Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Characters

The Five Heads of the Families Corleone Barzini Tattaglia Cuneo Stracci Actually based on the real “Cosa Nostra” (mafia) in New York – although the names have been changed. The Corleones are included in the five families.

Vito “The Godfather” Corleone Head of the Corleone crime family. Own personal code of honour. Much loved “Papa” of his family. Powerful, feared and influential Mafia boss. Head of one of five New York families – based on the true “Cosa Nostra” crime organisation in NY.

Michael Corleone Youngest son of Vito Corleone. Marine in WW2. Went to Dartmouth College. Reluctantly becomes involved in family’s crime organisation. Cements his reputation as a ruthless leader down to his arranging of mass murders despite his long term goal of legitimacy.

Santino “Sonny” Corleone Son to Vito, brother to Fredo, Michael and Connie. Hot-headed and aggressive. Philanderer and fornicator! “Bada bing!”

Peter Clemenza Caporegime and oldest friend to Vito Corleone. Delivers the famous line, “Leave the gun. Take the canoli.”

Tom Hagen Family lawyer and Consigliere (legal advisor). Informally adopted son of Vito. German-Irish ancestry. Good friend and trusted confidante in the family.

Jack Woltz Jewish movie producer. Refuses to cast Johnny Fontaine as lead in his movie despite the Godfather’s offer of help with union troubles. In one of the most famous scenes in cinematic history he ends up with decapitated head of his prize horse Khartoum in his bed.

Salvatore Tessio Old friend of Vito’s and Clemenza’s. Caporegime to Corleone family. Runs club in Brooklyn – his “patch”. Smarter of the two capos. Arranges Michael’s assassination at meeting with family heads for Barzini and Tattaglia so that he might take over as the head of the Corleone crime empire. His own assassination is arranged very matter-of-factly by Michael.

Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo Well known New York drug dealer Arranges assassination of Vito when he chooses not to get involved in the narcotics business. Meets with Michael to resolve the hostilities. Has police protection in form of Captain McCluskey. Is shot in the head by Michael in Louis’ Restaurant.

Captain Mark McCluskey A baddie! NYC police captain. Corrupt cop – on Tattaglia’s payroll. The weather reflects his role! Breaks Michael’s jaw. Protects Sollozzo. Is shot in throat and forehead by Michael.

Emilio Barzini One of the five heads of the New York “Cosa Nostra” crime families. Almost matches the power of Vito Corleone. Involved in Sollozzo’s drug trafficking business. He is a traitor - secretly conspires with other families (and with members of Corleone’s own family) to create a war against the Corleones. Makes deals with Tessio to kill Michael at peace summit. Is assassinated on NY Courthouse steps.

Carlo Rizzi Abusive husband of Connie. Associate to “family business”. Ultimately betrays family by plotting with Barzini to have Sonny killed. Originally from Nevada. Is garrotted by Clemenza for betraying the family.

Connie Rizzi Only daughter to Vito and sister to Sonny, Michael and Fredo. Marries in opening sequence. In abusive marriage. Sees Michael at the end of the film for what he has truly become. Michael becomes “Godfather” to her scene – iconic climactic scene features FFC’s grand-daughter as baby.

Kay Adams Michael’s second wife. Mother to his children. Not Italian; bit of an outsider from the offset. Unaware of the “family business”. At end of film, realises that Michael as becomes his father in every way.

Luca Brasi Hitman for Vito Corleone. Loves Vito and would do anything for him. Is killed when sent by Vito to check out Tattaglia and Sollozzos’ drug dealings. His death leads to the synonymous line, “Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes” – a package with a fish wrapped in his bullet proof vest.

Johnny Fontane Famous lounge singer (“crooner”) and actor. “Godson” to Vito. Vito has intervenes a number of times to help him with his career. Rumoured to be based on Frank Sinatra due to his alleged mafia connections.

Moe Greene Longstanding connection of the Corleones. Owns a casino in Las Vegas. Rejects Michael’s offer to buy him out. As a result, Michael has him murdered – a bullet through the eye. This method of murder came to be known as a “Moe Greene Special” in mafia circles.

Apollonia Vitelli – Corleone Michael’s first wife. From Sicily. Only 16 years old! Michael falls for Apollonia immediately – “love at first sight!” Killed by a car bomb intended for Michael which was set up by his bodyguard Fabrizio. The famous music motif used in Sicily is known as “Apollonia’s Theme”.