Al Lettieri
Encyclopedia
Alfred Lettieri was an American actor
, known for his portrayal of Virgil Sollozzo
, in The Godfather
.
Lettieri projected an aura of menace, ruthlessness and brooding malevolence in his film roles, which he attributed to his acquaintance with real-life gangsters, including Joey Gallo
. At the age of 36, he made his screen debut in the television film The Hanged Man
. Lettieri acted with some of Hollywood's biggest screen names including Steve McQueen
in The Getaway
, Charles Bronson
in Mr. Majestyk
, John Wayne
in McQ
and both Marlon Brando
and Al Pacino
in The Godfather
.
Lettieri died of a heart attack
in 1975, at the age of 47, leaving two children.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, known for his portrayal of Virgil Sollozzo
Virgil Sollozzo
Virgil "The Turk" Sollozzo is a fictional character and one of the main antagonists in Mario Puzo's The Godfather.In the novel, it is said that he got his nickname because he has a nose like a Turkish scimitar, has a Turkish wife and kids and also because he does much of his business in Turkey...
, in The Godfather
The Godfather
The Godfather is a 1972 American epic crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the 1969 novel by Mario Puzo. With a screenplay by Puzo, Coppola and an uncredited Robert Towne, the film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard...
.
Lettieri projected an aura of menace, ruthlessness and brooding malevolence in his film roles, which he attributed to his acquaintance with real-life gangsters, including Joey Gallo
Joseph N. Gallo
Giuseppe “Uno-Punzone” Nicholas Gallo, Jr. also known as Joseph Nicholas Gallo was a New York mobster, who allegedly became consigliere of the Gambino crime family.-Biography:He was born on January 8, 1912...
. At the age of 36, he made his screen debut in the television film The Hanged Man
The Hanged Man (1964 film)
The Hanged Man is a TV film directed by Don Siegel, in which a gunman seeks to avenge the death of his friend, whom he believes was murdered. It is considered the second television film in broadcast history. It debuted on NBC on November 18, 1964....
. Lettieri acted with some of Hollywood's biggest screen names including Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen
Terrence Steven "Steve" McQueen was an American movie actor. He was nicknamed "The King of Cool." His "anti-hero" persona, which he developed at the height of the Vietnam counterculture, made him one of the top box-office draws of the 1960s and 1970s. McQueen received an Academy Award nomination...
in The Getaway
The Getaway (1972 film)
The Getaway is a 1972 American action-crime film directed by Sam Peckinpah and starring Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw.The film is based on a novel by Jim Thompson, with the screenplay written by Walter Hill...
, Charles Bronson
Charles Bronson
Charles Bronson , born Charles Dennis Buchinsky was an American actor, best-known for such films as Once Upon a Time in the West, The Magnificent Seven, The Dirty Dozen, The Great Escape, Rider on the Rain, The Mechanic, and the popular Death Wish series...
in Mr. Majestyk
Mr. Majestyk
Mr. Majestyk is a 1974 American action film directed by Richard Fleischer and starring Charles Bronson. The film is based on a novel written by Elmore Leonard.-Plot:...
, John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
in McQ
McQ
McQ is a 1974 crime drama starring John Wayne, Eddie Albert, Diana Muldaur, and Colleen Dewhurst. The film made extensive use of actual Seattle locations. The beach scenes were filmed on the Pacific coast at Moclips.The film features a young Roger E...
and both Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando, Jr. was an American movie star and political activist. "Unchallenged as the most important actor in modern American Cinema" according to the St...
and Al Pacino
Al Pacino
Alfredo James "Al" Pacino is an American film and stage actor and director. He is famous for playing mobsters, including Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, Tony Montana in Scarface, Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice in Dick Tracy and Carlito Brigante in Carlito's Way, though he has also appeared...
in The Godfather
The Godfather
The Godfather is a 1972 American epic crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the 1969 novel by Mario Puzo. With a screenplay by Puzo, Coppola and an uncredited Robert Towne, the film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard...
.
Lettieri died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in 1975, at the age of 47, leaving two children.
Filmography
- Dublin Murders (1985)
- Bordella (House of Pleasure for Women) (1976) .... Eddie Mordace
- Vai Gorilla (Go Gorilla Go) (1976) .... Ciro Musante
- Winner Take All (Time Lock) (1975/I) (TV) .... Man at Track
- Piedone a Hong Kong (aka Flatfoot Goes East, Flatfoot in Hong Kong) (1975) .... Frank Barella
- Mr. MajestykMr. MajestykMr. Majestyk is a 1974 American action film directed by Richard Fleischer and starring Charles Bronson. The film is based on a novel written by Elmore Leonard.-Plot:...
(1974) .... Frank Renda - McQMcQMcQ is a 1974 crime drama starring John Wayne, Eddie Albert, Diana Muldaur, and Colleen Dewhurst. The film made extensive use of actual Seattle locations. The beach scenes were filmed on the Pacific coast at Moclips.The film features a young Roger E...
(1974) .... Manny Santiago - The Deadly Trackers (1973) .... Gutierrez, Mexican Policeman
- The Don Is Dead (Beautiful But Deadly, The Deadly Kiss) (1973) .... Vince
- The GetawayThe Getaway (1972 film)The Getaway is a 1972 American action-crime film directed by Sam Peckinpah and starring Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw.The film is based on a novel by Jim Thompson, with the screenplay written by Walter Hill...
(1972) .... Rudy Butler - Footsteps (Foosteps: Nice Guys Finish Last, Nice Guys Finish Last) (1972) (TV) .... Zimmerman
- Pulp (1972) .... Miller
- The GodfatherThe GodfatherThe Godfather is a 1972 American epic crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the 1969 novel by Mario Puzo. With a screenplay by Puzo, Coppola and an uncredited Robert Towne, the film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard...
(1972) .... Virgil 'The Turk' Sollozzo - A Town Called Hell (A Town Called Bastard, Una Ciudad llamada Bastarda) (1971) .... La Bomba
- The Night of the Following DayThe Night of the Following DayThe Night of the Following Day is a 1968 film starring Marlon Brando, Pamela Franklin, Richard Boone and Rita Moreno. Filmed in France, around Le Touquet it tells a simple story: a kidnapped heiress is held hostage in a remote beachhouse on the coast of France.The film starts with Dupont's...
(1968) (as Al Lettier) .... Pilot aka Al - The BoboThe BoboThe Bobo is a 1967 British comedy film starring Peter Sellers and co-starring his then-wife Britt Ekland. Based on the 1959 novel Olimpia by Burt Cole, also known as Thomas Dixon, Sellers is featured as the would-be singing matador, Juan Bautista...
(1967) .... Eugenio Gomez - Dark Intruder (Black Cloak) (1965) (as Anthony Lettier) .... 2nd Sergeant
- Wild Seed (Fargo) (1965) (as Anthony Lettier) .... Bartender
- The Hanged ManThe Hanged Man (1964 film)The Hanged Man is a TV film directed by Don Siegel, in which a gunman seeks to avenge the death of his friend, whom he believes was murdered. It is considered the second television film in broadcast history. It debuted on NBC on November 18, 1964....
(1964) .... Al