going on. note
- Heroic Sacrifice: The Family wants him dead, but Tom Hagen tells him that if he kills himself, the Corleones will provide for his surviving family from that point on.
- Hidden Depths: Demonstrates a knowledge of history, when he references the practice of attainted Romans committing suicide so that their families would be spared the Emperor's wrath. This is exactly what he does to atone for his betrayal.
- Hot-Blooded: He'd much rather kill the Rosatos than talk with them.
- No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Reportedly a composite of crime boss Joe Profaci (founder of the Colombo crime family and a notoriously greedy boss), Carmine Persico and informant Joe Valachi. The Rosato brothers' hit on Pentangeli resembles a similarly botched attack on Larry Gallo, down to the policeman interrupting.
- Oh, Crap!: The look on his face when he shares a look with his brother before the hearing, realizing what will happen if he violates the omertà (potentially to his family in particular).
- Politically Incorrect Villain: Cites the Rosatos hiring blacks and Hispanics as one reason he hates them so much. His comments towards Roth drip with thinly-veiled anti-Semitism, wondering how Michael could trust a Jew against "his own blood."
- Remember the New Guy?: A classic example, with Fredo gushing over Frankie as a long-lost friend we'd never seen before.
- The Stool Pigeon: With Willie Cicci after he mistakenly assumes Michael put a hit out on him. He recants at the last minute when his brother pays him a surprise visit, courtesy of the Corleones.
- Suspiciously Similar Substitute: Pentangeli was written to replace Clemenza when Castellano didn't return for Part II. Nevertheless, he remains fairly distinct by being something of a Genki Guy compared to Peter's more laid-back personality, and he's also more Hot-Blooded and insolent as well.
- Tragic Villain: He's essentially a pawn in Michael and Roth's conflict, becoming an antagonist through no fault of his own. He only turns against Michael after he's convinced that Michael tried to kill him.
Rocco Lampone
"These things happen, nobody's perfect."
"Difficult, not impossible."
Portrayed By: Tom Rosqui
A Corleone soldier who works his way from hitman to caporegime.
- Ascended Extra: Like Neri, has much more screen time and importance in Part II than the original.
- Co-Dragons: With Neri, for Michael.
- Dying Moment of Awesome: Kills Roth before being gunned down.
- From Camouflage to Criminal: He fought in World War II and was sent home with a Purple Heart after having his leg crippled due to a shattered kneecap.
- Handicapped Badass: In the novel, Rocco suffered a crippling knee injury during World War II, which didn't prevent him from being a tough and efficient assassin. This backstory isn't revealed the film, but his character does walk with a limp.
- Mook Promotion: He goes from a "Button Man" to Michael's caporegime.
- Rite of Passage: Killing Paulie is how Rocco "makes his bones".
- Suicide Mission: What the hit on Hyman Roth basically amounts to. Roth (reentering the United States after being rejected from entering several foreign territories) is surrounded by a host of police and FBI agents, making it impossible to get to him. Or rather, impossible to get to him and get out alive...
- Those Two Guys: He and Al Neri are Michael's top enforcers in the second film, and regularly appear together.
Under Joey Zasa
Anthony Squigliaro
Portrayed by: Vito Antuofermo
An enforcer of Joey Zasa, elevated to caporegime after Zasa's rise to street boss.
- Blown Across the Room: One of Vincent's men shoots him with a shotgun during the Feast of Saint Gennaro, sending him flying into a food kiosk.
- The Dragon: He's known as Zasa's personal "bulldog".
- Face of a Thug: More than almost anyone else in the film series, this guy looks like someone you would NOT wanna mess with.
- There Is No Kill Like Overkill: He coats his bullets with cyanide.
Under Vincent Corleone
Lou Pennino
Portrayed by: Robert Cicchini
A member of Vincent's crew and his bodyguard. Becomes a caporegime after Vincent becomes Don.
- The Dragon: He serves as Vincent's right-hand man.
