Richard S. Castellano
Encyclopedia
Richard Salvatore Castellano (September 4, 1933 – December 10, 1988) was an American
actor who is best remembered for his Oscar nominated role in Lovers and Other Strangers
and his subsequent role as Peter Clemenza in The Godfather
.
, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. He achieved short lived superstardom in 1972 for playing the part of Peter Clemenza, in The Godfather
. The Godfather became the highest grossing film up to that time when unadjusted for inflation and Castellano, along with several other cast members, became household names. He spoke two of the film's most famous and immortal lines, one of which, "Leave the gun, take the cannoli," was ad-libbed. He also appeared on television, playing the lead roles of Joe Girelli in the TV sitcom The Super and Joe Vitale in Joe and Sons
.
Reportedly, he did not reprise his role in The Godfather Part II
due to Castellano and his agent insisting that they have control over the character's dialog. Francis Ford Coppola
said that as the director, this was untenable, and therefore he was not in the movie. This story was disputed by Castellano's widow in a 1991 letter to People
. His omission from the movie was written in that the character had died sometime between the end of the first movie and the start of the second.
Castellano died from a heart attack
in 1988.
According to Castellano's widow, he was the nephew of Gambino crime family
boss Paul Castellano
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor who is best remembered for his Oscar nominated role in Lovers and Other Strangers
Lovers and Other Strangers
Lovers and Other Strangers is a 1970 comedy film based on the play by Renee Taylor and Joseph Bologna. The film features an ensemble cast including Richard Castellano, Gig Young, Cloris Leachman, Anne Jackson, Beatrice Arthur, Bonnie Bedelia, Michael Brandon, Harry Guardino, Anne Meara, Bob Dishy,...
and his subsequent role as Peter Clemenza 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...
.
Biography
Castellano was born in the Bronx. Castellano gained worldwide fame for his role in Lovers and Other StrangersLovers and Other Strangers
Lovers and Other Strangers is a 1970 comedy film based on the play by Renee Taylor and Joseph Bologna. The film features an ensemble cast including Richard Castellano, Gig Young, Cloris Leachman, Anne Jackson, Beatrice Arthur, Bonnie Bedelia, Michael Brandon, Harry Guardino, Anne Meara, Bob Dishy,...
, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. He achieved short lived superstardom in 1972 for playing the part of Peter Clemenza, 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...
. The Godfather became the highest grossing film up to that time when unadjusted for inflation and Castellano, along with several other cast members, became household names. He spoke two of the film's most famous and immortal lines, one of which, "Leave the gun, take the cannoli," was ad-libbed. He also appeared on television, playing the lead roles of Joe Girelli in the TV sitcom The Super and Joe Vitale in Joe and Sons
Joe and Sons
Joe and Sons was a short-lived television series broadcast on CBS from September 9, 1975 to January 13, 1976. It had 15 episodes.The show focused on an Italian-American widower Joe Vitalie who lived in Hoboken, New Jersey with his two teenage sons, Mark and Nick. Gus Duzik worked with him as a...
.
Reportedly, he did not reprise his role in The Godfather Part II
The Godfather Part II
The Godfather Part II is a 1974 American gangster film directed by Francis Ford Coppola from a script co-written with Mario Puzo. The film is both a sequel and a prequel to The Godfather, chronicling the story of the Corleone family following the events of the first film while also depicting the...
due to Castellano and his agent insisting that they have control over the character's dialog. Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. He is widely acclaimed as one of Hollywood's most innovative and influential film directors...
said that as the director, this was untenable, and therefore he was not in the movie. This story was disputed by Castellano's widow in a 1991 letter to People
People (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
. His omission from the movie was written in that the character had died sometime between the end of the first movie and the start of the second.
Castellano died from 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 1988.
According to Castellano's widow, he was the nephew of Gambino crime family
Gambino crime family
The Gambino crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The group is named after Carlo Gambino, boss of the family at the time of the McClellan hearings in 1963...
boss Paul Castellano
Paul Castellano
Constantino Paul "Big Paul" Castellano , also known as "The Howard Hughes of the Mob" and "Big Paulie" , was an American Mafia boss in New York City. He succeeded Carlo Gambino as head of the Gambino crime family, at the time, the nation's largest Mafia family...
.