Enforcers and Soldatos
Luca Brasi
"Don Corleone, I am honored and grateful that you have invited me to your home today on the day of your daughters wedding... and I hope that their first child, will be a masculine child."
"Yes... he's a very scary guy."
— Michael Corleone
Portrayed By: Lenny Montana
Vito's feared bodyguard and personal hatchet man.
- Adaptational Nice Guy: In the novel Luca is infamous for his violence and cruelty with a number of incredibly brutal murders (including that of his own newborn infant child) to his name. Even the Corleone family fears him, and his allegiance to them isn't as guaranteed as much as they'd like. The film omits many of his harsher actions (including the infanticide), and on the whole his major scene at the wedding party serves to humanize him as a somewhat dim but still affectionate follower of Vito's. Similarly, the Corleone family is at the very least confident in his loyalty, and there's never any real fear of him turning on them.
- Ax-Crazy: Very literally in the book.
- The Determinator: Tom Hagen makes it clear to Virgil Sollozzo that even Santino won't be able to stop Luca from coming after Sollozo and his people in retaliation for the hit on Don Vito. This is evidenced on Luca doing exactly this when a similar hit was executed against Vito in the past.
- The Dragon: He is the Corleone family's most trusted bodyguard, and he's also The Brute.
- The Dreaded:
- In the novel even Vito is afraid of him, to the point of being apprehensive when he has to receive Brasi's congratulations on his daughter's wedding day despite Brasi being the only one of these visitors not to impose a favor along with the congratulations. When Sollozzo's men make it clear to the Corleones that they have killed Brasi, the Corleones are relieved to know that Sollozo had not turned him and that he isn't coming after them.
- As this Cracked article notes, the movie inverts this; the fact that the huge and terrifying Brasi is seen nervously reciting his speech to Corleone only to awkwardly stutter through it and mess it up when actually in the Don's presence makes it clear exactly who the really scary one in this version is. Although even then, the Don is uncomfortable around him, as evidenced by him asking Tom if it's necessary for him to meet with Luca that day.
- Dumb Muscle: He would often have to rehearse what he said to someone before speaking with them.
- Eloquent in My Native Tongue: Clearly seen struggling with English during his introduction at the wedding, but has no problems using colloquial Italian later.
- Fake Defector: Don Corleone sends him to infiltrate the gang of Sollozzo to garner information, but Sollozzo is wise to the plot and Luca ends up sleeping with the fishes.
- Hair-Trigger Temper: To extreme levels.
- Hidden Depths: The movie doesn't make him look particularly intelligent, but the book explains how part of what made him so dangerous was his ability to commit murders all by himself; most enforcers need backup on a hit. And when you commit a murder by yourself, there's no one to tell the police what happened.
- Informed Ability: None of the brutality that he is supposedly capable of is seen on screen, but everyone talks about it. The only story told about Brasi is fairly meek compared to the on-screen action: Michael tells Kay that Brasi once pointed a gun to a music director to extort him to sign Johnny Fontane away. When Don Vito gives Brasi the task of pretending to go work for Sollozzo, Brasi fails and gets killed before doing anything. The book is more explicit about Brasi's savagery although always as Offstage Villainy in the distant past.
- Justified thematically in that Luca, like Vito, is getting older and his Glory Days (such as they were) are behind him.
- Jerkass: He's a bumbling thug in the film who is revealed to be a horrible human being in the novel.
- More Despicable Minion: Don Vito Corleone is an Affably Evil Mafia leader, caring for his family and friends. In contrast, his henchman Luca Brasi is a sadistic brute he employs for his pure brutality and who, in the book, once burned alive his own baby because he didn't want a half-Irish child.
- No Dead Body Poops: Averted in the book when he's strangled.
- No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Brasi was mostly based on Willie "Moore" Moretti, Frank Costello's right-hand man. He also had some elements of Albert Anastasia, a vicious mob boss, and Carmine Galante, a violent hit man and underboss to Joe Bonanno.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: In the book, he has his half Irish illegitimate baby killed because he believes "None of that race should live."
- Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Went on one after an attempt on Vito's life in the Olive Oil War. It took Vito recovering and personally calling him off to avoid Luca dropping enough bodies to make peace impossible. The Turk has him killed before they attempt to kill Vito to avoid this happening to him.
- The Sociopath: More evident in the novel than the film.
- Undying Loyalty: Luca pledges exactly this as part of the bridal purse he gives his Godfather on the day of his daughter's wedding. And Brasi proved this by his actions long ago, when he unleashed a Roaring Rampage of Revenge against the parties who attempted to murder Vito Corleone during the Olive Oil War.
- The Worf Effect:
- Established as Don Corleone's most fearsome right-hand man at the beginning of the first film, but then is quickly taken out by the Tattaglia family to show the grave danger the Corleones are facing.
- In the film, his nervousness around Vito helps establish the Godfather as a legendary crime boss that even hardened killers are afraid of.
- Would Hurt a Child: FULL STOP. In the novel, he tosses his own newborn child into a furnace because of its half-Irish ancestry.
Paulie Gatto
"Thirty, forty grand. In small bills cash, in that little silk purse. Madon', if this was somebody else's wedding, sfortunato!"
Portrayed by: John Martino
A soldato (button man) under Clemenza who serves as Don Corleone's chauffeur.
- Bodyguard Betrayal: He helped set up Don Corleone for the assassination attempt.
- Double Tap: Rocco shoots him three times in the back of the head.
- Family Business: His father was a button man for the Corleones.
- Greed: His want for money drives him to sell out Don Corleone to The Turk. Clemenza uses it to his advantage by telling him that they are going to the mattresses, knowing that Paulie's excitement at the idea of the money Sollozzo would give him for such information, would cause him to drop his guard and to be gunned without suspecting that his betrayal had been discovered.
- Kick The Son Of A Bitch: He's responsible for beating up the two men who assaulted Bonasera's daughter.
- The Mole: Betrayed Don Corleone to Solozzo.
- Playing Sick: Pretended to be sick the day of the assassination attempt, leaving Don Corleone to have to be defended by Fredo.
Willie Cicci
"The family had a lot of buffers."
Portrayed By: Joe Spinell
Another Corleone soldier who becomes Frank Pentangeli's aide in Part II. Like his boss he testifies before the Senate committee investigating Michael, albeit without providing useful evidence.
- Ascended Extra: While named in the books in the first film his name goes unsaid despite his killing of Cuneo and Tessio however in the second film he gets far more lines and screen time.
- Bus Crash: He was reportedly supposed to have a major part in Part III but after Coppola learned of the death of actor Joe Spinell, the character was changed to Joey Zaza. Interestingly enough, Cicci was one of the loose ends from Part II as his final fate was left unclear. Most assume that he would have been dead by then (probably killed in prison), given his violation of omertà, though he may have also entered the Witness Protection Program as well.
- The Dandy: Wears some of the flashiest suits in the Corleone family and even gets a shave just before the Baptism murders.
- Dumb Muscle: Implied in Part II; Cicci can't understand the Senators' questions ("Could you amplify your answer a bit?" "Huh?") without an attorney prompting him. Though, it's also possible he's Obfuscating Stupidity.
- Made of Iron: Dude was shot then struck by a car and survived.
- Mook Promotion: He is a button in Part I and became Frank Pentangeli's capo in Part II. In Part III he was originally planned to be the one who took over Michael's New York operation after he became legitimate, but actor Joe Spinell died before filming began. He was replaced by a new character, Joey Zasa.
- Number Two: Becomes this to Frank Pentangeli in Part II.
- Slasher Smile: When he kills Cuneo in the first film.
- The Stool Pigeon: Along with Pentangeli in Part II.
- Unwitting Pawn: Like his boss, Willie only testifies against Michael due to being tricked into thinking he put out a hit on Frank and Willie.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Due to the Bus Crash mentioned above, his fate's left unresolved after his Senate testimony. He gets prison time anyway due to his admission of crimes that he committed. It is not known what ultimately happened to him but most assume that he would eventually have been killed in prison due to his violation of omertà.
Busetta
Portrayed by: Amerigo Tot
A Sicilian enforcer that acts as Michael's driver, bodyguard and personal assassin.
- Badass Driver: He acts as Michael's driver and he's also a proficient killer.
- Enigmatic Minion: He's Michael's personal assassin. His quiet demeanor and perpetually black clothing give him an aura of mystery.
- Sickbed Slaying: Attempts to assassinate Hyman Roth in the hospital but is found and killed by cops.
Aldo Trapani
"Everybody loses something."
Portrayed By: Andrew Pifko (The Godfather [video game]), Rick Pasqualone (The Godfather II [video game])
The protagonist of the first film's 2006 video game adaptation. A young Corleone recruit who can rise through the ranks of Mafia hierarchy.
- Ascended Extra: Aldo's film counterpart (the unnamed man who helps Rocco kill Tattagalia) only has a few seconds of screen-time.
- Been There, Shaped History: He is responsible for helping Rocco in removing Khartoum's head and placing it in Woltz's bed, beating the two kids who tried to rape Bonasera's daughter, assassinating both Paulie Gatto and Salvatore Tessio for betraying the Family, hiding the pistol Michael would use to kill Sollozzo and McCluskey, and participating in the assassination of the heads of the Five Families.
- Dark and Troubled Past: He witnessed his father getting killed when he was only 12.
- Death by Cameo: He's shot in the neck after escorting Michael and Fredo to safety in Part II.
- Previous Player-Character Cameo: Briefly appears in Part II.
- Retcon: It's a goal to become "Don of New York" in the game, with a cinematic showing it is exactly what it sounds like as he oversees Manhattan in a high rise building with Mafia dons as his lackeys. Come to "Part II" and he's a capo with no hints of having rose anywhere above it.
- Villain Protagonist: While he certainly is better than his enemies, and maintains a good relationship with everyone he meets, he still beats and maims shop owners for protection money and dives head-first into the Mafia lifestyle with no hesitation.
- You Killed My Father: He guns down Barzini at the steps of the City Hall.
Sicilian Mafia
Don Tommasino
Portrayed By: Corrado Gaipa (The Godfather), Mario Conote (Part II), Vittorio Duse (Part III)
An old friend of Don Corleone's in Sicily. When Michael flees to Sicily after killing Solozzo and McClusky, he is put under Tommasino's care.
- Cool Old Guy: By Part III, he's nearing 90 but is still pretty sharp as he quickly recognizes Mosca as an assassin. It doesn't save him though.
- The Don: Of the town of Corleone in Sicily after Vito murders Don Ciccio.
- Dragon with an Agenda: Assisted Vito's revenge on Don Ciccio in the hopes of taking over Corleone himself.
- Evil Cripple: A Don who needs to use a wheelchair to move around after getting shot in the spine.
Calò
Portrayed By: Franco Citti
A bodyguard of Don Tommasino's who protects Michael in Sicily.
- Beware the Quiet Ones: Has no distinguishing traits in the first film besides his tendency to repeat the last thing someone says to him and is clearly the less active of the two bodyguards; come Part III he's not only left in charge of Tommasino's operations, he executes one of the most graphic kills of the series.
- Dragon-in-Chief: By Part III, Don Tommasino's health is failing so Calò has taken over much of his operations.
- Dying Moment of Awesome: Kills the Big Bad of Part III by stabbing him in the jugular with his own glasses before being gunned down by the man's bodyguard.
- The Quiet One: Rarely speaks.
- Shotguns Are Just Better: Described as a dab hand with a lupara shotgun.
- Spared by the Adaptation: His novel counterpart is killed in the car bomb that also kills Apollonia.
- Suicide Mission: Knows he won't come back from his mission to kill Don Licio Lucchesi, but takes it nonetheless to avenge Don Tommasino.
- Taking You with Me: Dies stabbing Lucchesi's neck with his own glasses.
- Undying Loyalty: To Don Tommasino, to the point that he happily accepts a Suicide Mission in the hopes of avenging his boss.
Non-made Associates and Collaborators
Amerigo Bonasera
Portrayed by: Salvatore Corsitto
An Italian-American undertaker. A member of the Corleones' neighborhood, he avoided Vito's friendship until his daughter was savagely attacked and beaten by two boys who got away due to their high social status, which drove him to go to Don Corleone for justice.
- Break the Haughty: Upon heeding Bonasera's unrespectful lamentation/demands, Vito launches into a long "The Reason You Suck" Speech that takes Bonasera down a peg and humbles him.
- Good Parents: He clearly loves his daughter Maria dearly, and did everything to raise her correctly and gave her much freedom.
- Immigrant Patriotism: He's an Italian-American (either an immigrant himself or the descendant of one) who wholeheartedly embraces the American way of life, and he's quite eager to assimilate into his chosen homeland."I believe in America. And I raised my daughter in the American fashion."
- Meaningful Name: He's a very patriotic Italian-American immigrant who believes wholeheartedly in the promise of the American dream (his speech on this topic opens the film, in fact). Not coincidentally, he shares a first name with Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci, the namesake of the continent of America.
- Mirror Character: His character arc is effectively a microcosm of Michael's arc; he's also a respectable law-abiding citizen who avoids getting involved with the Mafia because he doesn't want to "get into trouble", but ultimately descends into the world of organized crime when one of his loved ones unjustly becomes the victim of violence, and the legal system fails to get him the justice that he wants.
- Open Mouth, Insert Foot: Even if he was desperate to entreaty the mafia (yet not so desperate to offer his loyalty in return), Bonasara still should have known better than to ask the supremely rich and influential Don Corleone, who was busy celebrating his daughter's wedding, how much he needed to be paid like he was some sort of thuggish vending machine for extralegal revenge. Corleone then takes him to task, telling him plainly how disrespectful he's being.
- Papa Wolf: He goes to Don Corleone to get payback at the boys who try to rape and savagely assault his daughter, resulting in them being beaten within an inch of their lives by Paulie Gatto and his enforcers.
- Ungrateful Bastard: Downplayed: he's very grateful after the Corleones grant his request to beat the boys who assaulted his daughter, but later becomes afraid and and worried about repaying his debt to Don Corleone. Though given that you never know what a mobster may ask you to do to repay a debt, his reaction is perfectly understandable—and he's understandably relieved when Vito only asks him to restore Santino's bullet-riddled corpse.
- You Owe Me: He's on the receiving end of this as his request for justice leaves him indebted to Vito Corleone, something that makes him fearful that he would be forced to help cover up murders, until Vito calls him to perform the embalming of Sonny and make him presentable for an open casket, so Vito's wife may see her son.
Nazorine
Portrayed by: Vito Scotti
A baker in Little Italy and old friend of Vito Corleone, for whom he often makes pastries, having for example made the cake for Connie Corleone and Carlo Rizzi's wedding. During Connie's wedding he asks a favor to Vito, to help get a green card for his baker apprentice and daughter's boyfriend, Enzo.
- Childhood Friend: With Vito, whom he has known and been friend with since their early days in Corleone, Sicily.
- Foil: To Bonasera. He's a humble, affectionate requester, immediately contrasting with the disdainful and disrespectful undertaker.
- Old Friend: He has been friend with Vito Corleone for decades, going back from their childhood in Sicily. As a result he provides pastries to the Corleone family on each Christmas, Easter and family birthdays.
- Small Role, Big Impact: His request to Don Corleone, to help him get a green card for his apprentice, and daughter's lover, Enzo Aguello turns out to be vital later in the story, as a grateful Enzo would help Michael save his father's life out of gratitude.
Enzo Aguello
Portrayed by: Gabriele Torrei
A baker from Sicily and Nazorine's apprentice, and eventual son-in-law as he fell in love with Nazorine's daughter, Katherine. He was enlisted into italian army during World War II, before being captured and sent to the United States as a prisoner of war, before being paroled to help with the American effort of war, and finding job as Nazorine's student. With the war ending he's however soon going to be sent back to Italy, prompting Nazorine to seeks Don Corleone's help to keep him in the US.
- Because You Were Nice to Me: He helps Michael protect his father at the hospital, out of gratitude for Vito having allowed him to get a green card and stay in America with his girlfriend Katherine.
- Face of a Thug: A downplayed example. He doesn't look overwhelmingly threatening, but his face is hard and serious enough looking that he helps Michael ward off Don Vito's would-be assassins.
- Punch-Clock Villain: He serves in the Italian army during World War II, but only because he gets drafted, and shows no sign of loyalty or sympathy toward Mussolini and the fascists.
- Small Role, Big Impact: He appears only in a few scenes, but he plays a crucial role in the story by coming to visit Vito Corleone at the hospital, and helping Michael save his father from assassins out of gratitude for helping him stay in the US and marry Katherine.
Senator Patrick Geary
"I despise your masquerade, the dishonest way you pose yourself. You and your whole fucking family."
Portrayed by: G.D. Spradlin
A crooked Nevada politician in Part II, whom Michael blackmails into supporting him.
- Bullying a Dragon: He tries to extort and bully Michael for a gambling license, thinking that he's safe from Michael's criminal enterprise as a political leader. A nonchalant Michael bides his time and turns the tables with a cold frameup.
- Corrupt Bureaucrat: He tries to extort and bully Michael... and not out of greed but because he's a racist spiteful bastard.
- Disposable Sex Worker: How Tom blackmails him.
- Hypocrite: Calls Michael and the Corleone family two-faced scum for pretending to be decent people while actually mobsters, while he himself happily extorts them for racist reasons while pretending to be a friend of the family and an upstanding citizen.
- Malicious Misnaming: He publicly mispronounces "Corleone," only to pronounce it accurately in private conversation.
- The Mole: He's part of the Senate committee investigating Michael while being blackmailed by the Corleones.
- No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Based on real-life Nevada Senator Patrick McCarran, to the point where he was even named McGarry in an early script draft until Coppola decided it was too on the nose. Like Geary, McCarran was long rumored to have ties to the Las Vegas mob, and also called for harsh restrictions on immigration to the United States, invoked here by Geary's insults towards Michael's heritage. Today he's probably best-remembered for his role in the Red Scare of the early '50s, and because of the Las Vegas airport which used to bear his name until it was renamed for another Nevada senator, Harry Reid, who helped purge the mob from Las Vegas.
- No Party Given: Several passages in the script strongly imply he's a Democrat,note but these aren't present in the movie.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: Drops some savage anti-Italian slurs in conversation with Michael.
- Really Gets Around: Hookers, night club singers, he's a womanizer and proud of it.
- Sleazy Politician: Corrupt, in bed with the Mafia and cavorts with hookers. He's this trope to a T.
- Some of My Best Friends Are X: His over-the-top defense of Italian-Americans at the Senate hearings.
- What Did I Do Last Night?: "I remember she was laughing."
B.J. Harrison
Portrayed by: George Hamilton
Michael's lawyer following Tom Hagen's death.
- The Consigliere: He fills this role in all but name, due to lacking the Sicilian background and the family connection of Tom Hagen. Despite this he is privy to a lot of the Corleones' remaining illicit business.
- Real Life Writes the Plot: The character was created after Robert Duvall refused to participate in The Godfather III unless he was paid a salary comparable to Pacino's.
- Replacement Goldfish: Harrison takes on Hagen's role as the lawyer and financial advisor for the Corleone family, albeit with considerably less characterization and depth.
Dominic Abbandando
Portrayed by: Don Novello
The Corleone family press secretary and grandson of Genco Abbandando, Vito Corleone's first Consigliere.
